Hellobee Boards

No lists. I do like the idea of lists, but love the element of unwrapping a surprise too.

My family (parents, brother) does lists. And for our nieces and nephews, I always just ask their parents what they want us to get them.

I always struggle with the in-laws though because they don't do lists. Although I'm getting better at getting them to give me ideas, so that helps. For some people are still a struggle!

I ask around and create a list and go off of that. This year a friend and I are driving down to a bigger area and doing a marathon shopping day to hopefully knock out 85%, the rest will be done on Amazon and in the form of gift cards.

I wish people had lists - would make life easier!
I create a google spreadsheet and I try to brainstorm what I think people would really like/use.

I try to throughout the year, think of little things they might like based on conversations and observations etc... My DH gramma said this past summer that she couldn't find "champagne nailpolish" anywhere (she's from a small town), and that she desperately needed new clip on earrings. BOOM...an evening on Etsy and a trip to Target later, she's done.

For the littles in our lives, it's easy, I just ask the Moms far enough in advance, that I can snag some good deals on Amazon etc....

The teenagers though (13 and 18), holy crap they're a PITA. They send us last minute lists (like a week before Christmas), and it becomes a painful chore to slug around finding stuff.

I'm finding most of the adults we buy for want useful stuff, not a bunch of crap. I dislike buying giftcards, but sometimes that's the easiest.