What do you put on you Christmas list, if you have what you need already .

This year I'm going to ask for a calendar made up with family photos to last throughout the year

Jaycee5 a calendar is one of the things on the list for my mum. My DIL did a great one for her last year with photos of the GGCs on it. Trouble is I need to think of other things as well, chocolates always feature, I've done fluffy bed socks as well, but there are a couple of things, jumper etc which she has put away for 'best'.

Scented candle in a large jar? I recently found the Yankee candle range, but there are so many scented candles out there.
My family clubbed together to buy me a Kindle one year, which was great when I was in hospital [I can no longer hold a book or magazine].
I made a personalised photo album for my Mum one year, and she loved it. [I just selected photos from my facebook.]
I had a planter filled with spring bulbs and topped with cyclamen, which is joyous - they could perhaps give you the bulbs and the planter without soil, or just the bulbs [to take home on the train]and arrange for the planter and soil to be delivered?

Thanks you, some really good ideas here.

No brainer for me. I just want their time in the shape of company. A visit, a meal or an outing......... 'Stuff' I neither need or want. Just spend some time with me please. With a little effort it is possible. I would certainly underwrite travelling expenses if necessary.

Oh Mischief - my mother always told me you shouldn't give gloves as they are a parting gift!
And what's more she has at least once been proven right. My brother and sister-in-law gave me a scarf and glove set for Christmas a few years back and within months there was a big family rift - she and my brother are in the half of the family who I have had no contact with for 13 years.

There are some great DVDs available on Amazon of old films, I've asked for some of those this year -do you like that sort of thing? (Such as The Ealing Studio films.) Also compilation CDs of singers I like for the car as most of my record collection is on vinyl. How about a DAB radio or CD player if you haven't already got. Failing that, I usually ask for slippers, pyjamas, socks and waist slips!

Last Christmas I asked everyone to donate to a charity in lieu of a gift - it was a charity that I knew all the family would want to support. My DH couldn't let Christmas pass without a small gift as well for me, so I had a new (inexpensive) watch as well as a donation from him

Not many of us need anything! But what might a person like??

I think Humbertbear had a great idea there, Flossie - a framed photo of the little ones. You'll enjoy looking at it, they'll get a kick out of starring in it, and they'll also love seeing the pleasure on your face when you open it

trisher I have the same problem with a 93 year old mother who lives overseas. She has been disposing of her property in the last few years as she is now in a small flat and she really doesn't want 'things'. She has reached the point where she is very blunt. She once said that she would like DVDs of British programmes. Then she told me off and said that I was dictating what she watched. She did like Wild at Heart but told me off when she got it because there was so much of it. I just send a calendar now and she says she likes them so that will be that. My sister sends flowers.

Thank you, thank you. I have been struggling what to buy a friend who doesn't want anything and after reading this chat I have decided on matching gloves and scarf because she is about to buy a dog after 2 years of surgery and losing her last dog 3 years ago. So at least she will be warm when she takes it for a walk now. ?

How about a bird feeder for your garden there are some lovely small ones around so easy to carry on the train. Then all year you can watch the birds feed and when your grandchildren are around they can fill it with food and watch too.

I have told my family no Christmas presents for adults, that means me too.

We all have plenty as it is.

I love my personalised photo albums mine do them online and include fab but also funny pictures always a source of enjoyment when I look at them

Would you like a professional photo of your children? I have deliberately not read a few books that came out recently so I could ask for them. How about a magazine subscription or a piece of jewellery?

Cineworld do a package of a night out at the cinema for two for £25. The tickets can be used independently. They also come with a voucher for two drinks and popcorn. Afternoon tea for two is something I will be asking for. Beauty treatments are a great idea too. Manicure or pedicure. Hope this helps.

When I got to the point of not knowing what to say when my mum asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I asked her to donate to a charity that helped Indian farmers build storage for their rice so that they didn't have to sell it cheap straight after harvest.

How about a charity adoption? You can adopt a whole range of animals and get information pack/updates etc that the children would like , it'd keep them interested throughout the year. In a way it would be more a present for them but would give you all a shared interest, the money would be doing good on an ongoing basis and it won't clutter you up with things you don't want or need.

How about two lovely China Mugs or tea cups, so that you have something special to give tea to friends in. Maybe a selection of different teas to go with them. If you're not a tea drinker, the same could be done with coffee or drinking chocolate.

Any books you would like to read?

or a box set of DVD.s .I got my Mum in law a set of A Place to Call Home last christmas as she'd bnever seen it,she watched the whole set in January and loved it and she's watching out for the new series coming on.

vouchers for Afternoon tea at somewhere you really like ,they could wrap up a teacup and a cupcake to show you what you'll get

No to theatre or films, vouchers are a no. Because of all the little ones, there is a sort of unwritten rule about an actual gift. They love the handing it over and watching it opened. Because of my limited use of my hands I get help with the undoing too. I really hope this thread is not making me seem ungrateful. They all take it in turns to host and put such a lot of effort into Christmas. So far I think I am going for house plant and slippers.

Flossie do you get out to the Theatre or cinema? If yes you could ask for theatre vouchers so you could go with a friend, or some cinemas do passes for a few months. Or rail vouchers if you like days out? Something along those lines ?