One of the things that my husband and I try to exchange every year is a gift to heifer.org. This is a non-profit that donates quality breeding stock to farmers around the world. In return, each recipient has to pass the gift along - a lamb, or a hive of bees, or something like that.
I feel it's appropriate for us, as we both have food issues.

But there are other charitable targets to remind us of how much we have - Habitat for Humanity, or a small local charity?
This year, I've asked for donations to breastcancer.org, since their bulletin board saved my life during treatment.
Think about it. I STILL want an ipod.

Sue

I make a list of big and little things. I put books I want on photography, things I don't like to shop for, treats like bubble bath, bath salts, good smelling candles etc.

By the way, the BEST candles on earth are at hobblecreekcandles.com - my mom randomly bought one once for me and now the whole family is into them. They make your whole house smell yummy and last forever. Try Pumpkin Spice - sooo good. And they make great gifts! And no I'm not a sales rep or associated with them, I just am a huge fan, lol. Many friends who love good smelling candles have thanked me for introducing them to Hobble Creek.

There are so many things that I have on my Christmas list this year.

My husband and I buy small things for each other and use another portion of money to make a donation to some charity. This year we're donating underclothes to a local non-profit.

From our parents, we ask for large family gifts. My husband is asking his parents for a new laptop for law school while I'm asking them for a new freezer. My mom bought us a new television for our bedroom and a month of food delivery from a local place (we're having a baby a few days after Christmas) and I'm asking my dad for a new SLR camera. We get little stocking stuffers too, but our Christmas is really about just asking for "necessities" that we either can't afford to buy ourselves or, honestly, would just prefer to receive as a gift.

My #1 thing on my list is an engagement ring!! :D

But other than that... just books and magazine subscriptions. I love Real Simple, and there are other various health magazines I'm interested in.

I don't really know what to ask for. This is going to sounds totally cliche - but I just want to spend quality time with my family. It doesn't seem like any material possession could bring about the same happiness as a day or two spent having fun with my loved ones. It's like any choice about what 'I want' really isn't worth it.. since the things I want most in life are not objects, but improvements in relationships with those close to me, or changes in my life that only I can make.

...sorry I got all deep there but this thread really struck a cord with me today.

If you like to make awesome smoothies and what not, how about a Vita Mix? It's been on my list for awhile. I also want a professional "Chi" flat iron - they are expensive too.

Make sure you don't give (or ask for) any gift cards this year. I just heard on TV that Circuit City went bankrupt yesterday. They have millions of dollars worth of unclaimed gift cards that will more than likely NOT be honored (a court decides this, but it sounds highly probable that gift card holders are just OUT OF LUCK). The segment said this is likely to happen with many businesses this year, so say no to gift cards!

Mazza - I think that's awesome! In my family, we have been doing this for about 3 years now. We do still do gifts for the kids (nieces and nephews), but not for the adults. It allows us to have a much less stressed holiday, hence we enjoy each other more. My in laws are partially on board, but the gift habit seems very hard to break for them (they love to spend). My family, though, really enjoys it.

Our family is also not giving any adult gifts this year. Just gifts for the various kids. It has really changed the dynamics of the holidays a lot, and I love it.

My husband and I are buying each other a digital video camera -- a really nice one so that we can capture more images of our kids before they are all grown up.

However, if I was making a possible gift list, I am all about good movies, so how about a BluRay or other similar? I also just got a phone that has a built in navigation system which has changed my world. Gift certificates for clothes would also be good because you will need some interim sizes on the way down, and a certificate, even to a place like Target, will get you a lot of cheap t-shirts, sweats, jeans, etc. And call me crazy, but I LOVE power tools. A power drill that also works as a screw driver, changes a person's life. Or how about theatre tickets or a gift certificate to a nice restaurant...or both? You could treat yourself and a friend to a really memorable night out. I like getting experiences as presents.

lots of good ideas!

I'm not sure where you've gotten your information from, but I've heard from several sources that they have just filed for Chapter 11 - which doesn't mean that they are going out of business....just "re-organizing"...it doesn't mean that they may not go out of business in the future, but as of this moment, there are not plans to do so.

Here is a letter from their CEO:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/gener....do?oid=231769

Regarding the gift cards, they will more than likely be honored.

Thank you for posting this. I copied part of the letter to post here, if that's OK:

"In terms of what this means for you, we have asked the Court for customary authority to continue to honor all guest programs such as returns, exchanges and gift cards."

When I suggested giftcards, I should mention that I doubt iTunes is going under anytime soon, and same with Target, where I can easily find a million ways to use giftcards very quickly.

My #1 is a Wii, but I still dont see that happening unless some serious money pooling goes on
#2 a new ipod (mine is just about toast)
#3 new clothes cause I want to be too small for all of mine.

My Christmas list to my husband consists of a digital food scale (I don't have one currently and tend to under-estimate my food intake), Billy's Boot Camp DVD Box set w/ weights & band, and a gift certificate Build A Bear Workshop (I am almost 30 yrs old and still have an obession with Teddy Bears, I still sleep with one!)