What's on your Holiday wishlist?

I ask them to help pay for my upcoming wedding. not many have taken me up on it yet. guess they don't think I am serious!

One of the best "experience" gifts I ever got was a flying lesson from my cousin after I graduated college. I've been putting it off forever, but I'm finally using the lesson this December. Can't wait.

This Christmas I would like some money so I can continue to experience eating food and living in a warm house.

I've asked for rain barrels and Home Depot gift cards, but I agree on the experience gifts.

My mom gave my husband and I a fully paid Bahamian cruise once and we'll never forget it!

One of the fastest growing segments of the gift industry is the "experience gift" industry. There are many companies starting up offering alternative gifts such as flying lessons, massages, cooking lessons, or skydiving trips. My company – http://www.incredibledays.com – offers some of these experiences in the Boston and NYC areas.

It's funny to read this because my sis and I were talking about this very thing over Thanksgiving, trying to decide on an experience to give to our parents this year. We're still working on it
I just accepted a new job which will require an hour commute each way. Instead of buying a car, I'm going to take the lightrail 60 min each way to work. I'm asking for a Burberry raincoat for Christmas. I know it's technically a thing, but it will make my daily experience more fun (and dry

[...] around the holiday season is:  what do you want for Christmas? One answer made me think. Blogger Devin Reams asked that question of his girlfriend this year, and she gave a brilliant answer. She said, "At [...]

brandonA: Maybe because they figure paying for a wedding plus a wedding gift would mean double jeopardy?

Ryan: What a cool idea, I know a guy who's a pilot–he could easily offer to take people on private flights.

Meka: Excellent! Could you let my mom know what a great idea that is?

David: That's a very smart idea! In a state like Colorado I could have no problem doing this (ski, hike, bike, raft, hot-air balloon, sky-dive, etc.). Do you find a lot of people buying the certificates for others? That's definitely something I'd ask for.

Jessica: Experience-enhancing-accessories are definitely allowed. I'm sorry for your commute, I'm moving this Saturday because I was faced with the same dillema (but no light rail for me, unfortunately).

Great post Devin! Short but very sweet.
I was so inspired, I wrote a column piece for the newspaper I write for, following more or less the same theme. ^_^ thanks very much for inspiring me!

Hey everyone, I just heard on the radio this morning a great idea that lends to this, AAA gift certificates. This way if you ask everyone for these certificates you can add them all up and get any trip or two out of them and builf your own trip. Sounds pretty sweet especially since then you have money designated towards a trip and you don't go spending it on something worthless instead..good post

Yeah that's a good idea too. Just like any other prepaid Visa or card but that one has a little more intention. Thanks, Chris.

[...] Cross posted at Employee Evolution [...]

I am the same way. I would much rather share experiences with people rather than them spend $25 or $50 on a gift that I'll appreciate, but probably won't use much. Some of my best friends and I have started a tradition to plan a trip later in the year as a Xmas present to each other.

My holiday wish list actually consists of presents for other people. I love shopping for gifts and seeing the delight on the faces of the recipients. So I've never really thought of the Christmas and birthday (I was born 5 days before Christmas) gifts I'd want to have this year. While a ski-trip or a trip anywhere would be impossible with how busy everyone is at the moment, I'm just hoping to end this year with smiles and for next year to be a great year. Hmm. How's that for a wish?

what are the tax laws that are beneficial for doing this?

The quality of the info is what keeps me on this site, thanks!