Polite ways to say you don't want a gift?

[RuneGuardian]

I really truly do not want anything for Christmas this year - there is nothing I need, nor is there anything I want. I know my mother plans on getting something for me, even though I've told her I do not want any gifts. Her boyfriend wants to pay for me to get my hair done when I already told him and Mom that I planned on doing it myself (why bother wasting $30 for the hairdresser to do it when I can buy a bleaching kit for $7 and do it myself?). Is there any way I can get it through their heads that I'm not just kidding when I say my Christmas list does not exist? I really do appreciate the thoughtfulness, but I know my mother doesn't exactly have all the money in the world and I don't want her spending any money on me for unnecessary things.

[Clara Bow]

Ummmm, there's not really any polite way to insist if they're not hearing you. I mean, I could tak eor leave gifts myself, but people like to give at the holidays, so you kind of have to make some allowances for their generosity. Are you giving them gifts? It might make them feel awkward to get a gift and not reciprocate.
I always tell my mother one item I want. She goes out and buys boocoodles...

[goblue2539]

Would it be possible to come up with a small list of things you can use, even if you don't "need" them?  I know I usually manage to get at least half of my list under $10.  That way they can still give but you don't have to feel bad about your mom spending money.  For example, maybe let her buy the hair kit? 

[freakyfemme]

Are there any plays or live performances you'd like to see?  If so, you could always tell well-meaning would-be gift-givers something like, "Oh, I don't need any THINGS right now, but I'd love tickets to go see The Blahblah and Whatsit Extravaganza On Ice.  Hey, if you got me that, we could go together and make an evening of it."

[RuneGuardian]

I have intentions of making a new plushie (yeah, right after I make the dozen other ones I intend to make and right after pigs fly), so perhaps I could ask her for a couple sheets of the materials I need. Or maybe a new eyeliner - mine is starting to run out. But the biggest kicker is if I ask for one or two tiny items, my mom will complain that "you need more than that!" I swear sometimes I think she'd rather go into debt than let a holiday pass us by where I get little or nothing - you'd think she'd be thrilled that I want nothing after many childhood years where I expected about a thousand dollars worth of cheap plastic toys every year. I'll never understand that woman.

Thanks for all your advice, everyone.

[Quossum]

Think of all the incidents were it's been noted that it's more pleasurable to give than to receive.  It makes people happy to give things to people they love, even if they have to "stetch" a bit to do so.  Not to mention, as honest as you are being about not wanting gifts, that sort of declaration tends to sound a bit martyr-ish, even if it's not meant that way at all.

Try mention little things that would give you pleasure, like you mention in your last post.  Don't deny your mom the pleasure of buying something for you.

--Q