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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu to bet you cannot help me think of gifts for the most impossible person in the world?

63 replies

Extremegiftgame · 23/05/2025 21:03

NCed for this as it’s outing

my DH is the hardest person in the world to buy gifts for!! But it’s his birthday coming up and I need to think of something

So - he is vegan, tee total, doesn’t eat sugar or high fat foods, doesn’t drink caffeine, doesn’t like cars, cycling or sports, doesn’t read books, doesn’t listen to music. Doesn’t like gardening, not into fashion, would never let me buy any tech for him, not into ‘self care’ or ‘pampering’ of any kind. Doesn’t do DIY. Doesn’t collect anything.

His interests are fitness and cinema - but he has all relevant subscriptions and equipment already.

To add insult to injury, I’m immobile temporarily but it means we can’t go out together: no meals, events, holidays, etc. He doesn’t like doing things on his own. I’ve tentatively suggested buying him tickets to things with friends but his mates are mostly gym buddies and they don’t socialise otherwise.

WHAT can I get him?!?! Aibu to think nobody can think of anything and it’s completely impossible?

OP posts:
LadyQuackBeth · 23/05/2025 21:22

Birthday cake flavoured protein powder.
Healthy or quirky cook book
Entry into a triathlon or tough mudder type event
Inflatable compression boots for recovery

Kittkats · 23/05/2025 21:20

Extremegiftgame · 23/05/2025 21:18

oh my gosh, that is even harder, you’re right.

is there anything that makes him more comfortable - lavender pillows, sleep mask, special cushion? If he’s immobile like me then he might appreciate a tray table to use in bed?

Ooh, this works sleep spray would be good!

CrackingOn50 · 23/05/2025 21:19

Kittkats · 23/05/2025 21:14

Can I hijack?
DH is harder. He’s currently immobile, can’t leave the house without significant pain. Has an audible subscription. Can’t wear socks. On a diet. Doesn’t read. Can’t stand for long.
Need inspiration for Father’s Day and birthday.
likes online chess and Pokemon go as he can’t do much else atm.

Does he listen to more than his allotted one book a month with Audible? If so you can get a gift subscription to add to his account to double up his credits.

Does he have Netflix/Amazon Prime etc and all the streaming services?

FuzzyPuffling · 23/05/2025 21:19

Metal detector.

Extremegiftgame · 23/05/2025 21:18

Koolandorthegang · 23/05/2025 21:17

A drone? For flying around filming interesting places

Great idea though I did that one year - broke it in 5 minutes 🤣

OP posts:
luckylavender · 23/05/2025 21:18

DNA test

Extremegiftgame · 23/05/2025 21:18

Kittkats · 23/05/2025 21:14

Can I hijack?
DH is harder. He’s currently immobile, can’t leave the house without significant pain. Has an audible subscription. Can’t wear socks. On a diet. Doesn’t read. Can’t stand for long.
Need inspiration for Father’s Day and birthday.
likes online chess and Pokemon go as he can’t do much else atm.

oh my gosh, that is even harder, you’re right.

is there anything that makes him more comfortable - lavender pillows, sleep mask, special cushion? If he’s immobile like me then he might appreciate a tray table to use in bed?

OP posts:
Koolandorthegang · 23/05/2025 21:17

A drone? For flying around filming interesting places

HolidayMojitos · 23/05/2025 21:15

As part of his fitness, does he do running? Are there any big races you could enter him into? Similarly any hyrox competitions or similar? Unusual but if it’s his thing…

Bestnottalkaboutit · 23/05/2025 21:15

Plan and book a trip to a favourite film location?

Private cinema viewing at a private cinema/London hotel? Think Charlotte Street Hotel do this, if not there are definitely some that do. Organise a party of his mates to come along, dress up accordingly if necessary, out for vegan meal afterwards?

Or just the two of you with the whole cinema to yourself!

Extremegiftgame · 23/05/2025 21:15

TomatoSandwiches · 23/05/2025 21:13

I've been to a few orchestra film nights at the RAH, the James Bond one was fantastically electric, you could look for one that plays later in the year so he has something to look forward to and hopefully you can attend.

Fantastic idea! Thank you

OP posts:
nomas · 23/05/2025 21:15

Some active wear for his fitness. Full sleeve if he’s a runner, short sleeve for summer.

Loose gym pants on active wear material.

New trainers.

A gift voucher so he can buy Buy and Keep movies online and download them on his iPad.

New ear buds for the gym.

CrackingOn50 · 23/05/2025 21:15

Extremegiftgame · 23/05/2025 21:12

Oh wow these are actually amazing ideas - do you have a similarly difficult dh?!

Nah, I'm just good at daydreaming about gifts whilst procrastinating 😂

Any film studio tours? There are some really cool themed maps of the UK etc that have film locations on to visit, like fold out OS maps.

Also, if you live near a city, there's maps/interactive treasure hunts that you can get.

ThinWomansBrain · 23/05/2025 21:15

If you're in or near London, there's a walking guide who does several tours of 'lost' cinemas.

Extremegiftgame · 23/05/2025 21:15

outerspacepotato · 23/05/2025 21:13

Name a star after him.

www.nameastar.com/

Wow! I love this

OP posts:
MCCN · 23/05/2025 21:14

Replacement gym wear.
New trainers
Good quality vegan snacks - nuts, dried fruit etc
Alcohol-free wine or beer
Good quality soft drinks/cordials/alcohol-free cocktails
Vegan cooking course
Does he have any clothes or belongings he loves which are getting shabby and you could update?

Kittkats · 23/05/2025 21:14

Can I hijack?
DH is harder. He’s currently immobile, can’t leave the house without significant pain. Has an audible subscription. Can’t wear socks. On a diet. Doesn’t read. Can’t stand for long.
Need inspiration for Father’s Day and birthday.
likes online chess and Pokemon go as he can’t do much else atm.

TomatoSandwiches · 23/05/2025 21:13

I've been to a few orchestra film nights at the RAH, the James Bond one was fantastically electric, you could look for one that plays later in the year so he has something to look forward to and hopefully you can attend.

Rozbos · 23/05/2025 21:13

What sort of gym does he go to? If he does something like CrossFit then there are lots of gift options!

DappledThings · 23/05/2025 21:13

Extremegiftgame · 23/05/2025 21:11

He definitely likes a fuss.

interesting that you don’t like gifts though - what do you like to do on your birthday?

Pretend it doesn’t exist. Which makes me unusual I admit but with these kinds of threads I always think it's worth checking. Sounds like you do need to find something, I have no ideas sorry!

One of the reasons I hate presents is that I hate the idea of anyone I care about having to stress themselves out trying to come up with ideas just for the sake of it.

outerspacepotato · 23/05/2025 21:13

Name a star after him.

www.nameastar.com/

Octavia64 · 23/05/2025 21:12

What sort of cinema?

BFI do stuff.

Extremegiftgame · 23/05/2025 21:12

CrackingOn50 · 23/05/2025 21:11

How about one of those rings that you can use as contactless payment?

Sports massage or chiropractor voucher for any aches and pains?

Oh wow these are actually amazing ideas - do you have a similarly difficult dh?!

OP posts:
CrackingOn50 · 23/05/2025 21:11

How about one of those rings that you can use as contactless payment?

Sports massage or chiropractor voucher for any aches and pains?