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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be disappointed in partners Christmas presents ?

208 replies

lulu55xxx · 19/12/2025 17:38

So this year we decided instead of just buying random stuff that we might not like to write a list with about £200 budget of things we wanted.
So I wrote my list and wrote down things I wanted for a while and he wrote his.
I bought everything on his list with a little extra present (a month ago )
He went for his Christmas shopping today and just rang me telling me he’s done but didn’t get anything off my list as a lot of the things weren’t in stock in town (tiny town centre ) hence me going further afield and ordering online.
So he said he “winged” it
Would you be disappointed?
Last year he winged it and I ended up with nivea gift sets (which I don’t use ) half price pjs from Primark and other random bits.
The nice perfume I asked for I never got because he said “ it’s out of stock everywhere “
I went in boots Boxing Day and it was there …
I don’t know it’s just pointless

He promised me a shopping spree after Xmas for my birthday the other day ,now he’s skint.

OP posts:
Miranda65 · 19/12/2025 17:44

It's not Christmas for another 6 days, so until you actually open your presents you won't know.
I'm long-married and we would never be so mercenary as to write a list (or "agree a budget"). We just buy what the other person will like - it's not difficult and it's not transactional.

PInkyStarfish · 19/12/2025 17:43

You can do better than this cheapskate loser who cannot be bothered to put much effort into buying you nice gifts even when given a list!

He doesn’t sound like he’s particularly interested in you.

MostlyHappyMummy · 19/12/2025 17:42

Return the gifts you have purchased for him and go into your local town and buy some random gifts for him. Match his energy

ToKittyornottoKitty · 19/12/2025 17:40

he sounds like a cheapskate

Starsea · 19/12/2025 17:40

Yeah I'd be annoyed. You've agreed it would be nice to get things that you actually want this year and have said you will do this for each other. He's left it to the last minute and as a result can't source the things on your list. His effort is poor.

Clefable · 19/12/2025 17:40

Yes that’s annoying as he’s only had to wing it as he’s left it so late. He could have had it all ordered and delivered by now. It’s just a bit incompetent really.

MadisonMontgomery · 19/12/2025 17:39

I’d tell him to transfer you the £200 and order it yourself online.

AgnesX · 19/12/2025 17:39

I'd not be impressed. Hopefully he'll have something up his sleeve.