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To feel slightly put out by DH's lovely surprise?

520 replies

GinIsABreakfastFood · 24/12/2015 07:41

Ok, firstly I want to clarify I did not look for my present on purpose! Xmas Blush

Basically DH and I agreed that we would only do tiny token presents this year so that we can have a mega holiday later on. We agreed a set limit, which I found a huge struggle as I bloody love giving presents and spoiling people, and have spent the past few months trying frantically to pick up lovely, thoughtful little bits and pieces within the £20 limit.

Was feeling quite pleased with myself until.... Was packing to leave for family for Christmas and noticed his smart work coat which he won't need was a bit grubby so thought I'd leave it with the dry cleaners so it's fresh for next year, and found a mega expensive piece of beautiful jewellery hidden in the pocket.

DSis has helpfully pointed out that this happens in Love Actually and it turns out the husband has bought the gift for his mistress.... Hmm

Pretty sure it is for me, thanks, Dsis, and it's lovely, but soooo not what we agreed.

We have got to leave in the next 20 mins to drive to remote Scotland for massive family Christmas so no time to get him anything else to even the balance. Which means that when we open presents in Christmas morning, in front of about 30 people, I will get Tiffany diamond earrings, and he will get socks and a robot bath bomb. AIBU to feel absolutely mortified, a bit cross, and completely love my darling DH for the beautiful surprise, but also a bit want to kill him?!

Should I just buy £500 worth of petrol station tat at at the services on the way there?! Pretend I forgot his main present at home and lie about what it is?!

HELP!!

OP posts:
icandothis64 · 24/12/2015 10:41

Just smile and accept graciously. He in violist loves you very much and wanted to spoil you for that reason. NOT so that you can reciprocate. Enjoy it. You. are a very lucky lady.

LineyReborn · 24/12/2015 10:34

Looking frantically, imperial.

Bearbehind · 24/12/2015 10:33

Sorry typo £1,000

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 24/12/2015 10:33

I'm slightly confused as to how you know it's a beautiful piece of jewellery if you didn't open the box?

I'd suggest opening presents just the two of you. Dh and I always do that if we're away for Christmas anyway.

Preciousxbane · 24/12/2015 10:33

I am exactly the same getting out the door. I have a wash bag permanently packed. No scrambling about at the eleventh hour with a still damp toothbrush from our morning tooth cleans and trying to squash in shampoo bottles.

You really shouldn't worry what other people think unless there is some massive back story and his family think your a gold digger or something like that.

Bearbehind · 24/12/2015 10:30

I'd be pretty pissed off unless you can afford for him to go way over budget like this- and it doesn't sound like you can.

If it is Tiffany diamond earrings then £500 wouldn't have bought one of them, let alone the pair. Anything they have that properly looks like diamond earrings (as opposed to more costume styles) starts at about £2,000.

ImperialBlether · 24/12/2015 10:29

You spent months looking for a thoughtful present and bought him socks?

Merguez · 24/12/2015 10:21

Whatever it is you should accept it graciously and don't go changing your present because of what you anticipated.

And who gives a fuck what other people think.

hellsbellsmelons · 24/12/2015 10:20

I really hope this has the happy ending I'm expecting.
That Love Actually scene is ringing in my ears. STOP!!!

Sameshitdiffname · 24/12/2015 10:18

I hope it's a tiffanys box with £20 inside instead of jewelerryGrin

Dancergirl · 24/12/2015 10:13

That's ok greenwood....I watched it too..... (Although it wasn't as good as George and Mildred) Grin

rainbowstardrops · 24/12/2015 10:12

Ooh yeah, I hope it isn't something for sil to match her lovely earrings! Xmas Grin

Fadingmemory · 24/12/2015 10:08

Don't do yourself down OP. You kept to the agreement, he didn't.

ShipwreckedAndComatose · 24/12/2015 10:04

So you still don't know what's in the box?

You may be in luck, still could be £20

Iwonderwhy123 · 24/12/2015 09:59

I totally understand what you mean.

It was my birthday recently and despite agreeing we wouldn't get each other expensive birthday/Christmas presets DH got me a beautiful Tiffany bracelet.

I absolutely love the bracelet but feel awful that I didn't get him anything!

Maybe you could book some theatre/concert tickets or something?

Monroe · 24/12/2015 09:58

If you didn't open the box then you can't be sure there actually is jewellery in there.

My Dh has form for misdirection when it comes to giving gifts. He once wrapped a necklace in a shoe box then a towel so it looked like a large gift under the tree. Although it would be pretty mean to give someone a tiffany box without any actual jewellery inside

Mincedpie · 24/12/2015 09:58

Hoping they are for you and you get your lovely 'surprise' tomorrow op.

CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt · 24/12/2015 09:57

I wouldn't worry about everyone else noticing his lavish gift vs your cheaper robot soap gift - with 28 other people opening presents I would imagine the room would be too busy to notice what others are giving / receiving.

Mince314withIcecream · 24/12/2015 09:52

haha no thank you for telling the terry and june story.

FlibbertigibbetArmadillo · 24/12/2015 09:50

Place marker Xmas Smile

GloriaHotcakes · 24/12/2015 09:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

UnderTheGreenwoodTree · 24/12/2015 09:50

That Love Actually scene has completely ruined the "accidental" finding of presents thing hasn't it? - we're all now terrified it's for OW.

There was a Terry & June ( Shock Blush where Terry's mate asked him to hide a fur coat for the mate's wife's xmas present - and June found it and thought it was for her.

June's real present was an egg-timer.

Apologies for mentioning T&J.

Speederman · 24/12/2015 09:45

Good point diddl Grin

You have a lovely DH OP spoiling his DSis like that...

Anniegetyourgun · 24/12/2015 09:40

Well, at least if it was for his sister it wouldn't be the Love Actually scenario; you'd be so relieved you might forget to be disappointed! (The annoyance at failure to save as agreed can wait till later.)

iwouldgoouttonight · 24/12/2015 09:38

You'll probably end up in the same routine me and DP are in. We agree to only spend about £10 on a token gift each and one of us will always go over budget not £500 over though and get something nice and the other will feel bad.

The year before last I got DP a remote controlled helicopter because he'd said he'd always quite fancied one. He got me a joke book about cats.

So last year I got him some comedy shaped chocolates and he gave me a lovely bracelet.

So it looks like this year its my turn to receive a penis shaped hand warmer or equivalent. Grin