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Original poster

Do you and your dh/dp get each other Christmas gifts ?

68 replies

LardLizard · 27/12/2018 08:36

We don’t really, as we would rather have the money for other things like nights out meals out holidays weekends away

But a lot of friends and family seem to find this quite odd

OP posts:
LoniceraJaponica · 27/12/2018 08:39

If you can't afford it you can't afford it. OH and I always buy for each other and always have done so, but we only buy what we can afford.

SantasBassoon · 27/12/2018 08:40

Yes, we buy each other presents. We also go out and go on holiday. The presents we buy don't drastically change our financial situation.

TillyVonMilly · 27/12/2018 08:40

We do buy for each other. Like many people we are fortunate to have the finances to buy ourselves what we want throughout the year but still appreciate gifts from one another.

MsAwesomeDragon · 27/12/2018 08:40

If it works for you then don't worry about what other people say or do.

We buy each other presents, but quite often these are practical gifts. This year I bought him a foreman grill, he bought me a soda stream. Mine is very much a fun gift just for me, while his is a practical gift we'll all use. Next year it might be the other way round.

We don't go out much, so keeping the money to go out etc just wouldn't cross our radar. We're both too tired to be bothered tbh.

Stephisaur · 27/12/2018 08:40

We do, but we don’t tend to spend a fortune. Buy what you can afford and all that.

I don’t think it’s weird not to though.

nuttyknitter · 27/12/2018 08:42

We buy two or three small token presents, with the emphasis on finding something to surprise and please the other. After 40+ years it's getting harder and harder to find surprises!

Beechview · 27/12/2018 08:44

We do the same as the op. For birthdays too. Dh organises cards and a gift with the kids, but I’d much rather go away somewhere on the weekend of birthday than anything else.

Cookit · 27/12/2018 08:46

Yes.

No harm in not getting for each other if you don’t want to and finances won’t allow but I don’t like the people who don’t and justify it because “it’s all the same money” - isn’t this the case with most people you buy for? If I give you a £20 present and you give me a £20 present we could just not have bothered ... but most people still do, because it’s nice when someone tries to think of something specifically you want but probably wouldn’t buy for yourself.

flugelhorn811 · 27/12/2018 08:49

We're like you OP, we don't really because I don't like the idea of buying each other something just for the sake of it. We'd both rather have a nice dinner out or a trip away instead. It suits both of us and we don't even notice it as we still buy/get presents for/from family.

flugelhorn811 · 27/12/2018 08:50

And for us it isn't as issue of finances not allowing, it's simply we don't really see the point unless there's something we really want - but then most of the time we'd buy it for ourselves or a birthday.

UserMe18 · 27/12/2018 08:54

We didn't this year as we are going on holiday together (no kids) in a couple months so wanted to put towards that but we both said the day wasn't quite the same so we will next year again!

maerd · 27/12/2018 08:55

It’s different every year. This year we didn’t buy a single thing for birthdays or Christmas, just because there were other more important things going on. For my birthday and for Christmas, DH would have had to rush out the day before both times to do a mad dash for gifts, and I told him I’d much rather have him at home for that time (he works very long hours so time with him is always what I’d rather). If we do get Christmas presents, it’s normally small token things.

BookMeOnTheSudExpress · 27/12/2018 09:00

A token gift.

Wouldn't want to become a MNChristmasZilla feeling the world had ended because the ruby slippers dh had bought me had the wrong label. One look at the 986 threads with posters thinking their relationship has ended because Santa didn't bring them an expensive enough present makes me glad I got dh some new toothbrush replacement heads Xmas Wink

notangelinajolie · 27/12/2018 09:10

We don't buy birthday or Christmas presents for each other. It's nothing to do with finances - we just prefer it that way. If either of us do want something we just go and buy it. Joint bank account anyway so it makes no difference Xmas Smile

SagelyNodding · 27/12/2018 09:23

We don't. Sometimes a token thing, or clothes, or a 'family' present that is as much for us as for the kids!

DeloresJaneUmbridge · 27/12/2018 09:53

If we can afford it but we don't worry if not.

BarbedBloom · 27/12/2018 09:56

We do, we enjoy it and can afford it, so why not

CherryPavlova · 27/12/2018 09:58

We do. Always. Why would you not get the person you loved most in life a gift but buy for people you hardly see?

ChristmasTwatteryDoesMyHeadIn · 27/12/2018 09:59

We do now, we didn’t before. A wee minding or two, just so the bairns have something to give us to open. Nothing big though.

itsboiledeggsagain · 27/12/2018 10:00

Nope. I sometimes buy dh his favourite chocs and that is about it.

If there was something I knew he wanted I might get it. He got me a much wanted fitbit for my birthday which was a totally surprise.

We are not much into stuff tbh

Oldraver · 27/12/2018 10:01

We do buy for each other and occasionally they can be expensive items. (in the 100's not 1000's) though we only buy what we can afford.

madcatladyforever · 27/12/2018 10:02

I used to buy lovely presents for my ex husband but never got any back for birthday or christmas so the last 10 years of the marriage I didn't bother.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 27/12/2018 10:04

Not really, unless there is something either of us really wants. We may buy something big that we want or need, but we’re at the stage when we really don’t want or need anything.

I’d rather use the money for a new experience, some big house project or a something we wouldn’t normally do.

Aragog · 27/12/2018 10:07

Yes we do. We have a joint account, so same money being used. However, we choose to buy one another gifts - normally a surprise, or a hinted out gift, and its the thought behind it too - taking time out to choose something they will like. The gifts are often something we wouldn't necessarily just go out and by ourselves, so maybe a bt more special or a bit dearer.

We can afford the spare cash, so like to do it as Christmas and birthdays. Always have done. Throughout the year we sometimes buy each other small gifts too.

Raven88 · 27/12/2018 10:08

We do but I do half useful and half fun. This year it was clothes and a belt, then headphones and a PS4 game. But we don't have kids yet.