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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:
WhyDontYouComeOnOver · 27/12/2018 10:09

Yes we do, but neither of us enjoy nights out or holidays, so we save money there.

JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth · 27/12/2018 10:15

We have a joint account so I use PayPal where possible to keep the purchase a secret. Now that our kids are older I think its important that they see us doing little things like buying each other gifts, celebrating valentines etc as it's part of treating your partner nicely. I'm not bothered with what I get and this time I chose it and acted surprised when dh gave it to me Grin

Christmasisforadults2 · 27/12/2018 10:30

Yes, we get each other thoughtful gifts. We don't tell each other what we want actually I hate getting gifts ( makes me uncomfortable) but dp got me a picture frame with all the family, some themes pj's and a bag as mine is falling apart. It's not expensive stuff but thoughtful. And that's what Christmas is.

twiglet · 27/12/2018 10:34

Yes there is a price limit though and its usually something that we would want but wouldn't buy ourselves.

Our birthdays are close together so we take it in turns each year to pay for a nice meal out.

This year we had done major house renovations and have a baby on the way so just bought each other small gifts.

Notquiterichenough · 27/12/2018 10:36

I understand people who don't, but we do.

DH actually buys me the best presents that's anyone has ever bought me. I've never been materialistic, but he gives me things that I would never in a million years but myself. I absolutely treasure them.

(And I'm not normally soppy or romantic)

Nightmanagerfan · 27/12/2018 10:41

We do. A few items that the person will like/needs. We are quite practical people tho! This year DH got me a couple of books I really wanted, a card wallet from a shop I like, a new water bottle I’d asked for and a board game. I got him a wool jumper, a Japanese bread knife and a book. We probably don’t spend much but everything will be wanted/used. (Unlike the two bags of tat we brought home from my in laws yesterday that has already been divided up into food bank or charity shop donations!!)

BlueJava · 27/12/2018 10:42

Usually yes - but this year we agreed not to as we'd just moved house and had a load of expenses!

Original poster
LardLizard · 27/12/2018 10:46

It’s not that we can’t afford it really
In fact I did get dh a jokey book
This year, but I guess it’s more a fact of the the waste

OP posts:
museumum · 27/12/2018 10:53

We do but they’re often meals out or vouchers for experiences or things like whisky or gin rather than “stuff”. If it is stuff it’s something they really want/need so not “waste”.

Dowser · 27/12/2018 10:55

I got a sought after bag from my husband
He just got a few bits and pieces from me
We buy what we want when we want...but save the majority of our money for our 8 weeks abroad and other Holidays in uk and our time at the caravan.

Nothisispatrick · 27/12/2018 10:56

Yes we do but we tell each other what we want. So I got some fancy skincare products and DP got a few things like records, books, clothes.

SoyDora · 27/12/2018 10:56

Yes we do. I don’t see it as a ‘waste’ as it was things we both love and will use, but probably wouldn’t buy ourselves.
We can still afford holidays and meals out.

Nothisispatrick · 27/12/2018 10:58

We don’t get jokey or tatty things, we get actual things the other person wants and will use.

Original poster
LardLizard · 27/12/2018 10:59

I suppose I think, say I needed a new bag, chances of dh pickingone I’d like are slim !

OP posts:
GaraMedouar · 27/12/2018 11:00

I am single currently but if I ever have a DP again I would love the 'rule' to be no presents at all birthday or xmas. I will have to find someone like minded!

pisspawpatrol · 27/12/2018 11:01

We decided on a small budget of £30 this year and maybe getting some tickets for something at the theatre in the new year, or a special day out. It's less stuff cluttering the house. So we have two small gifts each and something to look forward to.

Maybe83 · 27/12/2018 11:02

Yes we do. My husband always buys me the most thoughtful gifts. The same as a previous poster things I would never think to buy for my self.

We put a lot of time and effort into them. They are mix of jokey type and special ones.

I think it's important to show you listen and know what the other persons tastes and interests are.

Cards also feature heavily in my house.

Balloondog · 27/12/2018 11:02

No we don't. If we want something we can each buy what we want from our joint account which is where all our money goes. Don't see the point, it's stressful, time consuming, and you end up buying things that are unnecessary or just not quite right. We don't buy for birthdays either.

WrithingHomeForChristmas · 27/12/2018 11:04

No, cos we're lazy and don't want that much (are trying to be minimalist). If we want something it's easier just to buy it for ourselves and save the hassle of wrapping etc.. Due to cutting down on "stuff" we'd only be buying from wish lists anyway, we don't want random items we might not like.

Crispmonster1 · 27/12/2018 11:04

No. Christmas presents are for our children. We’ve stopped doing adult presents for any adults a couple of years ago. I resented spending money on a gift just for the sake of it when very few people really need anything.

BlaaBlaaBlaa · 27/12/2018 11:05

Yes. It's lovely knowing someone has thought about you and what things you would like. It doesn't have to be expensive.....some of my favourite presents from DH have been relatively small but meaningful. I've got a coaster and mug for work that I love, a little leather notepad for my bag as I'm always making lists etc.

BlaaBlaaBlaa · 27/12/2018 11:07

maybe expressed it better than i did! We also put a lot if effort into cards.

SoyDora · 27/12/2018 11:26

I don’t find it stressful at all, I like buying things for DH that I know he’d appreciate but wouldn’t buy for himself as he’d think it was too frivolous. If either of us found it stressful though we wouldn’t do it.

Original poster
LardLizard · 27/12/2018 11:32

Yes I agree with the stressful and time consuming aspect too

OP posts:
BlaaBlaaBlaa · 27/12/2018 11:36

It really doesn't have to be stressful or that time consuming. I really enjoy seeking out gifts I know my DH will love. He's worth spending a bit of time on. I'd be majorly pissed off if someone close to me didn't get me a present because it was too time consuming. I'd assume I was not considered a priority.