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Original poster

Ideas for 40th birthday present for DH?

33 replies

EnsignRoLaren · 15/06/2019 19:20

DH has his 40th birthday coming up over summer and I’d love to buy him something special, but I’m completely stuck! Any good ideas out there?

He has just found out his work rota and he’ll be back in the country late on his birthday (a Friday), meaning he is free over the weekend. BUT it is too late notice for his friends, who nearly all have things booked. (DH has just changed jobs and can’t actually book leave until winter, so we were waiting on his roster). Initially we were thinking of getting somewhere to stay and hosting a small group, but that is now out.

We are moving house, probably around the same time. We booked awesome gig tickets hoping to be free on the right day, but we know know he will be away 🤦‍♀️.

DH is very particular and very good at saving. And has expensive taste! He’s into cycling, but has many bikes and doesn’t need more. He likes a good sound system and has various travel speakers. He has an expensive watch but isn’t really into them. He isn’t interested in fancy luggage despite travelling every week. He likes the outdoors, good beer, is pretty uninterested in clothes (except kit). He doesn’t wear jewellery.

He is an amazing guy and father but is pretty much uninterested in stuff - except where he is interested and then he has very specific opinions about things. He’s a hard chap to buy for!

Now I know he is free on the day after his birthday, I would like to take him out for a fancy dinner, but I’d also like to mark the moment with something special. I’d be hugely grateful for ideas! Budget up to maybe £300, I think.

PS I already feel terrible for not having good ideas and I am having a tough time with other things, so please be assured I have been thinking about this for months before turning to MN!

OP posts:
haggis81 · 15/06/2019 19:28

My DH recently turned forty and is also a beer lover. I bought him and a mate a day’s ‘brew school’ at our local craft brewery, he was really chuffed.

Original poster
EnsignRoLaren · 15/06/2019 19:31

I was thinking about something like that haggis! I think he would like it. I’m hesitating though because we don’t find out his rosters until 2-6 weeks before the time, so booking stuff can be quite stressful! Maybe somewhere that has a few of those days would be flexible?

OP posts:
AllTheProsecco · 15/06/2019 19:34

Where in the country are you? We went to a few nice places for DHs recent big birthday. He is equally impossible to buy for but a big foodie so we ate at several nice places rather than buying things.

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Original poster
EnsignRoLaren · 15/06/2019 19:37

Proscecco I’m glad it isn’t just me! We are in the Cotswolds. DH gets to eat in nice restaurants in other countries so food isn’t always a big thing for him. But he’d appreciate more time together, I think (we have young kids)

OP posts:
MIdgebabe · 15/06/2019 19:41

You say he likes outdoors and cycling and not stuff. Can you go out for the day, maybe hire a tandem for fun? Or canoe

Someaddedsugar · 15/06/2019 19:42

Could you plan a series of 'events' that you make a book of vouchers for (I'm sure NOTHS does stuff like that), so for example a craft beer experience, a meal out, a picnic at a location that means something to both of you, a child-free box-set night at home etc? They aren't necessarily 'expensive' gifts but they are all things that you can do together to spend time with each other. Some could be whole family things too.

AllTheProsecco · 15/06/2019 19:46

Ooh I like @Someaddedsugar's idea, that gives you lots of time together, most of which don't need must planning in advance if you don't know DH's schedule.

We're up north I'm afraid so unless travel is an option then not sure I can suggest anywhere. Would he like a night away if you have childcare? We went to a fancy hotel with a great restaurant in the Lake District. If the weather had been better, we might have actually enjoyed the lakes as well as the hotel Grin

Someaddedsugar · 15/06/2019 19:48

That's what I was thinking @AllTheProsecco - at least it would mean if his work schedule changed it wouldn't mean not attending something that was planned Smile

Ploppymoodypants · 15/06/2019 19:48

Does he like artwork? I got DH a painting commissioned of our house and garden and our dogs. It was expensive but he loved it. He has Landscaped the garden himself

DailyFailAreTwats · 15/06/2019 19:48

Does he like cooking? I bought my DH half a pig and a butchery course and he brought home loads of amazing pork cuts and his own sausages! But niche perhaps, but he loved it! We were in Berkshire at the time.

Original poster
EnsignRoLaren · 15/06/2019 19:52

Midge actually we own a tandem 😀 and he loves a day out riding - I can’t keep up for very long but still, lovely idea!

Prosecco LOVE the Lake District- we used to live up north. We walked striding edge and stayed in a fab hotel there, probably about 15 years ago now!

Sugar that’s a really nice suggestion and maybe with our schedules it would be the most practical thing. I was thinking about getting an album printed up with photos. He wouldn’t actually look at it but would appreciate the time spent!

OP posts:
Original poster
EnsignRoLaren · 15/06/2019 19:56

Ploppy he does like art, but we have VERY different tastes! (Also, I can’t wait to get to work on our new garden!)

DailyFail, yep, he’s a good cook, but I’m veggie and couldn’t bear the meat! He likes meat but it has always seemed like something we just can’t share, so not quite right for a present from me, I think.

He did often say he wanted to build a kit car. I wonder if he would like a track day... hmm.

OP posts:
FreezerBird · 15/06/2019 19:56

DH is similar in not wanting 'stuff', and also not massively into making a birthday fuss. I bought him 40 different bottles of beer for his 40th. You might be after something a bit more special, but it worked well for us because

a) it's consumables
b) I started collecting them about six months in advance which meant I could spread the cost and seek out interesting beers
c) it gave him 40 things to unwrap, which was fun

The main problem was hiding it all - under our 11 year-old's bed, which would have been funny had he found them...

Original poster
EnsignRoLaren · 15/06/2019 19:58

^^Holy crap, track days this summer are £450+ with your own car! Not sure the family wagon is quite what he had in mind Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
EnsignRoLaren · 15/06/2019 19:59

Freezer I LOVE that idea actually. Tricky with the move coming up... but I might be able to plan around that!

OP posts:
Burpsandrustles · 15/06/2019 20:02

Op I'm in same position.

Mine not into stuff either and certainly not golf or beer. .. I'm giving 300 for or put towards a bike. He doesn't have one.
But can spend on anything. We don't have much money to spend on ourselves so I hope he likes just money.

AllTheProsecco · 15/06/2019 20:06

We went to the Forest Side and did their tasting menu. We also did l'enclume on the way up which I preferred. They were also excellent at adapting the menu as I was very pregnant! The veggie options were tasty!

Original poster
EnsignRoLaren · 15/06/2019 20:06

Rustles it sounds like a good solution for your DH. Aren’t they funny? Hope he finds a good bike!

OP posts:
BrigitsBigKnickers · 15/06/2019 20:09

When my DH turned 40 I got an artist to do a pencil portrait of our two DDs which I had framed.

Went down very well!

Original poster
EnsignRoLaren · 15/06/2019 20:10

Prosecco wow! The Forest Side looks amazing. Maybe I could plan it but leave the dates up to him... partly because his birthday is probably the most expensive weekend of the year at hotels, and partly because we may just have moved house, or be just about to, and a trip might just tip us over the edge!

OP posts:
MichonnesBBF · 15/06/2019 20:25

It's my husbands 40th next year and I have been thinking of buying him an experience day voucher for a ride around a racing track in a Porsche/Lamborghini.

Then book into a hotel near by just the two of us

Virgin and groupon have some great deal, with a selection of places to suit location.

AllTheProsecco · 15/06/2019 20:36

@EnsignRoLaren we got a deal through mr&mrs smith and another website so worth looking on sites like that.

JoJoSM2 · 15/06/2019 20:52

My husband sounds quite similar to yours... He says that the best present I’ve ever given him is a voucher to his favourite independent bike shop... (Being a voucher, I felt like it was a bit of a cop out but he was genuinely chuffed as if he’d won the lottery).

Another prezzie was a training session with a famous rider - he enjoyed that one too and learnt new stuff.

Other ideas are a biking holiday: the whole family goes but some of the days DH gets to ride somewhere amazing. Spain is great for that. He also got to ride with people he used to watch on TV and admire so it was pretty special.

JoJoSM2 · 15/06/2019 21:01

Just spoke to DH: he reckons a posh multi tool made of metal and engraved to mark the occasion. The brands he’d recommend are Crank Brothers or Lezyne. Crank Brothers is apparently the coolest Grin

DragonforaMIL · 15/06/2019 21:06

I did 40 presents. Starting small e.g socks, shirt, favourite sweets, building up to a day out without children in town and a weekend away a few months later. The trip away was in the form of a golden ticket, so he opened that and we then booked it together. The children made him a voucher book/designed a personalised comic book for him.

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