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Original poster

Did your dh get you a nice Xmas gift ? Or do you even do gifts ?

44 replies

Lardlizard · 28/12/2019 23:25

I got my dh a nice book related to his hobby
Which apprently he was thinking about buying anyway
So not expensive but quite well thought about

He got me some liquor and I don’t really drink alcohol much at all tbh let alone liquor

I know he got this the day before Xmas eve too

OP posts:
Original poster
Lardlizard · 28/12/2019 23:25

So I’m thinking shall we say let’s not get each other gifts but it feels a bit unromantic

He said he was upset when I very gently said oh what’s this ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Lardlizard · 28/12/2019 23:26

And that he finds it pressure getting a gift

OP posts:
MangoChutney54 · 28/12/2019 23:30

DH and I are not gift people so just buy ourselves what we want. But we're both happy with that. I get that other people value the thought and effort that goes into it. (Personally I hate all the guessing and mind reading - I am picky and if I wanted it, I'd already have it).

If you want a nice gift he should put the effort in (and vice versa) but if neither of you are that bothered, don't feel you have to do something because it's "romantic".

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Christmas
Original poster
Lardlizard · 29/12/2019 00:00

Well after years of being with the same person it can easily fall into not making an effort territory
But he’s crap at buying gifts

OP posts:
mrsed1987 · 29/12/2019 00:02

We have been together 7 years, married nearly 2 and have a almost 1 year old. We both spent about 150 on each other this year.

Walkerbean16 · 29/12/2019 00:04

My husband bought me a few gifts. The main one being a lego hogwarts. I love it and its and incredible gift but all i can think is what else i could spend £350 on.

I really want to return it but dont want to offend him.

Horsemad · 29/12/2019 10:10

Maybe do wish lists in future, so you still get a surprise but at least it will be something you want! 🙂

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 29/12/2019 10:14

We either buy things we want ourselves, or get a large item if it’s needed. Last year, we bought a TV. This year we don’t need anything. He’s got himself a new phone, I bought some clothes in the sale.

I’d like a surprise gift now and then, but I married the world’s most unromantic person.

80sMum · 29/12/2019 10:14

DH and I have been together over 40 years. We stopped buying each other gifts many years ago. Makes life easier, albeit rather dull!

OccasionalNachos · 29/12/2019 10:16

We do buy gifts, but after 11 years we ask what the other one wants and buy exactly that. Over the years there have been some lovely surprises but also some absolute bowlers (from both sides) that led us to this process.

Didn’t bother this year as we are having a baby next month & the money is better saved or spent elsewhere!

Floralnomad · 29/12/2019 10:20

We have been married for 30 yrs and we haven’t done gifts for each other for years now . We have all joint accounts and frankly we buy what we want when we want . We do get lovely gifts from our dc and family though so it’s no great loss .

Charles11 · 29/12/2019 10:22

I just tell my dh to buy me books or nice toiletries and that’s it.
He bought me lovely earrings from Tiffany’s once for a significant anniversary but apart from that, gifts have either been rubbish or totally absent.

fussychica · 29/12/2019 10:23

We went years with no or few presents when our DS was young as we enjoyed expending the money, time and effort on making his Christmas magical. Back to buying each other nice things now but don't go overboard. Sometimes have a wish list.

I had lovely presents. I always get a beautiful diary. Also had some perfume he knew I wanted and a new book by my favourite author.
I bought him headphones, weights, pen, all things I knew he wanted.

Married 40 years so we definitely know what each other wouldn't like.

Hairydogmummy · 29/12/2019 10:26

We've been together 7 years. My DH spends quite a lot on me. It's usually several nice items of clothing, shoes or boots, a book, perfume or skincare, underwear/nightwear, jewellery or a watch. He gets me about 10 things normally. It must cost at least £300. I know I'm really lucky and shouldn't moan but have tried to discourage him from spending so much. We aren't particularly well off and there are other things we need to spend it on really but he insists and loves buying me Xmas presents. I spend about half that on him!

Sleepycat91 · 29/12/2019 10:37

We normally do but just because of the year weve had, it was no xmas or bday presents this year. We had to save an extra 500 pound a month on top of our usual savings oct/nov because the bank moved the goalposts on our house deposit last second and we had to make up the shortfall and our DD was 5 weeks early and had to have major surgery at a week old and we didn't get her home until mid December so we were knackered and just didn't have the time to go get anything for anyone and went to a relatives for xmas dinner rather than stay home. It didnt feel very xmasy for either of us so hoping for a better one next year

Lionsleepstonight · 29/12/2019 10:42

I buys his gift, but usually something he wants or needs, so this year it was a drill. I then bought my gift from him to me and I got a Mulberry bag Grin

Works well for us (me).

LazyDaisey · 29/12/2019 10:45

I keep begging my DH to get me a dryer for Xmas. He refuses as he feels that’s not a present for me. I got a cashmere scarf and expensive perfume. I love them but I really would have preferred to plough that 200-300 into a nicer dryer.

Men can’t win sometimes.

CFlemingSmith · 29/12/2019 10:46

We don’t buy gifts anymore, we just put the money towards a holiday as we will both really enjoy it

delilahbucket · 29/12/2019 10:52

My dp is generally very good at gift buying and gets things that are well thought out. I like gift giving too and spend a lot of time thinking up ideal presents, so we're on a level pegging.

EmpressJewel · 29/12/2019 10:57

Me and OH discuss what we are going to buy each other. If does take away the surprise element, but at least we both get what we want.

OH doesn't find present buying easy. He hates shopping and is totally lost on the high street/online. He is very thoughtful in other ways, so I just tell him what I want and where he can get it from and it's job done.

LuluJakey1 · 29/12/2019 10:58

We don't spend a fortune but we buy each other a couple of thoughtful things we think the other will really appreciate. I gave DH a book about American post-war political history, a nice shirt, a t-shirt with a picture of his favourite pub on it with a matching coaster, and a collection of beers. He gave me a very old book about Newcastle that has stuff about my family in it (which I am so excited about) some perfume, and a handbag I said I liked a few weeks ago. We probably spent £100 each. We also spent £20 quid each on a present for each other from the children. Mine was new gardening gloves and his was cheeses. DS and DD helped to buy and wrap them and were very excited when we opened them. Grin

Horsemad · 29/12/2019 11:00

@LuluJakey1, do you mind if I ask what book please? Got a DS studying history & he might be interested if he hasn't already got it. 🙂

MillieMoodle · 29/12/2019 11:07

We've been together 15 years and didn't bother with presents for each other this year. We usually spend about £15 on each other - a CD or a book or something - but this year we bought the DC a Nintendo switch so our budget went towards that. It'd be nice to be able to spend money on each other but we don't have much spare and we'd both rather spend it on the DC.

Deckthehallswith · 29/12/2019 11:23

Me and dp have been together for 12 years. The last few years we have only done small presents each, max 50 euro.
This year I got him a game he wanted and a stocking with small bits and bobs. It's the first year I've done a stocking for him. I gave it to him the Sunday before Xmas when he was moaning looking for socks and he loved it. So much so that he spent and extra 120 on surprise presents for me. And he actually got useful thoughtful gifts.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 29/12/2019 11:24

Yes, mine is very good at choosing gifts and we both have wishlists on Amazon all year round that we add too. Had some amazing things this year as did he. We always make a big deal of Christ, birthdays not so much expect for the children.