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Original poster

What do I want for my birthday?

30 replies

Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 21:34

Dh has just asked me and I just don't know what to tell him. Last birthday he bought me a new saddle but I don't need anything horse related this time.

He's bought me nice things from Fairfax and favor in the past: handbags, boots but again I'm ok for all these things now.

I don't really wear jewellery other than the necklace, engagement ring and wedding ring I wear every day. He's bought me nice earrings which I wear when we go out but I don't need any more of those.

I'm a country girl, we live on a farm but I like a weekend away so have nice clothes for that and he recently got me new Le Chameau wellies.

Trouble is I don't need anything - and anything I want, he's already bought me. 😬

We are staying away for my birthday weekend as we have an event to attend so I can't even say just take me away.

Any ideas on what you would like if you were in my shoes?!

OP posts:
Coronationstation · 17/07/2023 21:46

In all honesty, I’m over buying presents for adults for the sake of buying presents when there’s clearly nothing they want or need for and can afford whatever they might want themself!! Save the treat for another occasion.

MenArentMindReaders · 17/07/2023 21:49

A massage
A voucher for some yoga classes

Sarvanga38 · 17/07/2023 21:50

Coronationstation · 17/07/2023 21:46

In all honesty, I’m over buying presents for adults for the sake of buying presents when there’s clearly nothing they want or need for and can afford whatever they might want themself!! Save the treat for another occasion.

Me too. Happy to buy whatever people want, when they decide they want it, but I am well past wasting money and cluttering people’s houses with stuff they don’t even want.

Put it off until something does appeal.

Hawkins0001 · 17/07/2023 21:51

@Loafbeginsat60 what's the budget range ?

Original poster
Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 21:51

Ooh yes there is a spa near me that does the most wonderful full body massage in heated beds.

Great idea!

I get what you mean about presents when you don't need anything but dh does not and always wants to treat me. So if I don't give him a hint he will buy a hideously expensive thing I don't really want....

OP posts:
Original poster
Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 21:52

Budget £500 maybe? Saddle was more than that but that was a one off

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 17/07/2023 21:58

I'm another one who's over exchanging presents.

If you have to tell him what to buy, it's not a present from him, it's just another job for you to do having to think of a present.

Just exchange token presents then money isn't going to be wasted. Let him buy you perfume, chocolate, alcohol, fancy handcream aimed at horsey types, whatever. So he has to go out and choose, buy and wrap something, but it won't clutter the house up and there isn't the pressure to get it right like there is with an expensive thing that you have to use, wear or look at, so want it to be right.

reluctantbrit · 17/07/2023 22:01

I always apprecialte book vouchers/book money.

I love a good massage or full body treatment.

My current "really want to have" is a bread maker, I just have to convince DH that we have space for it.

Original poster
Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 22:03

I do need some more perfume and typically it's £££ so I wouldn't buy it myself.

I like a present - maybe that's not the Mumsnet way but I grew up with very little and have never had someone to treat me like he does.

My last marriage was always a dvd and some after eights from Tesco, bought the night before my birthday.

I have a different life now and a husband who likes treating me, I am happy to indulge him!

I get that with the cost of living crisis it's maybe really crass to talk about it. But I have had my 20 years of being properly skint too.

OP posts:
Isseywith3witchycats · 17/07/2023 22:04

Much lower price but OH bought me a pair of embroidered joe browns jeans for christmas and different pattern but is what ive asked for my birthday love them comfy and nice fit, in context he got taken to a Kiss gig for his

Original poster
Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 22:06

Jongleterre · 17/07/2023 22:00

I like it but (sorry there is a but) I have one quite similar

OP posts:
Original poster
Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 22:07

reluctantbrit · 17/07/2023 22:01

I always apprecialte book vouchers/book money.

I love a good massage or full body treatment.

My current "really want to have" is a bread maker, I just have to convince DH that we have space for it.

Definitely going for the massage.

OP posts:
Original poster
Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 22:08

reluctantbrit · 17/07/2023 22:01

I always apprecialte book vouchers/book money.

I love a good massage or full body treatment.

My current "really want to have" is a bread maker, I just have to convince DH that we have space for it.

I had a bread maker way back but never really used it. We low carb now so it would be far too tempting!

They are bulky aren't they which is a shame. Could you keep it in a cupboard when not in use?

OP posts:
Hawkins0001 · 17/07/2023 22:09

Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 21:52

Budget £500 maybe? Saddle was more than that but that was a one off

In that case for me it's a semi decent laptop so I can centralise my information rather than spread over different tablets.

Original poster
Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 22:14

Hmm I have a good laptop which I don't use and a work one

Recently got a new phone

I would like something to keep, use, rather than an experience I think.

Although maybe he could pay for nails every 3 weeks for a year?! That would be an nice treat. My nails break so easily with the horses that I have builder gel on most of the time.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 17/07/2023 22:24

Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 22:03

I do need some more perfume and typically it's £££ so I wouldn't buy it myself.

I like a present - maybe that's not the Mumsnet way but I grew up with very little and have never had someone to treat me like he does.

My last marriage was always a dvd and some after eights from Tesco, bought the night before my birthday.

I have a different life now and a husband who likes treating me, I am happy to indulge him!

I get that with the cost of living crisis it's maybe really crass to talk about it. But I have had my 20 years of being properly skint too.

It's not the high value that makes it a treat for me, it's 'I thought of you and remembered (correctly) that you like this, so I bought you some' that's the present.

So remembering that I like a certain type of biscuits, or even though I'd always pick the tiny expensive box of chocolates over a giant tub of Quality Street or similar, I do like Ferrero Rochers, even though they're cheap and nasty according to some. Or I like gin, but not pink gin, cava but not prosecco etc.

If I wanted a saddle, or wellies (well I don't but what I do want is some new hiking boots, or 'approach shoes' as I've now learned when I went into the hiking shop) but for me to buy or be given those, I first need to research what type I should be looking for, which brands are most likely to fit my narrow feet, what size I will need, which frustratingly isn't likely to be the same size as any of the other shoes I own Confused, then I need to try some on, so while it will end up with me getting something new and expensive, because I've decided that, sod the expense, walking is my main hobby and I want some really good hiking shoes (read comfortable and grippy so I'm less likely to fall over) it's not going to be designated as a present from DP for my upcoming big birthday, because he's not putting in any of the work of obtaining them. And I don't particularly care who pays for them.

Hawkins0001 · 17/07/2023 22:26

Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 22:14

Hmm I have a good laptop which I don't use and a work one

Recently got a new phone

I would like something to keep, use, rather than an experience I think.

Although maybe he could pay for nails every 3 weeks for a year?! That would be an nice treat. My nails break so easily with the horses that I have builder gel on most of the time.

I can understand your perspectives. A set of tailored or specially made riding crops?

reluctantbrit · 18/07/2023 07:56

Loafbeginsat60 · 17/07/2023 22:14

Hmm I have a good laptop which I don't use and a work one

Recently got a new phone

I would like something to keep, use, rather than an experience I think.

Although maybe he could pay for nails every 3 weeks for a year?! That would be an nice treat. My nails break so easily with the horses that I have builder gel on most of the time.

Any artwork?

Original poster
Loafbeginsat60 · 18/07/2023 08:52

Artwork is interesting. We have just moved into our new house and building another soon so I might have to save that for when the big house is finished. Not sure what I'll want to go where?

Riding stuff - I don't really ride a lot now and I have some lovely dubarry boots gathering dust. I'm only hacking anyway - I don't compete or show.

He brings the little things home regularly - my favourite chocolate, my favourite gin, things he sees on his travels that he thinks I will like. The best one was a Christmas ornament in May one year! He had been out seeing a client and his wife was making them - it was such a surprise and I am a massive Xmas fan!!

I wondered about a nice trench coat but then where would I really wear it. Over dresses for nights out?

OP posts:
BuddhaAtSea · 18/07/2023 09:00

I’m into photography. I know phone cameras are quite good, but it doesn’t compare, seriously. So, how about a good camera?
I just got a new lens as a present :)

AnxiousShep · 18/07/2023 10:25

@BuddhaAtSea if she goes down that route she could end up very poor 🤣wouldn’t be without my cameras though.

Original poster
Loafbeginsat60 · 18/07/2023 11:47

Camera sounds interesting....!

OP posts:
Namechangecosyeah · 18/07/2023 11:54

iPad, really nice weekend bag, swanky meal in posh restaurant? I love the idea of a years worth of manicures or a massage.

Jericha · 18/07/2023 12:02

I've asked for a rose. We don't see ourselves moving from this house and I already have plants my mum has grown on for me, and sentimental stuff taken from my Granny's plus stuff bought for previous birthdays. I love going in the garden and thinking of all the people and past occasions that have contributed to the flowers out there.

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