Being "taken" out for dinner, would you expect a present too?

[Egyptpic]

BF of 6 months has made quite a thing about "taking" me out tonight for my birthday. We usually go halves, or work on a you paid last time, I'll get this, basis. Not keeping formal count but it all works out.

For his birthday I bought him something to do and got the same for me so we could go together, something he'd previously suggested it would be nice to do, but we'd only been together a few weeks then. So, I'm not sure if I've set a precendent!

I'm genuinely not bothered about presents, I'm terrible at buying them (see gift above) because I really don't care for myself and find it hard to see why others might care. I'd rather not have a gift than have someone spend time and money on something I don't like and need to keep/use so as not to offend.

So I don't really mind if he hasn't, in some ways it will be a relief if that's the deal and neither of us needs to bother going forward, but if he has got something, I've no idea what it could be and wondering if I'm going to need my "that's lovely" face!

I’d give it zero thought

aside from getting excited about seeing my boyfriend of 6 months for a birthday dinner out

So I don't really mind if he hasn't

😆

No I think bring 'taken out' is the present. If they say shall we go out for your birthday that's different. But I'm 'taking you out' implies that's your birthday gift.

I wouldn't expect a gift, no. Eating out is so expensive now, and if he's paying I'd appreciate that as the birthday treat.

At only 6 months in no.

You're overthinking! Just enjoy your dinner out and birthday smooching

May be a token?

You would really mind or you wouldn't have posted on here! Dating seems such a minefield these days.

Yes..
But my 6 month birthday gift was a 4 day holiday.... So I might be in cloud cuckoo land....

Don’t expect anything and if they do give you something smile and say thank you. Like.. I dunno, everyone else? Practice your surprise smile gift face if you like but don’t be or show any disappointment if he hasn’t got you something. Particularly if he’s taking you out somewhere nice to eat. Maybe drinks after ?

I like a birthday present separate from going out to dinner together or doing something together as a couple (I assume you mean something like a cooking class or an ‘experience’ day?), because that just sounds like another date. In early dating all you’re really doing is going out to eat or doing pre-planned ‘activities’, birthdays need to be more special than that! I suppose if it’s a really fancy restaurant then that would be fine without a present on top.

MN disapproves of adults making a fuss over birthdays, but I personally make a really big deal of mine! Especially since turning 30. I essentially have a birthday month 😅 I always go away, and have multiple celebrations with different groups of friends. Most years a birthday spa day too. You only live once. 🙂

Yes, I would expect a present/token gift in addition to the meal out.

And what would your reaction be if you didn’t get what you “expect”? @ShanghaiDiva ?

Happy Birthday! Have a lovely evening. 😀

yea, I’d expect a present too. Although it depends on what “taken out” looks like.
if you’d normally go to the pub for dinner, and he’s taking you out to the pub and paying for your share, then yes, I’d expect something else - flowers, small gift etc.

if he’s taking you out to a very posh restaurant, then no. Probably not.

I am an over thinker myself, but as I read you post my only reaction was ‘wow, she is really overthinking this one’.
Just go with the flow and see what happens. Either a present or no present is reasonable. And you are a big girl, you can handle a present you don’t love if that is what happens.

Yes I'd expect a gift too... unless the restaurant is outlandishly special/pricey

well it’s not about what I would “ expect” but if I were taking a boyfriend out for his birthday I would pay for dinner and I would have a present and card for him. If you don’t want a present you need to have discussed that or expressed a preference in some way.

I would totally expect a present if you’ve been going out for 6 months. Not something big but a thoughtful small something and would be a bit sad if not.

I’d expect a gift. A meal is not a birthday gift.

I am a brat, mind.

How you would react is what I’m curious about!

I wouldn’t react, but I’d mark his card if we were just dating. A generous and thoughtful
partner is hugely important and if they’re not, they’d probably be binned.

I think I it's normal to buy some kind of gift even if only small as dinner is expensive.

I would expect a gift too I think!

After six months I would definitely expect a present as well as being taken out!
My boyfriend and I had been together five months by the time our first Christmas came around and we got each other proper presents.