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AIBU?

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Original poster

to tell dh that I want to take the present back that he bought me

53 replies

startofnewterm · 12/07/2011 18:59

It was my birthday yesterday, and for ages now dh has been trying to get ideas on what to buy me, he's not very good at presents and I usually pick something for myself (which I dont mind doing).

Anyway, as it was a special birthday, he's been asking for ideas from me and dropping hints about getting me a new laptop. I didnt really want or need a new laptop and told him that I was happy with my current one.

His workmates are into all techy stuff and get the latest all singing /dancing technology and I think they have talked him into getting me one. I dont want it and although there is nothing else that I really wish for, I would rather spend the money on new clothes, bit of jewellry, nice bag.

Its not even as it dh has bought it thinking he can use it because he's hopeless on computers.

Is it awful of me to gently explain this to him and return it?

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 12/07/2011 19:47

My husband once came home from work and said... "be ready at 6pm tomorrow, we are going out somewhere special"... now as this man never makes any arrangements and always leaves it to me, I got a little bit excited...

Then the shitbag told me he had booked us both into the dentist for check-ups...... the arse...

LesserOfTwoWeevils · 12/07/2011 19:50

My ex once bought me a book I'd asked for. BUT he wrote an inscription in it and put the date...the wrong date?the day after my birthday, which was his previous GF's birthday.

manchestermummy · 12/07/2011 20:20

Just tell him. If he's a true "d"h he will understand.

A few years ago, my Dh bought me a "Slap Chop", some piece of kitchen equipment that claims to chop up veggies with ease. I saw it on an informercial in Canada and jokingly said I wanted one. Bless him he had one shipped. That was, however, just a 'joke' present. My 'real' present was a rather lovely emerald pendant, which would have been fabulous were it not for the fact that he'd bought me the same thing the previous year...

takethisonehereforastart · 12/07/2011 20:35

I got a secondhand hamster one valentines day.

When it died (a couple of years later) I said I didn't want another one. Christmas came and so did a big glass tank with three of them in it.

His reasoning was "You said you liked the ones next door. And you said you didn't want another one, but there are three of these!"

purplepidjin · 12/07/2011 20:40

My dad once bought my mum one of those humungous boxes of crunchy nut cornflakes for christmas

In his defence, I'd just gone to uni so wasn't available to help, and she was full of the joys of the menopause and he couldn't put a foot right as it was. It was the only thing he could think of that she'd definitely like.

She did enjoy them Grin

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 12/07/2011 22:27

Are you me SortingHat? I got an airfix kit one year too! He said he thought it would give me something to do while I was very pregnant and couldn't do so much... we ended up trying to piece it together while I was in the early stages of labour, getting all the wrong bits stuck together and then chucking it in the bin in frustration!

OriginalPoster · 12/07/2011 22:32

I got a red basque [hblush]

Took it back to m and s, it took two supervisors in front of a long queue 10 minutes to discuss really loudly how much it was...

Think I would prefer the airfix...

LittleMissFlustered · 12/07/2011 22:32

Purple, your dad rules. That is all.

OriginalPoster · 12/07/2011 22:33

Squeaky GrinGrin

BikeRunSki · 12/07/2011 22:40

Many years ago my uncle bought my aunt a BBCMicro (early computer) for her birthday.
Three weeks later, she bought him some pearl earrings for his.

purplepidjincantatem · 12/07/2011 22:43

LMF, yeah he kinda does actually Grin

BikeRunSki, I like your Auntie! although a pearl necklace might have been more amusing

VioletV · 12/07/2011 22:48

lmfao @ airfix kit...

I think you should be honest with your husband and explain you'd love something else. There is no point pretending you like something when you don't.

OriginalPoster · 12/07/2011 22:56

imfao

What's that then? Confused

GiveMeSomeSpace · 12/07/2011 23:07

I still cringe about this and cannot believe what could have possibly gone through my head. Before I married my wife I bought her a battery charger and some rechargeable batteries for Christmas. Wasn't even accompanied by a fun buzzing toy. I just thought they would be, well........ useful. It's a practical thing.
She opened this wonderful gift in front of her parents and sisters at the family home. Unbelievably, she still married me and they accepted me into the family.
As I'm writing this I realise that she never complained - just relentlessly took the piss for years to come. I learnt my lesson.

AgentZigzag · 12/07/2011 23:08

lmfao = laughing my fucking ass/arse off OriginalPoster.

cece · 12/07/2011 23:14

My DH gave me a keep fit mat once Hmm

OriginalPoster · 12/07/2011 23:18

Thanks zigzag, thought the l was an I...

Merrylegs · 12/07/2011 23:20

Ok. my poor sis. I always trot out her Dh's crap birthday presents on threads like these but I guarantee it will make you all feel better about your useless gifts.

So last year she got - an ironing board cover.

And this year. A tenner. In an envelope.

GiveMeSomeSpace · 12/07/2011 23:22

Merrylegs that makes me a whole lot better

CrumblyMumbly · 12/07/2011 23:27

My dh bought me some engine oil and a filter for my car one Christmas - lovingly wrapped up (bastard emoticon)

razors · 12/07/2011 23:32

It's a man thing - my youngest dd was 6 today. My neighbour, a very kind and thoughtful man, bought my dd an ice cube tray Confused He was so chuffed and pleased with himself - I wanted to laugh so much. They were heart shaped and he really thought they were brilliant hehehe

TheNoodlesIncident · 12/07/2011 23:56

My DH bought me a hammer one Mother's Day.

Oh the joy.

timetosmile · 13/07/2011 00:07

Same here, noodles! I got a new camping mallet (with a ribbon bow on) and some super-strength tent pegs for my birthday.
I fought the urge to use them immediately and took them camping last month.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 13/07/2011 00:07

Dp bought me a sackload of football management games for my Amiga 1200 on my 14th birthday Angry

I got my revenge by becoming master of 'soccercards' Wink

razzlebathbone · 13/07/2011 00:07

Last Xmas I opened my present from DH and it was a used cereal box. I thought it was a joke and inside there would be another more exciting, expensive and beautiful gift. I was sort of right; he had used the cereal box as a hilarious ruse for my real present. A packet of biscuits.

He was so pleased with himself as well cos they are my favourite biscuits. I didn't have the heart to punch him.