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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH gave me the same present as last year

90 replies

thesunonlyshinesonTV · 17/10/2015 20:20

Last year for my birthday DH got me a silver diamanté necklace and matching earrings all very nice.

This year he asked me what I wanted and I said some more jewellery as I have hardly any. So I opened the box and it is exactly the same set as last year. I did not saying anything at the time but am still a bit bewildered.

Is this a man thing? would you have said anything.

OP posts:
Jeffreythegiraffe · 17/10/2015 20:52

Tell him, he's wasted his money otherwise.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 17/10/2015 20:55

Ooo, I had a male friend who did this.

Example: He bought his niece a DVD she loved so he bought it again the following year.

One Christmas someone bought his mum a nice twirly spice rack she really liked so he bought it for her birthday.

Weird.

thesunonlyshinesonTV · 17/10/2015 21:00

I should put both sets on, I have more than one piercing so I could wear both pairs. He probably would still not notice.

OP posts:
AwfulBeryl · 17/10/2015 21:04

Yes do that op Grin

JeffreySadsacIsUnwell · 17/10/2015 21:06

My DH did exactly the same - identical necklace and earrings two years in a row.

I did say something. His response? "Ooooh, that's why it looked like the sort of thing you liked and would wear! I thought it would match your earrings!" (Which he'd given me the previous Christmas to match the necklace the previous birthday to match the earrings the previous Christmas).

At least he tried! I now buy my own presents from him and from the DC and hand them to him in a carrier bag for him to wrap! He still looks so pleased with himself when I unwrap them and say "darling, that's JUST what I wanted! How very thoughtful of you!" Grin

MatildaTheCat · 17/10/2015 21:07

Just tell him and laugh. Exchange for something else and tease him for quite a while.

Happy Birthday. Wine

thesunonlyshinesonTV · 17/10/2015 21:20

Ha Ha, glad I am not alone JefferySad. There are a lot of Jeffrey's on this post.

I get lush every year without fail as well, but love that so that is ok.

OP posts:
Andylion · 17/10/2015 21:25
  • "I thought it looked like something you would wear"!"

I once went shopping with a friend. I called her over, excitedly saying, "This would great on you!". She said, "I have that exact outfit."

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 17/10/2015 21:30

My dad bought me the same book every christmas for three years running. I never said anything.
Then a year later he was asking what I'd like for my birthday, and asked me if I'd ever read that book as he was thinking of giving it to my birthday.
I burst out laughing and said 'you've given me that book three times, I really don't need a fourth copy!'
I thought it was hilarious. He did not and was quite upset :(

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 17/10/2015 21:30

And I didn't even like the book!

DarthVadersTailor · 17/10/2015 21:34

This sounds exactly like the sort of mistake I'd make, especially with womens jewellery as frankly it all looks the same to me!! Not managed it yet but give it time Wink

Hassled · 17/10/2015 21:37

You should definitely wear both sets and see if anyone notices :o.

I have identical sets of amber earrings (DH presents). I can't ever say anything though because it actually took me several months to notice myself.

BubsandMoo · 17/10/2015 21:39

When you said you wanted more jewellery did he perhaps think they you actually meant another set the same so you could wear both sets of earrings at the same time, if you have multiple piercings?

Lweji · 17/10/2015 21:40

Can't you swap it at the store without him noticing?
And if he does, say it was actually last year's gift.

Clearly it's a set he really likes. Grin

ThreeFrazzledFandangos · 17/10/2015 21:42

My dad's done this to my mum twice.

He goes to the jewellers, picks one he likes and never thinks of what he bought last year.

He's utterly clueless about jewellery.

Dogmatix34 · 17/10/2015 21:42

My DH has done this so many times. For my bday he has bought me a straw beach bag 2 years running and when I told him he said that's what's in the shops then( June bday). He's bought me the same book twice, a book we'd both read, enjoyed and discussed. As it was coming out in paperback (we read it in hardback) he'd seen it advertised and thought it was new. He also bought me Black Elle McPherson underwear 2 years running. I have never worn either set.

Chewbecca · 17/10/2015 21:50

You often can't return pierced earrings though Sad

I have been known to buy my mum something she already owned, with the logic that 'I could imagine her wearing it' Blush

Shakey15000 · 17/10/2015 21:54

I can't remember what I bought DH for last birthday (Feb)

I recall saying once I'd love a Kate Bush Greatest hits CD. Come my birthday a CD shaped box appeared (don't fret, I'm not going all Emma Thomson on you all)

Opened it up and it was indeed, a CD! Of Toyah Wilcox's Greatest Hits Grin still in cellophane

CalleighDoodle · 17/10/2015 21:55

I had a charm from my exh one year that i already had because he said he thought id like it. I did, and had it bought for me for my birthday 3 months earlier.

dippydeedoo · 17/10/2015 21:59

My fil bought my mil the exact same watch she wore everyday....when she pointed out it was the same he promptly said oh give it to dippydeedoo then and handed it to me,she was not impressed

MiscellaneousAssortment · 17/10/2015 22:10

I don't know if I'm being totally over demanding, but I don't think it's ok for them to get away with this kind of crap under the guise of 'oh I'm just crap at presents/ thoughtfulness/ thinking of others / noticing etc because I'm a man'... Do these men hold down jobs or buy anything for themselves? Why is it ok for them to think kindly and carefully about their own needs but somehow fail to give a flying fuck about the person that's closest to them?

I am single, maybe that's why...

Lovelydiscusfish · 17/10/2015 22:12

My dad has got my mom the same birthday card several years running. It is an unusual, and I suspect not enormously popular card, in the shape of a hat-box (my mom is not especially into hats. And are hat boxes even a thing, these days?) I have no idea where he sources said card. Adding to the bewilderment, it has quite a patriarchal printed message in it, and my dad is, in any important emotional sense, as different from a patriarch as it is possible for him to be.
My mom and I annually marvel at said card in shared confusion, then agree that he must just "like the shape" (it is oval).
Your dh and dc have, I assume, just hit on something they think you love, and intend to run with it until you tell them otherwise! But do it soon, in this case, before you run out of time to return and exchange for something different from the same store.

MistressMerryWeather · 17/10/2015 22:26

I actually love that Discusfish.

I bet you a bucket of bananas she will be disappointed the year he doesn't get her that card. :o

Dfg15 · 17/10/2015 22:35

My ex h bought me a ring for my 40th. We went out together to get it, he saw me choose it, we waited while it was sized for me, he paid for it. I wore it the following weekend at a family barbecue, he said, in all seriousness 'that's a nice ring, when did u get that? !

TheTigerIsOut · 17/10/2015 22:36

I have a friend who has given me the same Michael Buble's cd every christmas. She loves him... i hate him. I just pass the present forward. No hard feelings (I always forget her birthday)