This is mine and partners 8th Christmas together. We have two children. When we were first together it was expensive presents (he bought me an iPad out first Christmas together when we didn’t live together , how things change 🤣). In most recent years we’ve got each other little things. Mostly clothes, shoes, perfume, aftershave books, dvds we wanted etc. Up until last year we would buy each other something.
This year we have decided against it. Money has become tighter and neither of us really need anything. We have decided to treat ourselves to a box set to watch in the evenings and we have a couple days free this week so we may go out for lunch at one point. We do buy stuff during the week when have some extra money.
Mil came over yesterday and asked what I got for partner. I told her nothing and she reacted and said I should buy him something. I told her that he specifically said not to as we’ve been trying to save money. I told her he wouldn’t have got me anything (the last couple years I’ve had to pick out my own presents 🤣). She wasn’t impressed and told me that her and her partner always buy each other something nice which is fine of course.
Aibu to think partners don’t have to buy each other anything? We have our own house, money has been tight in recent months and we’ve just spent out a lot on a new car (new to us anyway). Our two children have a great Christmas but we’ve been cut down on what we’ve spent on them this year.
Plus we are looking into home improvements in the new year so it seems pointless buying each other things for the sake of it when we don’t really need much.
My grandparents have never bought each other anything as such for birthdays and Christmas. They’ve favoured spending it on things for their home, their children and grandchildren and they’ve been together for over 60 years so it can’t be that bad!