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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Annoyed with gift from DH or grateful to get one?

46 replies

recycledbottle · 25/12/2019 07:20

I should start by saying DH and I are going through a rough patch and so I'm probably super sensitive. I got DH one present but it is something he wanted. I looked around a while for it and paid for it out of my current acciunt. DH went out shopping yesterday evening for my presents. He got gloves, which are lovely. I used to read a magazine years ago and last year he got me a six month subscription. I thanked him but during the year he noticed I hadn't read some. I told him it was a lovely idea but I don't read that mag anymore and haven't really in ten years, thanks though for the thought. This year he got me a year subscription of the same magazine. I had also asked for a makeup mirror and he got me a jewellery box despite the fact I have no jewellery. He also put everything on our joint cc rather than from his own account. I pay off the joint cc from my wage. Because I essentially half pay for these, I told him to return the jewellery box and cancel the subscription for the mag. I wasn't kind about it either but said quietly that I wasnt interested in paying for a magazine that I don't read or for a jewellery box when I have no jewellery. Thank you for the gloves but in future use your current account for presents and put some thought into it. Thats what I do and I expect the same in return. Aibu? He thinks I am ungrateful. There are ungoing issues with DH not listening to me at all.

OP posts:
ButtonandPickle19 · 25/12/2019 08:57

It sounds like it’s a physical manifestation of the bigger issues here. It’s not that he got shit presents, they may have been lovely, but not something he should have got you. And loving you should mean he knows you x

IdiotInDisguise · 25/12/2019 08:59

Oh YANBU at all, that gift only shows he doesn’t care enough and he made you pay for it (that would be what would have me reeling...)

Buy playing devils advocate... I cannot find a decent present for DP, not because I don’t love him or I don’t care for him but because he never expresses a wish for anything material, he has spent a year “decluttering” his life so I feel that whatever object I can get him, goes against the direction he is going towards at the moment.

Gingerkittykat · 25/12/2019 09:20

Amazon wish lists are your friend.

I do agree it is shitty putting it on the joint credit card.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 25/12/2019 09:29

The jewelry box by itself I'd probably say to get over it.
But he got you a magazine subscription you specifically said you didn't want AND used the joint cc?
Yeah, that's thoughtless. Is he this thoughtless about everything in the relationship?

forgivemeimnew · 25/12/2019 09:44

I could understand keeping quiet about the gifts if he had paid for them, but he used the joint cc which you pay off. How bloody cheeky! I don’t blame you for telling him.
I’m sorry Flowers

diddl · 25/12/2019 10:11

I think that you've done the right thing & probably should have done the same if he'd paid.

What's the point of a magazine just to chuck away?

I hate money wasting & the thought of keeping something that won't be used just for the sake of an adult's feelings really winds me up.

He should have known better imo.

Why are some men forgiven because "aww bless they tried"?

ny20005 · 25/12/2019 10:18

You are most definitely not being unreasonable! You were grateful last year but since told him you don't read the magazine. Quite right to call him out on it !

Return what you can & buy yourself something you want

MarianaMoatedGrange · 25/12/2019 10:20

Why are some men forgiven because "aww bless they tried"?

Female socialisation and the patriarchy.

Tellmetruth4 · 25/12/2019 10:24

Well done on telling him. There are people on here who will tell you to be grateful but why should you? He’s shown you he doesn’t give a shit. He gave you what you said you didn’t want and made you pay for it.

Ignore the martyrs who will accept the gift, say nothing, then come on here to moan. He knows now so will hopefully make an actual effort next year.

ArranUpsideDown · 25/12/2019 10:28

DH is inconsiderate in general and he thought this was him making an effort.

tbh, I'm not sure that even he thinks that he made a 'real' effort. He must have a reasonable idea what other men do and that his own efforts are a pretty poor show.

Best wishes for the remainder of Christmas with your guests.

bridgetreilly · 25/12/2019 10:39

I think the time to smile and say thank you is today. The time to say, actually, I'm returning some of these and in future, please remember not to buy presents from me on the credit card I pay for, is probably tomorrow or in a few days time.

DameFanny · 25/12/2019 10:56

I think the time to smile and say thank you is today.

Nope. Smiling now and saying "I already told you I didn't want that and also you've made me bloody pay for it myself" later just means he gets to feel rewarded today and completely forget what she says again later. When someone has been THAT RUDE to you it's not polite to make them feel good about themselves - it's active self-harm.

recycledbottle · 25/12/2019 11:26

@bridgetreilly too late for that! We have discussed again since and he understands and apologised. I didn't want him telling family what he got me today knowing it would be returned\cancelled. I wanted it off my chest also. It is all discussed and we can now enjoy our day

OP posts:
90schic · 25/12/2019 11:29

Another thread... that’s FOUR ... about women who are unhappy with their gifts. Whyyyyyy. I got nothing, so did DP, we are still having a nice day...

recycledbottle · 25/12/2019 11:32

@90schic if you and DP got nothing then you agreed between you so nothing to be upset about. Enjoy your day

OP posts:
isabellerossignol · 25/12/2019 11:32

I think this type of behaviour is all a type of mind game. He knows that you have guests and you won't want a frosty atmosphere in front of them, so he knows he has got one over on you. You will smile and say it's fine, then if you bring it up tomorrow he can say 'well you're giving mixed messages because you said it was fine yesterday'. No matter which option you take, you will be in the wrong.

There is a huge difference between an a kind but misguided person trying to choose a gift and getting it a bit wrong and someone actually choosing something that you have specifically said you don't like and then making you pay for it yourself.

adaline · 25/12/2019 11:47

No, you're not being unreasonable at all.

You're totally entitled to be upset - he didn't listen to you and just got you easy gifts. That's not nice or thoughtful or kind - it's lazy and unthinking of him.

I don't get all these women excusing him with "well, he tried" - no, he didn't try. He didn't get anything you'd asked for and even got something you'd specifically said not to get!

inthekitchensink · 25/12/2019 18:33

Well done for calling him out. If he couldn’t afford presents (which he should have planned for) then he could have put some thought into arranging a special day for you both that doesn’t cost much.

dontgobaconmyheart · 25/12/2019 19:32

You weren't being U, OP. How can you be ungrateful for something that you actually paid for yourself Confused. Glad he understands upon discussion and hope you were able to salvage the day for yourself.

tillytrotter1 · 27/12/2019 12:17

My OH gave me Hotel Chocolat chocolates that daughter got for him in the city, he left the bag lying round too, he also gave me an annual that had been off my Amazon account. I gave him something I like, in case he didn't. Neither of us gets too het up about presents, never have.

Skinnychip · 27/12/2019 12:24

DH gave me 1 present I specifically asked for and 1 spur of the moment generic present you would buy for a female you didnt know well.(a toiletries and make up set from M and S ) He went out to town specifically to get me "something else" so there would be a surprise. I was quite fine with the first item and expected nothing else. I said don't go (he of course left it til last minute) as you will hate it, it will be v busy. But he went anyway. I have been hunting for the receipt so I can just return the items and buy something I would actually use (I know he took cash to get them) and tbh he wouldnt notice....but I can't find it!

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