I don't want a new kettle for Christmas

[BeaMends]

Would you?

We had our kitchen done last year and I bought a reasonably priced replacement kettle then. It has turned out to be less than great, it leaks a bit when you pour, and the lid doesn't open fully when you press the button to fill it up any more. I've been looking for a couple of weeks for another one, but haven't seen one that I really like yet. Well I have seen a couple, but they have been out of stock.

Yesterday evening DH said could I please not buy anything kitchen-related before Christmas, and I asked him did that include a kettle? He said yes, he didn't really want to spoil a surprise, but wanted to get me a good quality one. Apparently he's found some posh kitchen shop that sells expensive kettles, and he wants to buy one from there. My heart sank.

Thing is... although it's a nice thought, I'd rather not have a domestic appliance as a Christmas present. How do I approach this? The difficult bit is that I can't think of anything else that I want that he could buy instead.

AIBU and being ungrateful, and should let him get it? Or should I tell him that I'd prefer another gift?

Help!!

I got an Iron a few years ago.

Fortunately for him, it was DH trying g to be funny and I got a proper present as well. Especially since it was his iron that had broken, and mine still worked fine.

The only way I can see a kettle being acceptable if its matching a selection of wanted kitchen equipment (like a good mixer for a keen baker)

Tell him you've already bought him a kettle for Christmas!

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule - I know me too!
I can ALWAYS think of lovely things I would like and i have given my dh a strict 'nothing practical / sensible / for the household' caveat to present buying. To be fair he is really good at choosing things I love.

One year it was a tv and skybox for the bedroom which I had never wanted before and I was a bit but it has turned out to be a much used and loved present to all is forgiven!

It is bliss to be done with the day and cosy up in bed with netflix or the tv. I really love it now.

I would not love a kettle, even though I am buying dh a fancy coffee machine, which is hypocritical but he loves a practical but luxurious present!

OP surely you can think of something you would love but might not go out and buy yourself ?

I'd just tell him straight. A kettle is functional item that you buy for the whole house to use, not a gift for a specific person.

As a joke present, I have been known to buy him washing-up gloves.

And of course, it lands up being used by everyone.

Exactly. It's the equivalent of buying your partner a dustbin or a laundry basket or something.

@Cocomarine. Me either! In fact, I'd sooner have the kettle 😂

I'm very hard to buy for, I don't ever want much and I'm very fussy about things, so I actually prefer to buy stuff myself. I'm diabetic too, so anything edible is a no go.

I'm appreciative of gifts/people effort, but anyone that knows me well enough to buy me a gift should know to avoid the 'Generic Vagina List' especially with anything scented!

Kettle: No
Fancy coffee machine with all bells and whistles: Yes :)

There are other things that I'd like. Trouble is, when I look at the list they are all household-related. I want some new towels for the new bathroom we had done a couple of months ago. Likewise a new laundry basket. I would like some new fitted wardrobes and a new bedroom carpet.

But they're not presents, dammit!!!

Aaarghhhh..........

id rather get something i know someone needs rather than fiddle around trying to guess what they want , im assuming he doesnt really know what you want or would like and this is where the problem lies ,
strangely im much the same in gift recieving as well , if i needed a new appliance id much rather have that than a load of sodding body creams and scented candles id have no use for lol

@BeaMends NO they are NOT presents! Come on, you can do this...

Is it likely to be your main present? I get random items, like a toasted sandwich maker. Still have it, it's one of the cheaper ones that seal the edges and if it's got cheese it'll burn your mouth, love it. I do get a proper present as well.

No issue with him getting you a kettle provided you get something else more personal.

@BeaMends

There are other things that I'd like. Trouble is, when I look at the list they are all household-related. I want some new towels for the new bathroom we had done a couple of months ago. Likewise a new laundry basket. I would like some new fitted wardrobes and a new bedroom carpet.

But they're not presents, dammit!!!

Aaarghhhh..........

Aren't they?

I've had several christmases and birthdays where I have been unable to think of anything just for me and "fun" and have asked for things like a new spendy mattress or a fancy oak coffee table. He doesn't see the need to spend hundreds on a coffee table and would be happy with a £30 one from ikea, so that's definitely for me!

I’d be happy with a kettle or a toaster. Rather those than useless tat I won’t use.

I do appreciate some people prefer the useless tat though.

It's not the main present. That's a rather nice bracelet. That I asked for, and he had no clue about which shop etc, so I went and got that, and he gave me the cash.

I want a surprise present.

If he has to think of a surprise present, heaven knows what he'll come up with. Which is why I do feel a bit guilty that he has actually thought of something he knows I want, and why I can't really bring myself to tell him.

Man up, woman.

It’s not useless tat if you love it though, is it...

I love handbags, scarves, boots, jewellery, art, pottery, basically pretty things in many forms. I also love books, plants and cosy items for my home like cushions, throws, blankets. They’re not tat, and I love to receive them as gifts from DH. This year he got me an early Christmas present of Emma Bridgewater crockery because he knows I’ve wanted some for ages. If he got me a kitchenaid or a fancy rice cooker I’d be happy enough because both of those are things we don’t strictly need and we can easily do without since they’re very expensive. If he got me a kettle I’d not be impressed because a) we already have one and b) it’s strictly a functional piece and we’d always have one anyway.

Above to @coogee.

I would dissuade him from buying his mother a toaster and say 'while we're talking about this, I would also rather not have a kettle as my gift'.

Can't believe everyone thinks a kettle is a shit gift. DP is getting a kettle and a toaster for Christmas and I think he'll really like them! I got a toaster for my birthday once and it was a great gift.

It’s all down to the individual - OP thinks it’s a shit gift so it doesn’t really matter what the rest of us think!

It's a lovely thing for him to buy. But it's not something for you, is it. Why isnt it a present for him?

A kettle is too much of a basic need. A serious coffee machine for a coffee buff, yes. A kettle..... no.

It’s all down to the individual - OP thinks it’s a shit gift so it doesn’t really matter what the rest of us think!

Very true.

I got a cordless vacuum cleaner for Christmas a couple of years ago. I was/am very happy very happy with it.

So happy I said it twice.

I'm getting a new kettle for Christmas. I've asked for it because DD and her best friend broke my lovely fancy one. And fused the downstairs at the same time.

So I'm getting a dualit one and I'm very happy about it. In fact despite the fact that I could just buy it now I'm having it as a present because I'll genuinely love it and even more so after another few weeks of having to boil water on the stove.

I've always had a thing about fancy kettles though so I accept I'm weird.

@BeaMends

It's not the main present. That's a rather nice bracelet. That I asked for, and he had no clue about which shop etc, so I went and got that, and he gave me the cash.

I want a surprise present.

If he has to think of a surprise present, heaven knows what he'll come up with. Which is why I do feel a bit guilty that he has actually thought of something he knows I want, and why I can't really bring myself to tell him.

Man up, woman.

Perhaps he'll get you a sandwich maker, great.