Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that nobody ever buys you the things you secretly want?

106 replies

FangsForTheMemory · 08/12/2022 23:26

For Christmas/birthdays. You have to ask.

Please share the things you’d like but don’t get. Reasonable things, though! Mine is a £50 bouquet with cellophane and ribbon, the works.

OP posts:
CallieQ · 09/12/2022 01:02

I ask for what I want 🤷‍♀️

DimplesToadfoot · 09/12/2022 01:57

All my life whenever I was asked what I wanted I always said a Mr Potato Head, Naturally I didn't get presents as a child and never expected to get one. As an adult when asked by various DPs, friends or own DCs (now adults) I've still asked for one. I always said when it came to partners I would marry the man that bought me one, it would show he listened to me and would buy me what I wanted, I've never married. Friends laugh and scoff and my DC think I'm senile.

I'm the wrong side of 50, I doubt I'll ever get one, but every time I'm asked I'm still going to answer the same. I now usually follow it with "why do you ask you never get what I ask for anyway"

I even bought one for my GD and as she was unwrapping it I piped up that I'd asked for one for 50yrs and never got one so I'm making sure she doesn't miss ou

I'll have peeps flummoxed this year, I've already bought myself socks, slippers, dressing gown and a potato masher 🤣

nexus63 · 09/12/2022 01:59

my son puts money in my bank for birthday and christmas, i am happy with that as he knows i can buy what i want, i live on benefits and always worry about buying things, my microwave and fridge needed replacing and he got them to stop me worrying. i buy myself some perfumes and clothes that i would not normally buy.i don't see any point in getting gifts that you don't want and will not use.

JennyWI · 09/12/2022 02:02

mood board time! cut out pictures of the things you secertly love, put them on the board and say "wouldnt it be lovely to have these things someday?"

sashh · 09/12/2022 02:04

I have arthritis everywhere, it makes holding a book to read hard so I have a kindle.

My brother has bought me books a couple of times, from Amazon, I receive the book, send it back to Amazon and then buy a kindle book.

And he knows I do this and why.

VillanellesCoat · 09/12/2022 02:06

familyissues12345 · 08/12/2022 23:36

You can never have too many pairs of Pyjamas @Kanaloa !

Show quote history

Agreed. Nor can you have too many books 😁

DilemmaDelilah · 09/12/2022 06:56

I want Audible credits (oh no... It's not as good as a REAL book and you can get loads of books free anyway) actual physical books (I wouldn't know what to get you/it's not in the shops yet) pampering...i.e. Facials, Indian head massages, theatre tickets (too expensive)... And for Valentine's day I want a proper bouquet with cellophane and ribbon, from a florist and with my favourite flowers. AND I want my siblings to take their fair share in visiting etc. It always seems to be me that makes the effort.

Nottodaysausage · 09/12/2022 07:08

I secretly want really expensive things so I wouldn't dare say out loud, because I'd hate for DH or family to feel that my normal presents werent lovely enough😂
But if santa, if you are reading, please can I have a cartier love bangle, cartier panther earrings, a big emerald ring, a bottle of 2000 dom and some beluga caviar.
Thanks 😘

mrsmarmalade12 · 09/12/2022 07:20

I would like some Charlotte tilbury make up, a small over the shoulder bag to fit some essentials in and some Miss Dior perfume. I will instead end up with something for the house probably. I always think I'm easy to buy for, however people seem to always miss the mark!

luxxlisbon · 09/12/2022 07:23

@earsup I tried hinting with a friend who is rich...she can be quite outspoken...she told me what i liked was crap..a designer hand bag

Have you ever thought that your friends just doesn’t want to buy you a designer handbag? That’s a very big gift to ask a friend to buy you.

girlmom21 · 09/12/2022 07:35

Everyone's saying 'just ask' which is fine for most things but a big posh bunch of flowers doesn't hit the same if you've had to ask for them.

thegreylady · 09/12/2022 07:36

Amazon vouchers so I can buy books for my Kindle. I secretly covet an Oodie but I am 78 and people just smile indulgently and say they will think of ‘something nice’ . I should have bought an Oodie last week when I had my treat day. My son lives abroad and is coming for Christmas. I told him I’d like an Oodie and he replied “ what kind of hoodie do you want”😂

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 09/12/2022 07:36

My Cunning Plan one Christmas was to leave a printout of the catalogue page on dh’s desk, with size and style clearly circled, and then tell him I’d put something there to save him racking his brains.

Funnily enough, it worked.
I don’t see how anyone’s supposed to know if you don’t tell them.

WimpoleHat · 09/12/2022 07:41

I had always wanted one of those Christmas hampers. They’re a ridiculous thing to buy for yourself as the contents aren’t worth anything like the price - but I always thought they looked so lovely. And one year, after we’d had a lot of building work done, the man whose building company we’d used sent one to me. I think he was slightly bemused by the enthusiasm of my response, obviously not having known the back story!

Ponoka7 · 09/12/2022 07:50

5foot5 · 09/12/2022 00:54

Golly. Just shows how different people are. I wouldn't cross the road for a designer bag, but I really like the sound of the gifts your friend buys you.

Show quote history

You really want pjs that you can't wear because they don't fit and games that no other adult would want to play and don't have children to share them with?

I paint my own nails, daily. I wear feminine and bright colours, no-one ever got me a nailvarnish. I'd ask for certain chocolate, people would buy big boxes that cost the equivalent. One year I actually took my then bf to the bag shop were I would have liked any of four bags. I got a state of the art, too-big blender. Everyone knows what I drink (quite a big range), but I never got alcohol.

Wdib78 · 09/12/2022 08:01

I can make as many hints throughout the year to my parents about things I like, point at things in shop windows, say I like anything with foxes or woodland animals and guess what, right about anytime in the next few days my poor DP will get a phone call " what does she want for Xmas, we don't know what to get her, she's so awkward to but for"
I'll end up with a bottle of perfume to go with the other 50 or money, because despite being hinted at, actually going out looking in shops is too much hard work, it's our only babies first Christmas this year and yes they're giving him money to put in his account "well he won't really need anything will he?"

SingingSands · 09/12/2022 08:20

FangsForTheMemory · 08/12/2022 23:56

I’m single and no kids. Dropping hints to the cat won’t get me far.

Well we all know what cats are like. Aloof little gits. That cat knows exactly what you want for Christmas. Every year. But is keeping the information to itself.

Iamanunsafebuilding · 09/12/2022 08:27

Slightly on a tangent but I'd like to buy my DD some pj's for Christmas, she's 20 and wears shorties. Where would you buy some 'nice' pyjamas from? Also going to get her some cashmere wrist warmers from turtle doves I think

MillyMollyManky · 09/12/2022 08:29

I’ve always wanted a big box of chocolates shaped like a heart, after seeing Miss Piggy with one on the Muppet Show some time in the 80s.

I’d also like the Maileg Princess and the Pea mouse set. No idea how I can drop hints for that one.

DH is pretty good at intuiting things I’d like that no one else would ever guess, especially my penchant for things that are a bit preppery/survivalist. Wind up radios, water purification tabs, guides to surviving in the wild or in combat situations- you could know me my whole life and not guess I’d want this stuff but I do and my DH knows.

Boooooot · 09/12/2022 08:29

My husband always manages to buy me things I didn’t even know I really wanted! Pisses me off because I’m crap at buying presents 🤣

DailyMailReporterTellMeAllYourSecrets · 09/12/2022 08:30

I have to just give DH a long list so he can pick a few so it’s a ‘semi surprise’ as I don’t know what he’ll pick 🙄 🙄 I, on the other hand, listen out carefully for months to see what he’d like and feel as though I’ve got him something very thoughtful this year. He’s been banging on about it for ages in fact 😆

kegofcoffee · 09/12/2022 08:37

Every year all I say I want is a really nice bunch of flowers from the florists near our house. Every year I get a £5 bunch of supermarket flowers and £50 of tat to bulk it up.

I think there are two reasons for this:

  1. People just think £50 on flowers is a waste of money.
  2. Some people get enjoyment out of the shopping for 'tat'.

Personally I think £50 of tat is a waste of money, and also awful for the environment. But different people, different views... and a gift is a gift. I smile, accept and say 'oh you shouldn't have, they flowers alone would have been plenty'

kegofcoffee · 09/12/2022 08:39

GriddleScone · 09/12/2022 00:40

An adult-sized space hopper. I ask every year, but I suppose they think I'm joking.

They sell these?!?! What?!? Christmas list updated!

Millana · 09/12/2022 08:50

Mine are not so secret but still don't get bought.

There is a silly expensive (but still in budget) body oil I want. He has been looking out for an offer for me on it so knows I want it and even where to get it. I won't get it for Christmas though. Not a chance. Even though it would take no effort or thought from him and get him major brownie points.

ILoveChristmas6 · 09/12/2022 08:50

I keep my Amazon wishlist topped up and in order of preference. Still have to spell it out now and again. Said to DH during black Friday sales "OH LOOK! That model plane that I LOVE is in the sale". Hopefully he's taken that hint.

Looking forward to him opening his gift, a bean to cup coffee machine. I know he wants it, he just has no idea I've splashed out and bought it.