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

[FangsForTheMemory]

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.

well....friend brags about blowing money on rubbish....bag i wanted would be used, not a brand new one. She has a huge rental storage unit full of xmas trees and other purchases...cant be bothered to get items ouf of storage so just buys the lot again !

I write a letter to Father Christmas every year and give it to DH Embarrassingly, I used to actually write it on paper in a childlike way including "I've been very good this year" etc. but in recent years I've just started sending him a screenshot of the list I make as a note on my phone. Even then, I hardly ever seem to get many of the things I actually want. But at least it gives him a bit of an idea.

I really like the ones I have got from Fable and Eve, but I have to find them on sale as they are too expensive otherwise.

Is the chicken okay? 🐓

@Essexhousehusbands @Calphurnia88 @Augend23 they are all very lovely but a bit more spendy than I'm planning!! Who knew pyjamas could cost so much?! I'm looking closer to £40 - £50 I think

My MIL who I hadn't seen for ages sent me something I wanted but told no-one about! So YABU.
If you talk to them regularly, if they know your personality well, if they are thoughtful and observant they will have a good idea what to get you. There is a joy in giving and receiving a thoughtful gift.

Honestly, don’t even worry about the chicken. She can handle herself! Brutal
animal.

Really Id like a big, 1930s style dolls house with electric lights. But it's too expensive and would make me a bit depressed and spinstery-feeling anyway probably

If it's secret, how are they supposed to know? I always say what I want to get, if not, cash is best gift. I don't expect people to read my mind and know what I like.

Gives a whole new meaning to fowl pest 🐥

My parents always asked me what I wanted, and scrupulously purchased it . I always asked for something I really wanted but not too expensive, like a writing slope.

One Christmas they turned up for Christmas lunch bearing the writing slope , not easy to wrap, and a envelope my Father had made out of wrapping paper, which he was keen for me to open. Inside was a cheque for the price of the new car I had just bought.

Thank you xxxx

I don't think I've ever had an amazing gift without asking (or at least heavily heavily hinting). But that's fine, I have very specific tastes and hate waste. Actually find surprise gifts really stressful to open as I worry I'll offend the giver by failing to hide my true feelings.

They do come down to £50 in the sales. Obviously it's still a lot of money!

www.fableandeve.co.uk/product-category/sale/

E.g. these are here in all sizes for £42.50

www.fableandeve.co.uk/product/red-pyjama-set/

I've never had a surprise present that I've actually really liked.....until now . It was my birthday last week and my dp bought me such beautiful, thoughtful , individual gifts that I was actually moved to tears. We've been together almost two years and I shouldn't have been surprised really as he is incredibly thoughtful in other ways. His mantra when buying gifts is something you want, something you need and something that you wouldn't buy for yourself. I'm excited for Xmas now....just hope he likes what I've got him!

Ex husband rarely got me anything I like even when I told him exactly what I wanted I never got it. In 25 years I only got 3 presents for him which were meaningful, the rest were things he liked not what I liked.

My husband is a terrible present buyer so I've bought my own ones this year and have wrapped them up myself. I've bought myself uggs, designer hand bag and perfume. All my favourite type things. My husband is a good man but I've accepted he cannot do any surprises and he can't buy decent gifts so the onus falls on me to do it for myself. I should say I don't usually get myself so much but it's been a hard year in so many ways wirh family illnesses etc and felt I needed spoiling!!

Try Chelsea Peers - very popular brand

@Iamanunsafebuilding
cyberjammies have lovely pjs , they do short sets , matching robes etc , I have about 4 pairs ( amongst other brands ) but these are my favourite
Hope you find some

Single parent here and boyfriend doesn’t do presents so only one person buys me a present (my mum) and she always buys what she thinks I want but I don’t actually want.

My dad does give me some money but that has to go on things I need, like a new coat (or this year, towels 😂).

Everything I really want is a bit expensive to ask for, so I end up asking for a book or some makeup etc.

I would love, just love, to one Christmas open something that I genuinely adored and was surprised about 😢

@Iamanunsafebuilding Nobody's Child have some pyjamas on sale atm including short sets in nice floral prints.

www.nobodyschild.com/clothing/nightwear.html

Also agree with Chelsea Peers. Don't own any myself by partner recently ordered some for family and they're good quality, nice design.

Desmond and Dempsey. The quality is fantastic and they are so soft to wear.

I understand, OP.

It's not about the presents. It's about knowing that someone 'gets' you, someone understands you so well that they know what you would really love without you having to come right out and say it (or write it down).
It really isn't about the 'thing', it's about the implication.

If I ask for something, DH will always get me nearly what I've asked for but not quite. His reasoning is always that he's gone off, researched it and this one is better/the same but cheaper. It doesn't seem to occur to him that I too have researched it and asked for that specific brand/model for a reason. It drives me nuts and I now don't ask for anything where the specificity matters.
I prefer complete surprises or cash to choose something myself. He is actually great at buying surprise gifts that I either didn't realise I needed in my life or were just too leftfield to expect as a gift - I wish he'd stick to that every year!

That made me lol. sorry.

I'm trying to imagine you shrieking, the chicken squawking, limbs and feathers flying everywhere, and a giant space hopper bouncing off over the fence.

I love this idea!!!