Toaster for Christmas

[idoactuallyliketoast]

My partner of 8 years got me a toaster for Christmas.

Pros: My last toaster broke over a year ago so now I have one again. I don’t have to use the grill to toast stuff anymore. It’s a four-slicer. It’s a nice quality, good-looking one.

Cons: I go through phases of enjoying toast, then not having any for months. I didn’t ask for a toaster and have given no indication that I wished I had one again. It’s a household appliance. It was my only present from him.

I can’t work out how I feel about it. I am currently in one of my ‘I like toast’ phases, and he wanted to make my life easier. That’s quite sweet that he noticed. But… I don’t count household appliances as gifts unless it’s something that was specifically asked for.

An I unreasonable for feeling a bit disappointed?

How would you react to a toaster for Christmas?

I too think it's a shit gift OP. Household appliances that should come out of the household budget, not be used as any easy gift, unless of course you've been throwing out heavy hints or specifically asked for one. Tell him in future you would prefer more personal gifts, ie, perfume, something for a hobby that you have, or would like to start, new clothes, etc. Sounds like he needs a bit of guidance.

I once got a set of spark plugs for my motorbike.. and the book.. Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. I was fuming.. he was my b/f not living together.. l was 18 been together two years.
On boxing day he took me to the sales..bought me a coat.. a bag .. shoes... and a cuddly rabbit.
We stayed together 12 years.. one daughter who is now 39.

I got a kettle from my OH.

Granted, it's a funky Wi-Fi Smart Kettle and I'm well made up with it.

I'll be kicking the kettle off to boil from bed in the morning, so by the time I get downstairs, it'll be done. It does many other useful kettle related things, that you never knew you needed in your life.

Life changer being able to boil your kettle from the other side of the world!!! 🤣

If it’s the only thing he got you, then yes that is shit.

But some people just have to be told what to
get

I'd plug it in and drop it in to his bath. As my late mother said when my father did similar for her birthday "you didn't marry the fucking house so don't buy household presents", it never happened again!! It was jewelry etc from then onwards. Household items come out of the household budget, gifts are different and require more thought

Depends how nice it is.

Aspirational dualit (or equivalent) I'd be super grateful for. Anything else probably not so much as I could afford / justify buying that myself.

it’s tricky. I don’t like household appliances as a gift unless they are very nice and special somehow, definitely not the only present. DH knows about it as I’ve expressed this in the past clearly. If you didn’t told your partner about this before he might have thought that it’s ok because it’s for your use mainly.

I would also look at bigger picture. I bought a part of my present myself, DH just wrapped it, but he was busy because of family emergency and couldn’t get to a particular shop whereas I happened to be near by.

My friend bought me a draught excluder. Because I needed one. I am thrilled to have something useful.

Lol sorry I'm not sure where I stand on the issue but feel the sentiment of household appliances not being gifts unless wanted, but the idea of a Christmas toaster is hilarious to me

I think I'm team boyfriend in this. Your toaster broke, you're going through a love toast phase. You don't NEED a toaster and he's not a toast fan (as hasn't used the grill). He's noticed you're lacking something and bought you a high quality one to deal with that. Lovely.

We'll hang on. OH often buys me Le Crueset that I've had my eye on. We'd never buy it for the house because it's a luxury. We'd get sensible equivs. I'm always delighted by my new fancy stuff.

I like useful stuff...my ex was crap at diy...over the years i asked for...set good screwdrivers...an sds drill (weighs about same as me)...diy shizzle ... I was made up with these presents. We all benefitted yes but diy has to be done. We are no longer together..but ive ordered myself a cold smoker today to treat myself 😁. Id be happy with a toaster if i needed one.
My ex before my last ex..always bought presents he benefitted from ...i mean big style...that angered me

I would regard it is a good present. Although being a household appliance, it is also personalized as you like toast and need a new toaster, which I think puts it in a different category to an iron or a toilet brush. It is like getting someone fancy bakeware they would enjoy using or a cushion or throw they would love. Yes, it is household stuff, but also something for personal enjoyment.

Also, I like useful gifts. So rather a toaster than jewellery every year that I use seldom, or toiletries that I am not that interested in, or the like. I think it is very person-dependent what they regard and would like as a gift.

I have a friend who has always had a rule in her family that household appliances and such like are banned as presents, precisely to stop her getting gifts like this.

Did he at least get you a loaf of bread and some Lurpak to go with it?!

Well, it is a highly efficient and fast toaster!

No, bread and butter was not provided. He does mean well, I suppose. Thanks for the support and the reasonable responses, everyone!

I would hide every fucking towel in the house and let her m buy himself some more, which I'd then refuse to wash, ever.

I think it's ok because it's thoughtful. It's not just because you as a couple need a toaster. Also he sounds like he is on a low ish income. I hate the pressure at Christmas to buy expensive unnecessary stuff.

@YesThatsATurdOnTheRug (dread to think about the origin of your name)

I agree- I don’t like expense or any expectation of cost, so I gave him a few ideas of things that would have made me very happy but cost under £10. His parents got me those things instead of him.

I guess he must have passed on the ideas though so he knew you'd be getting them? I don't know, I just couldn't get mad about it, I think it's sweet. I asked for a pan for Christmas from my sister and I got her one so maybe it's just a difference of opinion thing!

No it’s a crap “present”. It’s not for you, it’s for both of you for your home. Getting that from someone else would be fine but from your partner who you live with? It’s shit.

But that’s from your sister! A partner who lives with you buying it is rubbish!

Mine bought me a knife set once, it was thoughtful because I was pregnant and the knives didn't come out unless you pressed a special button! I think I'm just saying don't read into it too much if he's otherwise great because different people feel differently.

I got a toaster once and it was amazing! It's nicer than I could have justified otherwise and I get satisfaction from the quality every time I use it. Ideal for a Christmas present in my book.