Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dh never buys me little gifts … it makes me sad

79 replies

Runrabbitrunss · 29/12/2025 10:39

Dh bought me a small gift on out first date many yeats ago . Which i have kept treasured , on display.
He very rarely gets me a gift , ..despite knowing how important ut is for me as it makes me feel
thought of and cherished.

He says its because
he does things like the household forma that i struggle massively with as i have adhd…
that he has to remember to do things that bother me like be mindful of noise or putting the loo seat down as ir he is not relaxed/ always aware - as the adhd side of me really struggles with strange things like this and i really struggle with some domestic life
( i am also fun tho !)
He says he maintains the car , insurance ,like that and works and does practical things to
show love
He also says it’s because he lacks confidence what to choose- so i say what about a nice soap or a candle
.. something easy ..
he then he also says things like well he never thinks about it , plus we are on a limited income.
A year ago , he promised to get gifts sometimes- but thei actually resulted in me feeling anxious , as i knew he would make an effort then just naturally stop despise teh promise when he heard how important it is to me .
He often says well I do so and for you …
he does buy flowers from aldi when there .

i feel awful now as gifts will just feel
sort of forced.
I’ve explained it s not the gift but the thought behind it

Have tried to
explain for
years …maybe i just need to accept that he shows love on his terms , not mine .
Any idea how to quell what feels like a need in me and to accept my possibe Bu ?

OP posts:
Skybluepinky · 30/12/2025 16:30

Sounds like he has a really hard life with you, if he wanted to buy you presents he would, but doesn’t want to, you can’t make people do what they don’t want to.

LostittoBostik · 30/12/2025 16:34

Icannotremembermyusername · 29/12/2025 10:44

One thing I have learnt from my DH (I have been married a long time and my husband never used to give me a compliment which made me sad) I realised you cannot force someone to be who you want them to be. If you love being with him, take him as he is, don’t force or make anyone feel they SHOULD do or act in a certain way (manners and respect aside). If that is not good enough or right for you, then he is not for you. I feel for him tbh. Love is natural and not forced. You need to realign your expectations

This

Londonrach1 · 30/12/2025 16:36

Surely showing someone you love them is doing something for that not buying material gifts. Dh never buys random tat but he spent a few hours cleaning my car inside and out. It smells amazing and it's a pleasure to go in now. He popped into tesco and got me a chocolate du pain and heated it up and out it ready for me on a plate when I came down with dd for breakfast.

Boomer55 · 30/12/2025 16:39

What little gifts do you want?

Actions, not cheap crap presents, are what you need to look for.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page