To not buy a £1,000 present for DH birthday?

[DandyReader]

Usually, dh and I buy each other an experience for each other's birthdays. But this year, DH is turning 30. He said he'd prefer if I get him a gift. Fair enough, he'd like something to keep.

He has been banging on about getting a 'nice watch' for years. He could afford to buy one himself but knows it's a splurge. He has shown me multiple watches around the £1,000 mark and keeps dropping hints how he really wants a nice watch but can't justify that for himself. He hasn't explicitly asked, but I think he's hoping.

I could easily buy one for him, but I don't want to. I have savings targets to meet and don't want to start a precedent of spending silly money on gifts. AIBU?

🙄
You can get a watch that works for £40 quid.
The ones he likes cost £1,000. They are likely to be well made and, importantly, in a style he likes. Just because they're not PP or whatever doesn't mean they're crap and not worth buying. The point is he likes them!

It's like saying there is no point buying champagne unless you buy vintage DP. Maybe some people buy it as an investment, but others just want something they like.

Well obviously it’s decent for this guy, that’s why he wants it.

It’s not tight! The whole family benefitted from the 15k holiday. It was a present to all of them, from themselves.

No way is it tight to say he can’t have a 15k present all to himself. The equivalent is another 15k holiday, or perhaps a gift divided by the number of family members there are (so if you’re a family of five, he gets a 3k gift as you did).

Bonkers!

I agree that it's no different from a man buying jewellery for a woman.

But I think £1,000 is a crazy amount for either to spend. Plus, 30 might end in a zero but it's hardly a milestone birthday.

You clearly didn’t actually read what I wrote or what the poster I was replying to wrote.

They were responding to the first part of the reply though, which said @BlueMum16 doesn't think OP should spend £1k on her partner - despite PP having received her part of a much more extravagant and short lived gift

Maybe not to you, but to a huge amount of people it is.

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable Op. Are you 30 yet?

I’d want to have a conversation about “spending for our 30ths” (plural) and setting a realistic budget for both.

YABU, I would happily do this for my husband. He's a great man, works hard and deserves to treated/celebrated. He would do the same for me.

No these are different people who had the 15k holiday, not the OP

What a load of rubbish.

It’s a big birthday and a gift he could keep for a long time plus he’s not a boyfriend, he is your husband.

If you can afford it and it's what he'd like it's not a ridiculous birthday gift. A nice watch is like jewellery and can be worn for years to come - and maybe even passed on. I got my husband a beautiful watch as a wedding gift. I'd been given a stunning ring and I wanted to get him something nice too....

I just wish my husband would actually WANT something....he is the worst person to buy for.
Some people here just don't appreciate their blessings.🙄

and to add....there is an awful lot of snobbery around.

Yeah, I'm sorry. Tight as a gnats chuff.
You've said you can afford it, it's his 30th and you know he'll really like it?!
My answer would be completely different if you couldn't afford it.

Ouch, thats a bit snooty
None of our watches in our house cost any more than £40

What would be the usual amount spent? That's the first consideration.
Maybe contribute half to the watch?

How much are the 'experiences' you normally buy each other?

If u can easily buy it for him then why not. The reason not to buy it, is a bit shit. Do u want him to be really disappointed on his big birthday. Not like it’s something he asks for every year.
If you’re not getting it do him you wld be better to discuss budgets for milestone birthdays and set expectations.

You do realise that to many people 1K for a watch is expensive. You're coming off as a bit of a 🤬 but you probably know that already.

Yes OP you are being unreasonable if you can afford it

Anyway unless you guys are completely rolling in it I think DH is being a bit greedy for asking for something so costly.

And if you guys ARE rolling in it, you're a bit tight

Yes OP, £1000 on a watch is nowhere near enough 😂.
I've got a lovely watch, it tells the time, looks nice, never lets me down, cost £30.

Makes no difference in my eyes. DP and I have been 'unmarried together' for 18 years. One of the first expensive unexpected gifts he bought me was a Cartier Tank watch because he knew I'd always wanted one. It was second hand so not as expensive as a new one, but I wear it every day and will always cherish it.

If my husband really wanted it and I could afford it then yes, absolutely I'd get it.