pactical gifts for christmas

[worldgonemad72]

sorry if any non christmassy people are reading this, wasn't sure whether to put in chat or christmas.
Anyway me an dh have been discussing christmas presents for each other, ive just told him i would hate a 'practical' gift off him, ie a blender or something, novelty kitchen stuff i like from him, an practical stuff off friends or relatives. he thinks its highly unfair (in a comical way) that he is restricted to only buying me certain things whereas everybody else gets to buy me anything.
Is anybody else like me? i really would be gutted if i got a set of knives or something from him

btw im grateful that he buys me anything, i dont mean to offend anybody

Sorry, meant to say Practical Gifts for christmas.

Also put this in chat but thought it would be better here

I don't think dh would be stupid enough to buy me a set of knives for christmas...

My friend got her dp the new xbox 360 when it came out one year - got last one in our city, hours traipsing round searching etc, he got her an iron!

I don't really want much for christmas, I think I'm getting a couple of dvds. I would rather genuinely have nothing than an iron or something which shows no sense of him knowing who ia am iyswim.

If you are particular about what you would like, point things out in shops and catalogues, or give him a list. I know that means no real surprises, but better that than gifts you don't like or want.

My Dad got Mum a vacuum cleaner one year as she had said they could do with a new one, she wasn't impressed! But she was very hard to choose gifts for, if it was a surprise she would either love it or hate it, and she had no real hobbies or interests except shopping.

I feel the same, I can get myself the necessities like a vacuum cleaner! However, sometimes DH has got me a little gadget that I may have lingered over a few times when we have been shopping, or that he thinks may make life easier - not as a main pressie, just in my stocking, for example:

Christmas 2009 - cooks blowtorch, potato ricer (I am a keen cook, but would never have got round to buying them myself)

Christmas 2010 - portable office set (a funky case containing tiny laptop mouse, numeric keyboard, laptop lamp, various usb and connectors), Swiss business tool (we had just moved here and it was like a Swiss army knife except it had stapler, hole punch etc all built in). I spend about 6 days a month away from home and working in hotels so yes it was uber practical but they have actually become life savers this year, and very thoughtful.

Personally, I like to choose my own perfume, get my make up duty free with all the travel I have to do, and get my skin care products free as my mate is in the business, so I think I am very hard to surprise!

The thing about practical gifts is they aren't really for you, they're for the family, so it seems ok for someone outside the family to get them, but from your partner it's like buying a present for themselves. It's different if you decide to get something you need instead of both your christmas presents, but him getting something for him, and you getting an iron, hoover, blender etc. feels unfair.

Oh, but it's different if it's something only one of you wants (my dp got a posh coffee maker one year - I don't drink coffee) or is a particular passion (I got heavy cake tins one year as I love baking).

I should say that I love practical presents from extended family and friends, but they should be to both adults or to the family (once got given a composter - really good present, this xmas dm is getting us the next size of car seat for dd).

I have warned my dp about such gifts. He told me his work colleague got gf a knife set for valentines day. I spend all my wages on everyone else thro the year i.e. food, my dd, stuff for the house and presents so for xmas i want stuff for ME lol. I certainly dont buy him stuff for the house.

Kitchen utensils can be particularly uninspiring unless something you want in particular. But practical gifts can be lovely too - just make them a bit more luxurious than what you would normally buy. For example, silky or cashmere tights (e.g by Wolfords), a turtleneck jumper that is of silk/cashmere blend, a really nice leather belt (e.g Bally) or luxurious leather/cashmere gloves. I give lot of this type of practical gifts for my sister and niece and they love them - or so they say anyway. I received from my DH a good quality kitchen knife as I had wanted one but I thought it was too expensive - it was a Wustoff knife which luckily he bough at half price from Harrods, so all happy here! And for my friends who have everything and do not want 'stuff' I create a luxury hamper from foods they like - I get a selection of ethnic food from my travels, hard to get by cheeses from a cheese shop and biscuits etc from Harvey N.