What to get boyfriend for Christmas?

[SMJYellow]

This will be our first Christmas together and when I say together, it's as boyfriend/girlfriend - not living together.

He's a practical person. Like he's buying useful gifts for his family like petrol vouchers.

I was thinking about getting him a merino wool jumper. I love merino wool. Its so beautiful and soft and I saw a few jumpers online and it's just a matter of going into the bricks and mortar shop and going shopping.

What do you think of that idea? He has a few jumpers but I would say they would be old now. His jumpers are mainly cotton. He has one acrylic jumper. I can get a few other small bits too like maybe a t-shirt, a belt and toiletry set like lynx's.

How about size. He is an XL in tops and jumpers. They for ok but look slightly on the small side but I reckon that would be the cotton material perhaps shrinking a bit over time. Woollens diner usually shrink. They tend to stretch over time.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[MissConductUS]

I think the wool jumper sounds fine but consider adding something with a bit of fun to it. Maybe something like the Amazon Echo if he likes gadgets. The small one was only 29 quid the last time I checked.

[Stompythedinosaur]

I think that sounds perfect.

[IOwn20PurpleKnickers]

Swiss army knife? Remote controlled helicopter (

[Zaphodsotherhead]

I echo that he doesn't sound that interested in clothes. What is it they say about men (mostly on here, tbh), get them a new version of something they already own... and if he's more on the practical side he may be a bit WTF over something wearable or aftershave...

So, does he have something you could buy an updated version of? Dashcam? Sat Nav?

[MissConductUS]

I agree with getting them an updated version of something they have now and love. DH has a Kindle Fire 8 tablet that he adores and is only a year old. When he saw the new Kindle Fire 10 inch tablet on sale on cyber Monday for $99, that's what he really wanted for Christmas, so that's what I got him.

He keeps asking me if they've shipped it yet because they were out of stock for a while, but I won't tell him I already have it.

[Annwithnoe]

Cotton jumpers can be tossed into the washing machine but wool jumpers, while lovely and warm, have to be washed carefully, dried carefully and protected from moths. I would avoid giving a gift that makes work for someone. And also trying to improve someone isn't the best mindset for a relationship.
what about getting a nice new cotton jumper instead?

[SMJYellow]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I was hoping to start Christmas shopping this weekend but that's looking unlikely now 😥. It will have to be next week. I'll keep brainstorming and have a look online for ideas too.

Its hard to buy for him because he has no hobbies like reading or computer game playing. He's severely practical.

Hes not gadget type of person either like tablet, Kindle, and other electronics. He borrows his brothers sat nav when we go away for a weekend but I don't want to go down that route because that will only encourage him to take me away more and I'm fairly skint for weekends away. So that's out.

Annwithnoe, I'm a knitter and I knit regularly and I adore working with many different fibres. I would very happily volunteer for the washing of the garment if I go down that route.

[SMJYellow]

Also, I'm not trying to change him or improve him. I was thinking a merino wool jumper to keep him warm for the winter.

Sure I will keep brainstorming over the next week for a gift for him.

[Annwithnoe]

Don't get me wrong SMJ I'm a huge lover of wools and natural fibres too. And once you get used to wearing them you never appreciate acrylic again. I appreciate where you're coming from on this.
But if you're not living together it might be a bit odd to start washing his jumper.
I don't know if you've heard of read the five love languages ? When you said his idea of a good present is to buy petrol vouchers it made me wonder if he's a person who expresses love through "acts of service"?
My dad is very much this way- he'd wash the dishes for my mother but it would never in a million years occur to him to buy her flowers or use endearments. He appreciates practical things (tools, pens, newspaper subscriptions) and home made things because he values time and effort. But he'd be bewildered by the kind of gift sets you see in shops at Christmas. He'd honestly prefer I didn't buy him anything and saved my money
Would your boyfriend appreciate something handmade? A scarf maybe?
Or maybe an experience type gift? If you pick the right one maybe you could start him off on a hobby that will make this easier next Christmas

[SMJYellow]

Thanks for your reply.

I've been trying to get ideas from him for a while now. I asked him does his head ever get cold? How about your ears? Do you were wear a cap? The answer was no and no and no.
A cap and scarf is out of the question.

I looked up online on experience gifts but they can be very expensive and so that will be out for my price range.

I myself would love to pick up a Lego hobby. There are Lego sets available that are meant for 16+ so for adults. I'd like to go down that route and get him a Lego set. I'm eyet up a Lego set online but it's for a car I love. Theres a Lego Ferrari too but it's very expensive and so that's out.

He lives at home with his parents and they don't have a dvd player at all so DVD's are out.

He does need a lamp for his room so I might get him a lamp. There is a craft market in my county with a stall with lamps made from bottles like whiskey so I might go down that route with a few more other bits and pieces.

[SMJYellow]

I never heard of that book before but it looks like a nice read and informative.

[DandySeaLioness]

does he like cooking? I'm in love with my new Anova sous vide precision cooker

[LockedOutOfMN]

Does he like cooking? My DH loves kitchen gadgets like pizza cutters, mechanical cruet, posh (bamboo) chopping board, silicon spatulas. That might fall into the practical category of gifts he likes but also prove fun when you can cook some meals together??

[Mum2OneTeen]

Just check that he is not allergic to wool. Both myself and DD are unable to wear anything made of wool, even soft merinos and mohair.

[NobodysChild]

If he's got a car, how about a dash cam? It doesn't have to be high end pricey, just something that records on a loop and has G shock. Emergency kit for his car. Car cleaning kit. Stocking fillers, new Bluetooth earphones, thick winter socks or ice grips, sweets, cinema tickets, leisure pants, bottle of spirits. Without knowing how old or what your fella likes, it's hard to make suggestions. I'm sure that whatever you decide on, he will be delighted, plus he has you to keep him warm all winter.

[SMJYellow]

I never thought about an allergy to wool. Surely he would have said it though before now if he has an allergy to wool. I love my knitting needles and wool and he knows that and there has been plenty of opportunities to say that he has an allergy to wool.

I was going to sleep last night and an idea just entered my head for a gift. My eyes were closing and I was like 'ah-ha'. He likes to play the lotto in the bookmakers. He has more luck that way so I will get him some vouchers for the bookmakers that just happens to be located right beside his workplace.

I'll get him other things like some t-shirts because he needs some new t-shirts and some other bits like a lynx set and maybe an adult humour book.