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Original poster

A gift every day in December

77 replies

PinkFizz1 · 11/09/2021 16:50

I was thinking of something different I could do for DP instead of an advent calendar.

I was thinking of wrapping a small (maybe stocking filler sized) present for every morning in December. Does that sound like a good unique idea? Does anyone have any ideas what I can do?

He loves books, nature, junk food!, science, eco friendly things, fantasy shows like GoT, and gardening.

Would this be a really silly idea?

OP posts:
TheSockMonster · 12/09/2021 12:25

I think this sort of thing can work if you stick to nice versions of things he would have bought/used/done anyway and nothing that is likely to become clutter or end up in landfill.

For example, my DH would probably get through 12 cans of craft beer, 1 jar of chocolate spread (!), 1 pack of florentines, 1 hand cream, 1 pack of nice coffee and 1 pack of stroopwafels in December, but wouldn’t necessarily think to buy any of those things for himself. So that’s 17 days already of things he’ll use by still be genuinely happy to receive and use. Naughty photos and/or vouchers for massages/sexual favours would cover another 5+ days. Again, the vouchers being for stuff we’d probably do anyway. I’m sure I could think of things for the other few days that wouldn’t be wasteful.

Sadly my DH dislikes Christmas, so he won’t be getting one!

Twizbe · 12/09/2021 12:38

We do a reverse advent calendar each year. Every day in December we put something in a special box to donate to the local food bank. They then learn about giving at Christmas and not just receiving.

thecognoscenti · 12/09/2021 12:45

It's not 'grumpy' to give a shit about the environment and to want to avoid needless consumerism for the sake of it. We should all be looking to live with less 'stuff'.

Things like a photo jigsaw puzzle or offers to make the recipient's favourite meals are nice ideas though.

thecognoscenti · 12/09/2021 12:45

@Twizbe

We do a reverse advent calendar each year. Every day in December we put something in a special box to donate to the local food bank. They then learn about giving at Christmas and not just receiving.
That's brilliant, what a great idea.
HungryHippo11 · 12/09/2021 16:10

@Twizbe

We do a reverse advent calendar each year. Every day in December we put something in a special box to donate to the local food bank. They then learn about giving at Christmas and not just receiving.
This is a lovely idea. However - food banks need food on advance to Christmas to hand out to families in the weeks leading up to Christmas. So it makes a lot more sense to give things each day in November and hand it to the food bank on December 1st. Otherwise the families will be eating mince pies and Christmas cake at the end of January.
HungryHippo11 · 12/09/2021 16:12

@FizzyDibdab

Apologies I misread DP as ds and thought oh Lordy what fresh hell is this. 24 gifts before Xmas on top of normal gifts. Very sorry op but read more slowly!
@FizzyDibdab Literally 2 posts after yours was someone saying they do this for their kids and they still love their presents on Christmas Morning 🤣🤣
Joystir59 · 12/09/2021 16:25

Sounds awfully tedious for you and for him. Don't you have anything to do?

Twizbe · 12/09/2021 17:06

@HungryHippo11 that's true and my weekly donation before Xmas will be more Christmas themed food.
During December we do a mix of food and hygiene items. The food bank also runs a weekly outreach for the homeless. They have shower and washing facilities so we give things like shower gel, washing powder, tampons, deodorant etc.

londonmummy1966 · 12/09/2021 17:12

Why not give him a small card each day which says either something really nice about him/something you like about him/something that you can do together that costs little or nothing?

Then use the money you save on filling a box for the food bank as others have suggested.

middlingmess · 12/09/2021 17:40

I sort of did this for my first boyfriend - it was cute - but it got old after a few days Smile and the pressure was on him to be suitably impressed with each one, we both got bored with it and I don't think he opened them all in the end!

CaptainMerica · 12/09/2021 17:53

I did this, in the form of a personalised advent calendar for DH a few years. My best ideas were:

  • Greggs voucher (for a bacon roll on the way to work)
  • Starbucks voucher
  • a lego set, split up across 5 days
  • hot chocolate
  • miniatures
  • Bath bombs
  • nanoblocks sets
  • Nice coffee
  • nice chocolates
  • flowers delivered

I bought e.g. a 3 pack of hot chocolate sachets or Bath bombs, and that did multiple days.

It had limited success, I would say. The first year it was a novelty. The second year felt more wasteful, and I ended up feeling like a bit of a dick on the days when he couldn't even be arsed opening it.

I wouldn't bother doing it again, but I think it's nice to do it once.

I'd stick mostly to consumable things, which he would use almost immediately.

alexio · 12/09/2021 18:36

@PinkFizz1 instead of a gift everyday why not do day out, make a nice meal you wouldn't always have, breakfast out etc. Doesn't have to be expensive but just to mix it up rather than gift everyday

Original poster
PinkFizz1 · 12/09/2021 19:20

@Joystir59

Sounds awfully tedious for you and for him. Don't you have anything to do?
Don’t be so bloody rude!
OP posts:
Original poster
PinkFizz1 · 12/09/2021 19:20

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

OP posts:
SpeedRunParent · 13/09/2021 13:50

@RAFHercules

You said he loves eco friendly things! Do the planet a favour and stop yourself.
This.
mam0918 · 13/09/2021 14:53

I have done the 12 days of Xmas with 12 types of beer before... DH loves beer.

I agree they would have to be really small or cheap to pull this off and from 1st-25th would be advent (so a variant of an advent calendar) from 25th-6th would be the 12 days but 1st-31st isn't really a thing.

turboface · 13/09/2021 17:01

I did 12 day one years ago. I found it difficult to find 12 different surprises. It was pita and I haven't done that anymore. Dh liked it but too much effort.

MsSquiz · 15/09/2021 07:49

Last year, rather than a fancy advent calendar, I got DH a gin subscription and will probably do the same again this year.
I think it was a quarterly one, but includes a full size bottle of gin, tonics, botanicals & snacks. He really enjoyed getting them long after Christmas was over

mdh2020 · 15/09/2021 08:35

Sorry - but we do this in our family. I do a small gift every day for my sister who is widowed and for my daughter. Last year, my daughter did one for me. Just little gifts, often silly, travel size toiletries, sweets, lip balm. It’s just a bit of fun.

Jumpingintosummer · 15/09/2021 08:47

We have a personalised family advent calendar with notes in it. A mix of gifts, activities and treats.
Ie. Festive pyjamas, Christmas jumpers, voucher for a meal, out for hot chocolate, buy a new decoration, a book each, lush treats, film night, cinema voucher, visit Santa, weekend away Xmas Blush.

SageRosemary · 15/09/2021 09:10

I'll just leave this here: -

ADreadedSunnyDay · 15/09/2021 09:22

Hi OP I'm doing something similar for DS this year as I am bored of all the pre-filled advent calendars that cost a fortune and usually involve some tat.

So I have just bought a series of small brown craft boxes (reusable) that you can fill with your own small gifts. DS is getting useful things he needs (new pencil sharpener, pair of gloves) alongside small treats (hairdos, mini chocolate bars), I'm buying a couple of bags of Lego mini figures for a couple of the days, and will put a pound coin or two in ...

It's a bit more expensive than buying the usual advent calendar (Lego) because of the upfront cost of the boxes but they are reusable. All the prefilled advent calendars are becoming very same-y and I was not prepared to spend £££ on harry potter themed tat that will end up in the bin

ADreadedSunnyDay · 15/09/2021 09:23

Haribos not hairdos

2bunny · 15/09/2021 09:29

I did this I bought a bracelet for and charms for charms to put on the a few pairs of earrings did not cost mush as I shopped around and the bracelet and earrings are still worn now

Sleepyhungryfattyanddoc · 17/09/2021 00:45

I think this could be lovely if it’s little gifts,
I’d buy things he already has but a nicer version
A fancier pack of biscuits to have with a cup of tea one day. If he drinks a coffee, could you just buy a more up market brand or a seasonally flavoured syrup or something

Could there be a voucher for lunch at a nice place together one day, or cinema tickets, a little air freshener for his car, a book from a charity shop, some home made Christmas cookies one day, a pair of socks, something home made from the DC, little mini toiletries

It does all sound like a lot of extra work and stress and I’d be tempted to make it 12 days of Christmas instead of 24 at least