Gifts that went down well with your difficult men

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

Every year there are multiple threads from posters looking for present inspiration for their difficult to buy for man/men (DTBFM)
I thought it might be worth capturing gifts that hit the mark this Christmas, to help with birthdays throughout the year.

Biggest hits for my DTBFM:
He bought a jumper for himself before Christmas which he really liked, I bought the same one in a different colour which he loved.
He'd also bought for himself some shoes, couldn't decide between two colours, i said he should buy both but he didn't so I went back and bought the ones he didn't.
He seemed very taken with the magnetic wristband for nails/screws which I've seen suggested on MN for a few years now but didn't think he'd appreciate it - turns out he did!
Travel guides for places he's said he'd like to visit eventually.
An upgrade of his favourite brandy.
A couple of bottles of a wine he gushed about in a restaurant on holiday.
Bizarrely, he's always happy with new socks as not the sort of thing he'll buy himself.
There were other bits and pieces too but I think the above were the most warmly received.
Oh and DD1 bought her boyfriend a case of a particular beer he likes. It's quite expensive so he doesn't buy it for himself very often, he was delighted with it. He's not a difficult to buy for person as he tells her what he'd like, but she loves thinking of something, no matter how small, that will surprise him.

Looking forward to hearing about other DTBFM successes!

[Sunsetsupernova]

Thanks @actiongirl1978 I love a trip to The Range but it’s a bit of a drive from us so that’s the perfect excuse!

[MissyB1]

Big bag of Biltong (sort of dried meat) from a South African shop.
Oven mitt for his BBQ
Fleece blanket- he uses it on the settee.

[TH22]

Following with interest!

[Geepee71]

@actiongirl1978 and @Sunsetsupernova Sainsbury are offering £10 off new gas canisters if you take old one in for recycling via them. Full canister costs about £23 full price.

[TLKlover]

I jokingly bought him a gift as it was in the sale at Asda - pint glass saying I love pies & a small Fray Bentos pie. He loved it, said "it was just the right size pie for him and who doesn't love an extra pint glass"

I was very surprised :-D

[Onesipmore]

I bought mine a Meator. He loves cooking roasts, bbquing etc. This is a meat thermometer that you can pair with your phone and it tells you when your steaks, roast beef, BBQ items are cooked etc

[WellTidy]

Ds loved his new karrimor wash bag and a chillys water bottle in particular

DH liked his sets of mini screwdrivers and Allan keys, only connect quiz book and set of Nando’s sauces (he also got some really barest presents, but I think these were things he’d never seen before and so were a hit on the practical novelty front)

[Snow1n]

@actiongirl1978 we live in Ireland and I think my dh would be happy with the Tayto Xmas box!

I did the same with a jumper similar to one I bought for his last birthday that went down well and that has been the best present along with a white noise machine so he doesnt have to use his phone anymore (works shifts and finds it hard to sleep when the house is noisy!)

[KurtWilde]

DS is quite difficult to buy for. He took up boxing again before Christmas so I'd thought I'd upgrade his boxing gear but actually he's already got pretty decent stuff. He mentioned he'd found a juice bar close to the gym that did a vegan protein shake but they're expensive and it would be good to make his own. Boom, got him a nutribullet blender with the removable sports bottles, plus a tub of vegan protein powder and numerous other ingredients after a quick Google of vegan protein shake recipes. He was genuinely thrilled!

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

@TLKlover

I jokingly bought him a gift as it was in the sale at Asda - pint glass saying I love pies & a small Fray Bentos pie. He loved it, said "it was just the right size pie for him and who doesn't love an extra pint glass"

I was very surprised :-D

I love these sorts of joke gifts!

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

I'm glad so many of you found good gifts for your DTBFM, and hopefully some ideas others can use throughout the year

[workingtheusername]

For ohI find activities work well so tickets to an event . Or something he needs ie new coat

[PatriotCanes]

I got DH the bluetooth inspection cable camera thing. He has checked out all the drains, behind the radiators, under the car seats ... and this morning he was using it as an otoscope inside DC's ears

[BigGreen]

Portable bluetooth speaker

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

A Theragun mini. He LOVES it. Even took it on holiday .

[batmanladybird]

Ooh lurking

[batmanladybird]

@Lacedwithgrace

Personlised lego that looks like us,
A couple of pairs of vans to replace his worn out converse- he still hasn't stopped raving about them to his friends,
Night vision animal camera

Where did you get this please?

[finallychangedmyusername]

A clan/surname lapel pin. He was most impressed. Best £2.99 I've ever spent, ha!

heritageofscotland.com/search?type=product&q=Clan*+lapel*+pin*

In general I find with DH that buying him a newer, nicer version of something he already has tends to work. So if he uses leather gloves and his are getting a bit ropey, then it's posher, brand-new leather gloves for Christmas. This seems to work well!

[AnneButNotHathaway]

An interior design software since he wants some renovations to be done at our place and a gym membership I know he'd love to get but wouldn't splurge on himself.

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

In general I find with DH that buying him a newer, nicer version of something he already has tends to work.

Yes that is the same as my DH. I still always like to find something different too - as with your lapel pin, doesn't have to be expensive.

[Daisy829]

@The2Omicronnies this is probably a daft question but do the kegs have short dates on them? They’ve got a £50 code off at the mo so I’m tempted to order a set for my DH birthday but it’s not until May

[Daisy829]

Actually don’t worry. I can get the machine on its own for £199 so I might order that and get a keg nearer the time. The price works out about the same as buying the bundle

[ChiaraMontague]

Great thread! I’m getting ideas for birthday presents for the difficult to buy for men in my life. I think FIL will really like the meat thermometer.

Things that went down well this Christmas - the whisky wedge glass and a whisky tasting set (with the promise of a full size bottle of his favourite one as a birthday present) ; a digital tape measure (that links with an app so he can import measurements to scans) and a Senna T-shirt from RetroGP.
As a novelty present I got DH a set of chocolate tools, I left it quite late to buy and the only ones I could find with delivery before Christmas were Mr Bump branded - he absolutely loved them!

I arranged for my uncle to get his favourite boots repaired (Boot Repair Co in Southend do a postal service) and he was so thrilled with them. I keep getting calls from other family members saying how much he’s been raving about them!

[BlueSkyeThinker]

A Breville toastie maker - last minute, semi-joke gift that was the big xmas hit (isn't it always?). Brought back 'happy memories of Sunday toastie nights' and has, as a bonus, encouraged the DC to join us for easy self assembly suppers.

Also an ETO wine carafe/saver: again, bonus effect is encouraging him not to finish off the bottle in order to enjoy the excellent wine preservation.