Tiny Budget

[BlueMoe]

This is first Christmas with new man, both of us have finalized divorced this year after long marriages.

We won’t be together at Christmas but I would like to give him a nice, meaningful, present. But what?

High on effort, low on cost is the thinking.

A small mirror with a bell on it for his cage.

Oh, I've just realised you put Tiny Budget,
I read it as Tiny Budgie!

Does he have any particular interests? A magazine of something he's into and some chocs?

Could you do something sentimental like some diy "vouchers" for things like a massage, a nice dinner, that type of thing? Or some date vouchers for a number of date nights like cinema tickets, coffee shop vouchers, etc so you can use them for quality time together? A treasure hunt of little, meaningful presents? Or maybe an airbnb somewhere that isn't too expensive/ that you can pay off gradually? How much are you thinking you can realistically spend?

😁

The sort of gifts we have given each other have been: home made cards, a second hand book, a little sketch that is relevant.
We met a couple of weeks before Valentine’s Day and had a budget of 2 pounds!

It is so difficult because XH definitely liked flashy presents and it has left me feeling very unsettled about all gift giving.

A lovely handmade bookmark?

At Christmas, lovely food !

Could you make him a Yule log?

Or make him a little hamper of treats. Gingerbread men, marzipan fruits, home made pickles to go with some cheese.

Do you play cards together? Fancy packet of playing cards or a set of magic trick playung cards.

This might be a bit of a silly idea
Has he mentioned something that he loved in his youth? A friend mentioned a few years ago she always wanted a cyber pet but never got one so I got her one it was a bit of a naff one from some Chinese website but she got her cyber pet.

Show up naked. Bring beer. My DP prefers that over any gift I could possibly give him.

I was going to suggest a second hand book but I’ve seen you did that already. Probably ok to repeat if you can find something that reflects his interests. You could add a bookmark, and some homemade treats - cookies lend themselves well to personalisation - eg doing car shaped cookies to go with a book about motor racing. You can draw a template and cut around it with a sharp knife if you don’t have a cookie cutter.

Charity shops are worth a browse this time a year as people tend to clear out before Christmas. New stock is hitting the high street shops now, so worth a look at sale rails for a bargain.

The naked plus beer would not be his style at all. Although he likes both!

The homemade bookmark I got him for his birthday with a book. He was so appreciative, and I really like that part of his character. He is so easy to be in a relationship with.

I did have a game on the shortlist- probably scrabble, but cards would also work.

I hate buying gifts.

I think everyone should do this - at least once in their relationship!

I embroidered hearts on DHs work shirts one year - under cuffs and other bits where they couldn't be seen . . I can imagine this going down really badly with a lot of people though!

I used do similar when I covered the kids school books. I would write messages inside the wrapping!

Love it! ❤

My DH would probably love that too but I'm not sure DS would be impressed

I love this so much.

A photo of a nice view/ landmark you have been together?

A big bar of decent chocolate?

I'd do a lovely pack of cards and something you've made, like truffles or fudge.

I would do, something to read together, something to listen to together, something to eat together and something to play together

1. book of trips you’d like to do together (like a travel book!)
2. a Spotify playlist
3. a fancy cheese and cracker hamper or a pick n mix (that you make yourself, obviously)
4. Playing cards or new board game. Maybe even a nice noughts and crosses set?

It is interesting you mention the Spotify playlist. He knows some artists I like but I would feel far too vulnerable to play him a song I like in case he was Meh! about it.
Isn’t that ludicrous, but that’s what a decade’s long nightmare relationship does to you.
Also for him they are just songs but for me they are the sound track to the split and divorce: and it applies nearly as much to Miley Cyrus as it does to Nick Cave.

We haven’t played scrabble together yet, so maybe that!

what about Monopoly, or possibly one which is associated with a particular town. DB bought DC a set featuring our home town.
ive also seen on FB a company that makes imaginary tube maps of various towns.