How do you decide when to stop buying for your DH / partner

[Liz1tummypain]

I just never know. For the children we can discuss it and get everything out and look at it and decide. But this year I can't work out when's enough.

Do you have a rough mental budget, is it that you give approx say three packages to open, do you know what you might receive and so give about the same ? I can't decide what's the right thing to do . Partly because he chose a ( fairly cheap) jacket he wanted for himself this year. I don't know.

How do you decide the amount of presents for your other half/ husband?

My husband and I just don’t do gifts for each other , we have been very happily married for 36 yrs . We get plenty of presents from other people and frankly there is nothing we need .

We save our money for a night away in the new year. Often February or March by the time we book it. We do get each other a few bits to open on the day, usually a book, bag of sweets type things

Granny Teapot - were you once on Yahoo answers ?

We don’t buy each other gifts. We stopped once we had DS and money was tight. Once our finances improved we never bothered to start again. Everyone thinks it’s odd but it works for us. He actually bought we a Christmas bouquet yesterday and I was very taken aback. But he said the kitchen didn’t look very festive and it would be nice to have something to look at while washing up

Our DC are adults. There's not a lot DH and I need so once the DC were older we agreed to give each other one token present with a value of £15 - £20 and the jointly decide on a treat or experience for later in the year.

Last Christmas I got a book. Can't remember what I bought DH. And we booked tickets for a play in London for March.

This year DH is getting a book (!) and we are going out for a posh dinner in January.

I think after the 2nd Christmas Eve hissing at each other (each in own language which added to the frustration) at 4am trying to put together some toy that in our innocence we through would arrive … in its final form.

We’re still together. Our 25 year old obviously no longer requires hard to construct toys. But we worked out early on that heighten of us is built for holiday stress.

We’ll go for a walk in the woods this afternoon. Maybe drive into town for an aperitivo or just a wander around the Christmas lights. Pop into the church and light candles for those no longer with us (who loved all the Christmas fuss and festivities) so a tiny light in the universe thinking of them feels right.

Honestly that’s much more in tune with how much Christmas either of us can cope with. I think it’s fine to be guided by what “feeling like Christmas” means to both of you. If that means super low key, or much more effortful, as long as it is both a pleasure & burden shared, that suits you both, it’s a win.

We stopped a couple of years ago, by mutual decision. DH is very hard to buy for; he buys himself what he wants, when he wants. His hobby is specific and I leave it to him to get his kit himself.

I don't need stuff; again if there's something I really want, I'll just buy it myself.

We just buy for our DS and family children now.

We had an agreement after we moved in together we wouldnt buy for each other as we have everything we want and need and can get what we need whenever. Dh usually makes a purchase for the house nearer xmas and over the years it's been a new bed, television, cooker or what ever. In the new year we are getting a summerhouse done which we are going halfs for. Works well for us

We budget £100 each and send each other what we'd like. He got Warhammer bits and a book and I got a Timberland jacket and the new Philip Pullman book. Pretty easy

We've bought a lot for the house and a few things for ourselves lately so agreed neither of us needed anything. Actually feels much less stressful.