To feel slightly put out by DH's lovely surprise?

[GinIsABreakfastFood]

Ok, firstly I want to clarify I did not look for my present on purpose!

Basically DH and I agreed that we would only do tiny token presents this year so that we can have a mega holiday later on. We agreed a set limit, which I found a huge struggle as I bloody love giving presents and spoiling people, and have spent the past few months trying frantically to pick up lovely, thoughtful little bits and pieces within the £20 limit.

Was feeling quite pleased with myself until.... Was packing to leave for family for Christmas and noticed his smart work coat which he won't need was a bit grubby so thought I'd leave it with the dry cleaners so it's fresh for next year, and found a mega expensive piece of beautiful jewellery hidden in the pocket.

DSis has helpfully pointed out that this happens in Love Actually and it turns out the husband has bought the gift for his mistress....

Pretty sure it is for me, thanks, Dsis, and it's lovely, but soooo not what we agreed.

We have got to leave in the next 20 mins to drive to remote Scotland for massive family Christmas so no time to get him anything else to even the balance. Which means that when we open presents in Christmas morning, in front of about 30 people, I will get Tiffany diamond earrings, and he will get socks and a robot bath bomb. AIBU to feel absolutely mortified, a bit cross, and completely love my darling DH for the beautiful surprise, but also a bit want to kill him?!

Should I just buy £500 worth of petrol station tat at at the services on the way there?! Pretend I forgot his main present at home and lie about what it is?!

HELP!!

Found them quite late last night whilst packing. Dry cleaner is only at the end of the road and is open late. (London) Called Dsis at the time, and she suggested I sleep on it overnight as panic buying online last night or this morning would basically have the same result.

Sleeping on it DID NOT WORK, was still panicking this am, hence the post.

Actually loving the tickets idea - trying to sneakily Google whilst also updating MN, and hiding my phone from DH in the driver's seat.

YY to the red lipstick and risqué pants suggestions. This may be my only option!

I'm sure they're for you - and it is a lovely present, if a bit unexpected. I think they only thing you can do is accept graciously :) merry christmas!

My DH has form for this OP I feel your pain!

I don't think you should feel obliged to get him anything though, my DH says his best present is seeing my face opening a lovely gift

I wouldn't panic about it OP.
He wants to give you a lovely surprise, which will give him great pleasure. Just accept it gracefully, and that will please him even more.
Don't rush out now to get a present in return that might not be suitable.
Take some time to think of something equally nice for his birthday or an anniversary.
In the meantime of course, you can show your appreciation in a more physical manner. He'll enjoy that even more!

My Dp did this one year, we agreed to big presents and he bought me a new laptop which I knew he couldn't afford. I was furious, asI knew it was him indulging himself in his love for all things Apple, which I don't like, as much as anything. I made him take it back, then later that year he went into financial meltdown.

Accept graciously and enjoy them!

Omg I can't believe the negativity about your DH in some of these threads.

I'm in the tickets camp. Do you have your holiday dates yet? Can you get something that you can do whilst you're there, then you haven't really cheated

And also I'm super jealous. An Amazon parcel arrived here and through the bag it felt like something like a jewellery box.

DH showed me it with a flourish this morning, he's bought himself a jumbo pack of collar stays.

I'm so greedy

You do not know the value of the present. It could be nowhere near 100s of £.
Maybe get something to keep as a backup and return just in case.

I reckon your sister knows what is going on - she has given him the box that her earrings came in and he has put whatever he bought for £20 in it.

Terry and June! I forgot that existed.

My DH bought me an iPad for Valentines Day once. I'd got him.... a card. It was a very thoughtful card though He didn't mind, we don't normally do presents for Valentine, he just wanted to get me it.

If it was for his sister he wouldn't have hidden it in the coat pocket.
And if for a bit on the side he wouldn't have taken the coat.
Unless he has one specially for Christmas in Scotland.

OP, I'd be going through what you are both giving your relatives just to be double sure.
And casually confirm you have both stuck to your budget to see his face.

Dh has done this to me, albeit not quite on the Tiffany diamond scale. He has historically been quite crap with presents, although it changed after the Great Birthday Egg Slicer Incident of 2009 (don't ask - the clue's in the name (sad) (grin) and the resulting upset. Last Christmas I picked a couple of things I wanted and sent him the links. Then I got him a couple of things. Come Christmas morning I had said things plus half a dozen (mostly quite well-chosen) others. It's a bit embarrassing, but I think the only thing to do is be touched and accept with grace. Lots of thought went into your little gifts and it really is the thought that counts.
(I did get revenge on his birthday this year with a rare first edition of a historic book from his field of geekiness research).

This reminds me (as well as Love Actually) of that episode of Friends where the gang get petrol station tat as Christmas Presents, so here's some helpful suggestions:

toilet seat covers
Cans of fizzy pop
condoms
wiper blades

HTH

Or just pay the petrol for both trips. That alone should be quite a bit.

I think you guessed under, Tiffany diamond earrings will probably be more than £500 (helpful)

I was looking at earings this month and the tiniest diamond and gold studs were about the £200 mark.

I'd be annoyed - Tiffany is over priced and not great quality. You'd get much more for your money elsewhere.

I'm sure the gift is for you. I wouldn't buy anything else - it will look suss.

I think thats lovely! Prepare your best surprised face OP

I wouldn't bother trying to buy anything, a blowjob is a great last minute gift Happy Christmas!

OP Is your husband much of a joker?

One of the novelty websites had novelty gifts in fake Tiffany boxes this year, a colleague bought one for his mum. It had a nice enough bracelet in it, but the bracelet was clearly something cheap (I think the whole thing cost £22) and he didn't seem to get that giving it in a Tiffany box made it seem a bit mean, rather than funny and thoughtful! He really believed he was adding "a touch of Tiffany's" to her Christmas.

I think he convinced him not to give it to her...

I hope it's real, though, and I wouldn't panic-buy something else. Be gracious and thankful, and appreciate them. He won't be expecting anything big in return and if you present something over-budget, he'll clock that you knew somehow.

Place marking

I hope they're lovely and for you, of course! If he's bought them, he wanted to do something nice for you so accept them with a big grin! To those saying Tiffany's is poor quality, it's also a brand many non-jewellery experts would go to for a special gift- that loads of people would love to receive. No need for the 'sneeriness'!

If you're heading north then offer to buy him lunch at Tebay services. That should be about £500