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!!

Redtinsel not including drinks.

placemarking

place marking for update

Maybe, as you didn't open the box, there is not a £500 gift in there. Maybe it's a 'decoy'?

I don't understand how you know it's "a mega expensive piece of beautiful jewellery" as you haven't opened the box

All you know, is there is a jewellery box in your husband's work coat.

it could;
Be empty
Have cheap jewellery in
Have something else inside
be a gift from someone to him (e.g. cufflinks)
A gift to anybody (his mum for example)

Just hope it is for you.......

Maybe it's got a robot-shaped soap in it?

I think the gift is for OP. If it was for a mistress he probably would have given the gift before going to Scotland for Christmas.

Dh did this to me two years ago. We'd set a £50 limit for a stocking each which he did. Then at dinner we pulled our crackers and mine had an eternity ring in that he'd had made with diamonds and the dcs birthstone (both August). It was lovely but I felt bad that I'd only stuck to the limit for his presents!

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

Don't feel guilty. It will ruin the whole point of it. You agreed the budget. He wants to utterly spoil you. Presumably he has the funds and will still do holiday. Don't ruin it by trying to even up last minute. Smile and say thank you. Be grateful

Silver stuff in tiffanys isn't always that expensive. You can get a charm for £60 here

So I wouldn't panic buy for him or assume that it is diamond earrings.

I really want to know what it is, please tell us tomorrow! I'd just enjoy it and not fret.

Accept as you would if you'd spent the same. He has chosen to do this. If you only feel bad because you are embarrassed you didn't there is no need. DH and I never have a budget, I tend to buy DH more things to open but last year he bought me an iPad so I'm not complaining. I got nothing really as a child so the twenty years I've had presents from DH have been lovely.

I really hope he has been over-generous and they are for you, OP, but I really want to know that they are too, so hope you update tomorrow!

Has silver gone up in price or is there a huge mark up for Tiffany's?

Why hasn't he wrapped it?

Huge mark up on diamonds maybe. Like with engagement rings. They're worth about a third what you paid for them the minute you start to leave the shop.

Goodness me, all this shameless place marking is terrible...

My DH reckons take it in the spirit intended.... A lovely surprise. And also says a blow job is never unwelcome

He will get more happiness out of seeing your face when you open the than he would from an expensive gift. It's a shame you've found them too soon- act surprised!

I've massively blown the budget for DH this year but i've known what i was going to get him for months. I cannot wait for him to open it and care not a jot about my gifts, (most of which i bought myself and gave to my mum and sister to wrap )

Do NOT suddenly start buying stuff. Erase the knowledge of the box from your memory. You and DH had agreed on small presents. If he has decided to surprise you with something lovely then he will want you to be super overcome with happiness, not to immediately say 'ha ha, I knew all along' and produce a similarly expensive present that negates the specialness of what he got you.
If it's something cheap in a Tiffany's box as a sort of 'we're on a budget but I'd buy you Tiffany's if I could afford it' type joke/gesture, then accept it in the spirit it's intended.
If he is guarding it for a friend then lucky friend to have that sort of money - just pretend you don't know.
If the box does not appear at all tomorrow then you have a Love Actually situation on your hands and you may need Mumsnet tomorrow.

Hope it all works out well xx

It's still a surprise. The OP has no idea what's inside.

You pay a lot for the Tiffany name.

If only my DH knew that if it's not for me tomorrow, he'll have a horde of disappointed/gleeful MNers after him!

I think I may actually have had a slight stroke of genius/done a lot of panic googling..... How about a year's membership to one of those monthly cheese & wine club thingies where you get the box of good stuff each month, that way it's not much over the budget right now, but cumulatively over the course of the year will add up to a decent gift?! and I could eat all the cheese and drink all the wine

Even if you aren't given the gift tomorrow it does not mean you have a Love Actually moment!.