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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Original poster

I need help choosing a christmas present for DW...

29 replies

MDUK · 19/12/2013 23:22

Yes, I know how ridiculous that sounds but I am really struggling to come up with something to show my wife I care. I'm not going to buy a 3 for 2 from boots or chocolates or perfume. I wanted to get something that showed I had really put some thought into it.

I h planned to put some time aside to come up with something special. for various reasons I didn't and I have less than a week to find something. I'm not someone who leaves stuff like this to the last minute and now I am really finding it difficult to think objectively.

I'm not thinking about jewellery, or clothes, or a weekend away. I feel like anything I get now (and that is not thought out) will look like i've just grabbed something on Christmas eve...

Anyway, I'm grabbing at straws for inspiration, hence this post...

OP posts:
lookingfoxy · 19/12/2013 23:25

Tickets to a show she'd enjoy with dinner and night in hotel ?
You've dismissed a lot of decent presents in your post.

HaroldTheGoat · 19/12/2013 23:26

What does she like? Give us some clues.

MajesticWhine · 19/12/2013 23:26

One of my best presents was when DH bought me a really nice pair of winter boots.
How old is she? What are her interests? Why not clothing or jewellery?

lookingfoxy · 19/12/2013 23:27

Spa day, books,voucher for hair salon depends on your budget.

LEMoncehadacatcalledSANTA · 19/12/2013 23:27

we need more info - what does she like? what are her interests? is she girly? intellectual? does she have a kindle?

HaroldTheGoat · 19/12/2013 23:27

I'd love to get some clothes, comfy slipper boots & pajamas for Christmas.

LEMoncehadacatcalledSANTA · 19/12/2013 23:28

oh yes, boots - but i need to try mine on so would probably risk the slog round the shoe shops after xmas

savemefromrickets · 19/12/2013 23:29

You could put together a basket of little things such as foods and drinks which bring back shared memories, with a tag on each one to say why you chose it. It wouldn't have a romantic vibe in our house as we'd go for sarcasm, it would contain things like whisky with a tag saying 'for the first time you tried it and threw your iphone on the floor to see if it would bounce'. You get the picture...

HaroldTheGoat · 19/12/2013 23:31

Boots are a good one, they are quite expensive so not something you can pick up yourself as easily as other things, depends how confident you are at knowing her taste.

I would also like perfume, I have no perfume left any more.

A few bits if nice make up. Some books, some CDS.

What about a stocking/Santa sack full of lots of little bits that she will like? You can burn around town and get that sorted.

Original poster
MDUK · 19/12/2013 23:35

Wow, that was quick thank you. I didn't think i'd get any responses.

Is she girly - not in the sense that she would do spa/nails/beauty salon. She likes to go to the personal shopper at Debenahms but we can't really afford it atm

jewellery, i've got her quite a lot for gifts over the years , not expensive stuff but things she can wear daily, mainly silver so it doesn't really feel thought out.

I like the basket of things, wonder if i could draw a list up..
I like the dinner and hotel, done it before but is a nice idea...some time together...

thanks everyone.

OP posts:
BitOfFunWithSanta · 19/12/2013 23:36

Don't go for a spa day unless you know she'd love it. A very dear friend bought be a voucher for one, and I never redeemed it, as it just doesn't appeal to me.

BitOfFunWithSanta · 19/12/2013 23:37

*me

Cabrinha · 19/12/2013 23:40

Not giving a budget or what she likes / is like makes this very hard!
My new boyfriend has bought me a Hoover and I'm over the moon! It would cause a dumping situation for some though :)
If she likes the personal shopper at Debenhams but can't afford it, isn't that what a gift is for? Buy vouchers to value that you can afford, and suggest she get the personal shopper, even if it's for one top, or one pair of jeans... The shopper is free, no?

HaroldTheGoat · 19/12/2013 23:42

Oh yes, Hoover would not go down well for me! Grin

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow · 19/12/2013 23:43

what about a really nice new winter coat

BitOfFunWithSanta · 19/12/2013 23:44

What are her interests?

sunbathe · 19/12/2013 23:48

Why not some expensive jewellery for a change?

Kindle? Or books?

Cookery/gardening course, or whatever she's into?

Trip on the Orient Express?

hanette · 19/12/2013 23:54

What ever you do - don't buy her a bin

DirtyDancing · 20/12/2013 00:22

Do you like doing things together? How much is your budget?

A day trip to London with a trip up the Shard (followed by a drink in Aqua bar on 31st floor).

A mini moon to Whitstable and stay in the Fishermans cottages (or similar)

Getting her favourite photo of you both/ your family framed.

Do the selection of her favourite things, but do it as a mini treasure hunt & make it romantic

redundantandbitter · 20/12/2013 01:50

The framed photo is a nice idea. As is the basket of little things with notes attached - that sounds really funny, I like.

I would like green & blacks expresso chocolate !

Tickets to a gig?
Poster of Her favourite film ?
My lovely ex bought me an orla kiely scarf and a vintage style leather covered Digital radio - use it every day

I'd like someone to buy me some 70's roller boots!

DON'T buy her a magi mix. My DDs father bought me one 5 yrs ago when 2nd dd was 5 weeks old. Never took it out of the box - straight in the loft. It was the beginning of the end of us. Last night I delivered the magimix to a friend who loved it.

Good luck!

BadLad · 20/12/2013 03:24

I'm making a page-a-day calenday for my wife. She is very interested in a certain historical character, so I have accumulated lots of photos of him - some taken by us, some from the internet and am getting the calendar properly printed.

Should be good.

fiftyandfab · 20/12/2013 04:27

I'm not thinking about jewellery, or clothes, or a weekend away. I feel like anything I get now (and that is not thought out) will look like i've just grabbed something on Christmas eve...

Laughs at the boots, trip to London/mini moon, expensive jewellery suggestions!!!

I like the treasure hunt/goody bag suggestion. However, it suggests more thought and time, of which there is not much!

I'd like a proper man all year round, rather than 'just for Christmas'....

BerlinerBelle · 20/12/2013 08:54

Bad lad - that sounds fantastic - I hope she appreciates it. That's the sort of present I would love to receive and never have - not a big splash of money, but something that reflects the real person/interests and shows that you've put time and thought into it. It's truly romantic.

although I'm a bit Confused as to how you have your own pictures of a historical figure.

OP - nice try posting on Mumsnet, but you need to do some hard thinking - what does she love, wish she had more time to do - you know her, we don't.

NickyNackyNooNoo · 20/12/2013 09:01

Tbh the best Christmas present my 'D'H could get me would be a cleaner, I've dropped loads of hints clearly told him but not holding out much hope!

BadLad · 20/12/2013 09:02

My pictures are of statues of him, monuments etc.

If your name is any indication of where you live, or are from, you have likely seen him plenty of times. It's Friedrich Der Grosse.

Thanks for the feedback - glad you like the idea.

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