What to get the man who doesn't want anything

[chameleonsocks]

I've been with DP for almost three years, living with him for most of that time. I know him well but I have zero idea what to get him for Valentine's Day and our upcoming anniversary!

He's not a bloke who likes 'things'. He's not into fashion, doesn't care about having nice leather accessories, etc. He's not a big drinker. He's not sporty. He's not into cooking. He's not really into books. He's not into posh skincare or smellies. He's quite lazy so anything resembling a ticket to an event would be more of an annoyance to him than a treat.

He's into tech but not in a way that I could get him anything - e.g he'd probably like a state of the art set of speakers but I can't afford to buy those.

Above all, he hates gifts for the sake of gifts. Novelty tat or sappy personalised stuff, even if it's good quality.

I've got him slippers, chocolates, video games he's asked for in the past, but I want to get him something good for once.

What would you get for a bloke like that?

Know you said he doesn’t like cooking but does he like nice food?
My DH’s birthday was yesterday and my mum bought him a meat box including some posh steaks which he loves (and I’m not fussed about). I often buy him a crate of nice beer too. Gets drunk much quicker than a bottle of spirits and again, he likes it more than say a whisky...

Magazine subscription. Spend the rest on something for you.

Buy him something for the house that you both actually need, that way it's not money wasted and you get the benefit of the gift as well. Or print out a few photos of the two of you and make a collage to go on the all somewhere.

*wall

clothes? A nice jumper or new PJs or something?
Honestly I have the same problem with mine...
Or a trip somewhere?

I'd get nothing, if he hates presents for the sake of presents, why not respect that? You could just do something nice together instead, or take him away for a lazy weekend?

Give him something sexually... a new experience for him.

actually my dad is terrible too - this year for christmas I got him a year of netflix!

What does he 'like'? My dh has a passion for wolves. We walked with wolves one year, we travel to visit parks /places that have them!!

DH is similar, he isn’t materialistic. For his birthday I got him a 6 pack of beer, and we sat around a camp fire in the back garden that evening.

Why are you with him? Someone who is not interested in pretty much anything (other than speakers!) and is lazy sounds both engaging, enlightened and a great date!

If you are set on staying with this dreadful sounding heathen, then I'd go for a nice watch (but I suppose he might not be interested in the time either), a subscription to a tech magazine, a meal out (it could be something different like dine in the dark or a jazz club), a boxer shorts/briefs subscription www.allsubscriptionboxes.co.uk/briefd/ (assuming he is interested in clean and new underwear) or you could go for the extraordinary option of actually asking him if there is anything he actively wants.

I still think the best gift would be to dump him!

I found it difficult buying for the other half as well...

In the end I got him a 'bar' light, a back massager (which is amazing) and a shaver... we recently got one of my friends a punch bag...

Good luck!

Quite a few good ideas here, glad I'm not the only one in this situation either! Thanks all.

Myddognearlyatethedeliveryman that's a great point, he does rather like animals (mainly cute fluffy ones) I'll see what I can do, short of getting him a puppy

ThereWasABaboon Haha, he's 'into' lots of things, but nothing I could get him a gift for! He's interested in cryptocurrencies, investing in things... er... and the rest.

Bloody hell @ThereWasABaboon just because ops DP isn't in to paragliding doesn't mean he's boring and she should dump him.

I also think that a meat box could be a nice gift (as long as he's not a vegan obvs). There's a company called The Blackface Meat company which do amazing meat boxes and are pretty affordable.

@chameleonsocks at London zoo (if you're local, though I'm sure other zoos do similar) they do a 'feed the penguins' gift experience?

I don't really want gifts for myself. I help my family out at Christmas and birthday with suggestions ofthings I need or they give me consumables. Glad I don't have to do this for Valentines or anniversary. Are you sure he wouldn't rather you didn't?

Adopt a leopard or similar?

support.wwf.org.uk/adopt-a-leopard

A really posh razor and accessories?

Gimble

just because ops DP isn't in to paragliding doesn't mean he's boring and she should dump him.

It's a bit more than that though isn't it - not into books (!?! there are a lot of books you know on pretty much every topic in the known universe) and lazy!!! Apart from all the rest of it, that's pretty much enough - a person with no real interests at any level that you can buy them a present (forget the paragliding - there is nothing here according to OP not even gardening or trainspotting) is a bit of a worry.

He's interested in cryptocurrencies, investing in things... er... and the rest.

Well it gets worse doesn't it. But you could get him a gift - there has recently been a cryptocurrency conference in London - what about a training course or conference on cryptocurrency? There are plenty of places that do a half day/one off evening.

Or give him some money (a small sum to play with) with a specific direction that he is only to invest it in a particular crypto currency of your choice (pick something random - not bitcoin one of the other medium to big size players)?

GimbleInTheWabe your London Zoo suggestion was brilliant, I think that might just work! Also your paragliding comment raised a smile.

Thanks for the other ideas too, some great stuff here.

ThereWasABaboon it's fine, I'm boring too! I don't want someone who's into 'stuff'.

My Dh is like this too. Everyone in the family used to get him chocolate and an Amazon voucher but now he is having to watch what he eats so we can't even give him much chocolate.

I don’t do things either and suggest you respect him and instead concentrate on planning time for the both of you together to make memories. Far more satisfying than trying to convert him to wanting and liking gifts. 🙂

Nothing.

I dont like gifts and its taken me three years to persuade my DP hes wasting his time and money on them. So if he has actually said he doesnt want anything then definitely dont bother; respect his wishes. If he hasnt said that then maybe just tell him if something comes up over the year, you've put some money aside (and do that), and will buy it as a nice surprise then. If not? Meh, roll it over to the next year.

Does he like live comedy? You get to sit down for a long time, so it is lazy friendly. But it does involve leaving the house...(how lazy is he?)