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Relationships

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

Husband doesn’t appreciate gift

529 replies

MrsM101 · 23/07/2026 21:32

I’m pretty upset and feeling unappreciated. I’ve saved for 3 years for my husband’s 50th birthday to make it a special one. I spent months researching and planning and booked Dubai for his birthday, really spent a lot more than I’ve ever done before to show my appreciation and make his birthday special, also purchased a watch he had been after on top of it all which cost a bomb. I just really wanted to celebrate him. Firstly he is annoyed that I didn’t allow him to hand pick the watch himself even though he told me that’s the one he loved, secondly he is annoyed that I planned a holiday and he wasn’t involved in the planning and doesn’t want to go. I have shed so many tears and feel so unappreciated. I didn’t see it going this way. I just don’t understand what I’ve done wrong

OP posts:
IJustMight · 27/07/2026 12:24

MrsM101 · 24/07/2026 19:54

I slept on things and plan to speak to him over the weekend about in a civil way. I wasn’t feeling up to it last night. I’m hoping he has reflected on things too before I bring it up.

For text around the holiday, I booked flights and hotels but left all the excursions and restaurants etc so that we could do that together, the holiday is planned for some time away as we already have a couple of family trips planned. He planned a surprise break for me for my 40th (a few years ago) I feel blind sided by his response especially as he saw fit to do that for my birthday

Someone asked about the financial logistics, this wasn’t saved for out of my regular monthly wage, I worked a lot of overtime and set that aside in a savings space each month. I only worked the overtime to find the birthday gifts.

Still with you on this one, OP, and this makes me even more firmly on your side. He was ungrateful and rude about the watch and the surprise trip that's on HIS bucket list. Shouldn't be okay for him to plan surprise trips for you and you not be able to put together one for him that you had every reason to believe he'd love ... plus you left the detail planning to do between the two of you. He's being an arse.

Seajaye · 27/07/2026 13:30

Gosh some people are full of bias and vitriol over this husbands honest but less than gracious reaction to a surprise gift because he expressed a view about his preferences, which didn't align with OPs approach . Anyone would think husband has not worked hard to pay for holidays etc during their relationship.

Some people are better than others at faking delight, which I gather it's what many on here seem to think preferable, and I guess that's where he went wrong.

Easilyforgotten · 28/07/2026 15:27

How did the chat go OP? Have you had an apology?

Linnende · 28/07/2026 18:35

Seajaye · 27/07/2026 13:30

Gosh some people are full of bias and vitriol over this husbands honest but less than gracious reaction to a surprise gift because he expressed a view about his preferences, which didn't align with OPs approach . Anyone would think husband has not worked hard to pay for holidays etc during their relationship.

Some people are better than others at faking delight, which I gather it's what many on here seem to think preferable, and I guess that's where he went wrong.

Sorry to disagree, but I think he was ungrateful 😔

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