Christmas Presents

Do you exchange gifts with your husband/wife or significant other. If so, do you have to pick it out. Most of the time my husband gives me a card with some money in it. I have done the same for him. But this year, I have actually bought him some presents, things I have heard him mention, or things I know he needs.

I like to get him things here and there, not always for Christmas but if we catch an off hand comment about something the other would like, sometimes it miraculously shows up!

He drew my name for his family's Christmas this year, so he wound up buying for me anyway. I said I wanted a tool set of a wrench, screwdriver (the ones where you can store the extra heads in the base), and needle nosed pliers so I can do things like assemble cat towers and make bird toys on my own. Accompanied with obligatory chocolate and a poem I had to read aloud about how insane I am.

When I was shopping for other people, I grabbed him some Baileys chocolates too. I bought him new leather driving gloves, a nail clipper (he asked me to buy it, but I wrapped it and treated it as a gift, hahaha), and still coming in the mail and will likely be late is a Game of Thrones Stark stein, one for his brother (for whom I shopped this year) and one for him to match.

If we don't get around to it or don't need or want anything, we don't exchange anything. Usually he doesn't give me anything anyway, but if it's been a while since we did anything together, I'll just ask him for a date night. It's not "for" either of us specifically, and we take turns paying so that's just a thing that could be treated as a "gift", I guess.

Rick and I have always exchanged presents and I can't even imagine not doing so. Not money, but things that we open. There are always presents under the tree. 

This year I did buy my main present, but only because it's a laptop and Rick didn't even want to think about going there. He knows I'm kind of picky when it comes to computers and such. He gave me money and told me to do what I wanted. So I bought the laptop on my own. But this is the first year that I can recall doing so. Brought the laptop home and immediately gave it to him.....I don't even want to open it until Christmas. He's going to wrap it even though I bought it.

I got him the miter saw bench that he wanted, but he had to pick it up at his parents' house, largely because it's too long to fit into the Cruiser or into the Tucson. He knows what it is (it says "Dewalt Miter Saw Bench" right on the box) and I'm not going to wrap it, although I did put a big red bow on it. It's leaning against the wall at the end of the piano in the living room. I have other things for him, too, and will wrap them for him to open. 

He always gives me a big bag of Peanut M & Ms for my stocking. In return, I buy him a big box of Little Debbie Nutty Bars for his stocking. It's become kind of joke now because we've done this for decades.   The man loves his Nutty Bars.

I do give him a gift card to Lowes, simply because he can always use a new tool or something like that for working on the house or outside in the yard. The kids always give him a Lowes GC, too, for the same reason. And that's fine with Rick.

We've been married now for almost 44 years, so you'd think we'd run out of ideas for each other, but somehow we manage.

We sort of do.  At first we always did!  We kept a running list of things we would like so we always had ideas for each other.  It's gotten so there isn't much to ask for anymore.  A little part of me hates dropping hints too.  It's nice to be surprised; but I know DH would rather not get me things I won't use.  Plus he works SO much this time of year; it's not like he can sneak off to the mall.  I'm home so much I see all things that get delivered.  It just makes it harder for him.  I do fill his stocking every year.  I also do my own...

I was thinking of making him a little list this year; but keeping it more general.  I can list scents and products I like from Bath & Body Works.  Pedicures are always appreciated and not something I will spend money on unless it's gifted to me.  Things like that should help.  Last year my Kitchen Aid mixer was my present and we ordered that the day before Thanksgiving so I used it during the holiday season.  It meant no gifts under the tree; but I was completely fine with that!  

I have some things for DH this year (and he knows it so he's feeling pressure to get me something).  Mostly it's pjs he's been saying he needs.  I also bought him a camper.  A Lego camper; but it's a camper!    I'm thinking he can stick it on the wood shelf we got for over his night table.  We have been talking about upgrading our computer eventually; so maybe instead of him worrying over gifts we will just save the money for that.  I would have bought him the pj's regardless of the holiday.  Kohls had them on sale and I had a 30% off.  It almost doesn't count.  I did buy him some Christmas jammies though. 

We don't really exchange gifts.  Sometimes we'll do one big gift for the whole family.  The TV was one year.  The Wii was another.  

This year Wicked came to town over Thanksgiving.  My original thought was just dh and I.  The girls heard that, and I had to deal with 2 very annoyed "kiddults".  They wanted to see it almost as much as we did.  I told them we could all go- but it's going to be the "big" present this year- those tickets weren't cheap (and we had seats almost up in the nosebleed section).

Cheryl

We exchange gifts, but it's generally something small unless one of us really needs something (like the suitcase I got last year). DH is really difficult to buy for. I told him last night that I didn't have anything for him, and he said he didn't want anything, but if I felt I had to get him a gift he'd be okay with a CD as long as the guitar music was interesting. He's been playing some Bon Jovi songs on his guitar lately, so he's going to get a Greatest Hits CD.

DH has made the same mistake this year as last - ordering my gift using my Amazon account, so I saw the acknowledgment and dispatch advice. :lol3: I'll just pretend to be surprised.

We normally do exchange gifts, but I do need to give him a bit of a list. I had a tough time coming up with things this year because there isn't a lot right now that I really want. I did put a new umbrella on my list. :lol3:

jcat said:

DH has made the same mistake this year as last - ordering my gift using my Amazon account, so I saw the acknowledgment and dispatch advice.

I'll just pretend to be surprised.

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I just checked my e-mail and saw the order confirmation for my Christmas present.    I was already 99% sure thats what he got me because he'd told me he ordered it and then 10 minutes later a lightning deal started on it so he cancelled it and ordered it again but the deal sold out or something like that so he had to order it again at regular price.  Which isn't much.  It's a sterling silver ring I have been eyeing because my wedding band hasn't fit since I was pregnant with DS.  It's pretty; but not so valuable I can't keep it on while I'm doing things.  I wear my wedding band on a chain around my neck.

DH and I normally do exchange--we usually buy thing online that each of us asks the other to get. We set a dollar limit.

This is the first year that we weren't going to exchange. Neither of us have much money this year: last year, he took a new job, with a $3-4 an hour pay cut, just in order to have a full-time job (his other job was going downhill FAST--the drivers are now all part-time). I had the most expensive year of my life (apart from the year we bought the house!)--my friend's wedding, the rehearsal dinner, the big bridal shower--all took a LOT of money out of my wallet. I also made things for a program at work in October, and threw a baby shower last month.  On top of all of that, DH needs new glasses. His new job's insurance stinks. And the poor guy's been working 15-hour days lately, and we're now both sick with a foul cold, so we just decided not to bother with gifts this year.  And we did his family's Christmas in November, and bought them gifts.

That being said, last night, I had to drop my car off to be inspected. When we were in the wholesale club, he bought me a gorgeous, sterling silver and gemstone bracelet! (Yes, warehouse/wholesale clubs do have very nice fine jewelry, believe it or not.) That was so sweet of him! He said he felt bad because I caught a cold from him. Only in America can you buy a huge bag of frozen peas and fine jewelry--all at one store!

As much as I appreciate the bracelet, you know what's made me so happy, and put me in the Christmas spirit?  My best friend's adult daughter, who is bi-polar, had a bed bug infestation in her apartment building. They had to trash most of her belongings. My friend hasn't much money right now, nor does her daughter. She mentioned her daughter really needs a new mattress, but she couldn't afford one right now.  Well, a certain little red-haired elf found a way of buying a nice, new mattress (my friend was going to get her a free, used  one!).  My friend left a phone message the other night: "Thank you so much for the mattress. I told A. that you were buying some nice things for her, and she cried when I told her. I really appreciate what you did. This is going to be the BEST Christmas EVER!!!" You can't imagine how happy those words made me.

And, my friend, her son, and her hubby and their dogs are coming over for Christmas dinner!!!  I always dread Christmas, as my family dumped me 10 years ago, and DH and I are always alone on that day.

What a wonderful, amazing and blessed Christmas.

No Christmas presents and no Hanukkah presents.

Glen and I do gifts, though we usually shop together for each other. So about 75% of things from each other we know what we are getting. But we both also usually get each other something for a surprise gift. Last year my surprise gift was him telling me I could schedule an appointment for a new tattoo. My surprise to him was a wooden, hand engraved wall gun rack.

MargeCat said:

 
As much as I appreciate the bracelet, you know what's made me so happy, and put me in the Christmas spirit?  My best friend's adult daughter, who is bi-polar, had a bed bug infestation in her apartment building. They had to trash most of her belongings. My friend hasn't much money right now, nor does her daughter. She mentioned her daughter really needs a new mattress, but she couldn't afford one right now.  Well, a certain little red-haired elf found a way of buying a nice, new mattress (my friend was going to get her a free, used  one!).  My friend left a phone message the other night: "Thank you so much for the mattress. I told A. that you were buying some nice things for her, and she cried when I told her. I really appreciate what you did. This is going to be the BEST Christmas EVER!!!" You can't imagine how happy those words made me.

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That is the way to face the season!  Blessing someone and being appreciated for it!  That really means a lot! 

Your Christmas day plans sound wonderful too! 

MoochNNoodles said:

jcat said:

DH has made the same mistake this year as last - ordering my gift using my Amazon account, so I saw the acknowledgment and dispatch advice. :lol3: I'll just pretend to be surprised.

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I just checked my e-mail and saw the order confirmation for my Christmas present. :lol3:   I was already 99% sure thats what he got me because he'd told me he ordered it and then 10 minutes later a lightning deal started on it so he cancelled it and ordered it again but the deal sold out or something like that so he had to order it again at regular price.  Which isn't much.  It's a sterling silver ring I have been eyeing because my wedding band hasn't fit since I was pregnant with DS.  It's pretty; but not so valuable I can't keep it on while I'm doing things.  I wear my wedding band on a chain around my neck.

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:lol3: It appears to be a common mistake.

Wedding bands can become a problem over the years. DH's had to be cut off because it got too small. Mine's too big now, although I weigh about the same as I did way back then (almost 35 years ago). My hands and feet have gotten skinnier. :lol3:

MargeCat, thank you for doing that for your friend.    

jcat said:

It appears to be a common mistake.

Wedding bands can become a problem over the years. DH's had to be cut off because it got too small. Mine's too big now, although I weigh about the same as I did way back then (almost 35 years ago). My hands and feet have gotten skinnier.

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Want to trade?    I was still wearing a 4 1/2 ring when DH and I met.  My engagement band he got in a 5 and we did the wedding band in a 5 1/2.  We thought we were being safe.  My fingers don't look fat to me; but they sure don't fit!  I have some nice,everyday rings that don't fit.  I used to wear a lot too!  I remember my Grandma wearing her band on her little finger.  My mother and step-dad have bought a 2nd, larger set.

I should clarify; I didn't know for sure what lightning deal he was ordering on Amazon; but I had told him it was going to be a lightning deal yesterday.    Now do I let him wrap it? 

We did buy gifts for each other. DH was special. He would find something he wanted, buy it and then give it to me to wrap and of course, pay for.   I did usually get him other things that he didn't know about but he always picked out his main gift. I, on the other hand, never knew what he was getting me until Christmas day. Now I buy my own gift. I upgraded my phone to the Iphone 6. DD is like her dad. She always knows what she's getting from me. That's because she tells me what she wants. A gaming headset and speakers for her computer. She got a new phone, too. The Samsung Galaxy S5. The cats got her a plush Pusheen and the dog got her a cute purse. The cats got big, soft, cushy new beds and ID tags that are also GPS devices (coming in January). The dog got a big new chewy bone and treats.

i love shopping for my husband and getting him gifts. we are very good at telling each other what we want. i like the idea of him actually picking something out for me on his own. for example, ill say i want a heart necklace....but its up to him to pick out what kind. Hes also very good at remembering things i want that i might mention here and there. i think thats so sweet, me i have a terrible memory and mostly have tp ask him what he wants, but i also pick up some stuff on my own that i know he will like.