Buying Presents for Her (or Him!) Indoors

Is it a breeze or a squeeze? I'm not talking about the kind of present where you just invite your partner to get whatever they want; I'm talking about the gift that you buy unaided, the one that shows that you've put in some thought and effort, the one that packs the real sentimental punch. There you are, all alone on the bustling high streets or shopping malls, gazing with forlorn despair into shop windows, one after another after another, vainly hoping that the ideal gift will somehow just suddenly reveal itself like the holy grail!

Would she look good in that? How much is it ... gor blimey, she's not having that! What about a matching beret and scarf ... oh, for chrissakes, she's not auditioning for the role of Bunty in Paris! Well, how about some smellies? Let's have a look at that. Probably very nice, but it's no bigger than a hamster's cock - I can't give her that!

I find it something of a trial, truth be told. Today, I braved the crowds, did me dooty, and scoured various stores in our nearest mall. I came away with some things I think she'll like. She actually gets real joy just out of receiving presents, whatever they are, so right now she'll love that she's got some that she doesn't know anything about. But I do like to get something she'll really like, nevertheless.

So, how are you at this game? 

Mrs M and I limit what we spend on presents to each other to £10 on Christmas and charity shop tat is perfectly acceptable. Personally happy to buy her anything she wants at anytime if we have the money available so why make such a fuss about one day? 

My wife’s pretty easy to buy things for, she has a few hobbies and always needs things for them, but at our age I think experiences are better than possessions. 

I spend ages thinking of stuff and then buy it and missus munckee says “oh you got my hints then.”  I believe it’s a type of Jedi mind control.  

We don't buy each other anything. Makes it stress free and I don't need anything anyway, I don't like buying for the sake of it.

I think I do ok.

This year I got her a flight to Australia so she could visit her mum (who turned 80 and is a bit frail), she gets back on the 29th and I am going to stay with a friend for the next 2 days.
Last year I bought her an 18ct gold locket to replace one that was stolen.
A few years ago I bought her a BMW convertible.

The thing to do is buy things over the course of the year. Don't leave it til the last few weeks. Example: you're on holiday in July, you're in a shop, and she sees a necklace she really likes. Later that day you secretly go back to the shop and buy the necklace, then hide it somewhere til Christmas.

I never think to do this myself, but it's good advice.

Argos voucher. It's the thought that counts.

I never do it. We have different tastes in everything, I can't possibly surprise her with something she would actually want. She gets what she wants, I wrap it up.

I'm useless at getting presents. The Mrs has got all pressies for our kids plus the extended family for the past 30 years. All I ever have to do is show up on the relevant day. 

axisus said:

I never do it. We have different tastes in everything, I can't possibly surprise her with something she would actually want. She gets what she wants, I wrap it up.

I'm useless at getting presents. The Mrs has got all pressies for our kids plus the extended family for the past 30 years. All I ever have to do is show up on the relevant day. 

You sound like my dad, present-wise. Mum used to buy all his presents for other people, and she told him what to buy her. Mind you, she had the privilege of never having to work a single day for money after the day she married him.

axisus said:

I never do it. We have different tastes in everything, I can't possibly surprise her with something she would actually want. She gets what she wants, I wrap it up.

I'm useless at getting presents. The Mrs has got all pressies for our kids plus the extended family for the past 30 years. All I ever have to do is show up on the relevant day. 

That’s pretty much my situation, works well for us. 

I keep a running lis,t from about July, on my phone of things she said she wants and then try to buy them. It's useful stuff nowadays, not 'another bag she doesn't want'.

This method also allows me to be holier-than-thow as Xmas approaches and she gets all stressed because she has no idea what to get me. Despite me talking about all sorts of perfect presents through the years.

Anyone know how to spell 'thow"? Though? Thaw? Thou? I think its thou...

we never bought presents for each other, just cards. Mrs F was of an artistic nature and the cards from here were hand made. The best presents (cards) I've gotten were from here, I will treasure them to my last breath. 

VimFuego said:

we never bought presents for each other, just cards. Mrs F was of an artistic nature and the cards from here were hand made. The best presents (cards) I've gotten were from here, I will treasure them to my last breath. 

Those sound very special indeed.

I'm usually pretty good. MrsF sometimes stalks me on here though so no spoilers!! 

We don't do gifts for each other. We'd rather go away for a child-free spa weekend away at some point in the year instead. Plus we need to find £70k for an extension we want built this year. 

It's quite easy for me. The wife has a serious perfume addiction  (200+ bottles approx) she just tells me which ones she wants.

octatonic said:

I think I do ok.

This year I got her a flight to Australia so she could visit her mum (who turned 80 and is a bit frail), she gets back on the 29th and I am going to stay with a friend for the next 2 days.
Last year I bought her an 18ct gold locket to replace one that was stolen.
A few years ago I bought her a BMW convertible.

Do you want a side bitch?

3 holidays this year and 2 already booked for next year, that’s how we are spending money..

saying that she wants a new Apple Watch so I’ve got her one and I’m after a pinball table which I’m having but not delivered until January. 

We don’t do cards or presents - for any occasion. It makes life very simple and we just buy what we need throughout the year - rather than stress about some token tat that the other might not want. I’m aware that’s probably a boring outlook for some. It works very well for us though. 

We said we weren't doing gifts for each other... but then she saw a sewing machine she wanted. I don't mind though, she's getting me something in return.

Iamnobody said:

I’m aware that’s probably a boring outlook for some. It works very well for us though. 

I don't think boring comes into it. If that's what works for you then it's what works for you.

I love presents, and Lady BMcH and I like having birthday holidays. That doesn't mean anyone else has to. 

Timcito said:

... she had the privilege of never having to work a single day for money after the day she married him.

You say that as if it were a good thing, but women in the past were trapped in marriages where men controlled the purse strings and effectively owned all the money. I think that women should earn something themselves that they can spend on whatever they want without any negative emotions attached. Still, it works for some people, it worked for my mum and dad.

Lady BMcH retired some time ago. She gets a toy fund she can spend on whatever she likes.

axisus said:

Timcito said:

... she had the privilege of never having to work a single day for money after the day she married him.

You say that as if it were a good thing, but women in the past were trapped in marriages where men controlled the purse strings and effectively owned all the money. I think that women should earn something themselves that they can spend on whatever they want without any negative emotions attached. Still, it works for some people, it worked for my mum and dad.

In my mum's case and for many 'modern' women, I think the option not to work probably had more pluses than minuses.

boogieman said:

octatonic said:

I think I do ok.

This year I got her a flight to Australia so she could visit her mum (who turned 80 and is a bit frail), she gets back on the 29th and I am going to stay with a friend for the next 2 days.
Last year I bought her an 18ct gold locket to replace one that was stolen.
A few years ago I bought her a BMW convertible.

Do you want a side bitch?

Sure, but I think you will dislike what you have to do to earn that right.

My wife is usually more in touch with the smaller things the children need /want although they are all adults now ....sometimes she shops them ,sometimes I do or I pick up or choose the odd things for them on her advice ........
I always find presents for her ( sometimes the older daughters have a good idea or will try on the coat/boots/outfit if it happens to be clothing )....a pair of earings , a handbag etc
I'm easy ......my wife always gets me something I say that I want ....usually a couple pairs of socks , a bottle of after-shave , a particular book , a cooking implement .......nothing particularly complicated or elaborate .

Got my wife a book about the history of Maltese buses. 

I just keep putting up more bookshelves for her to fill… I’ll never need to wallpaper again.. there is no wall left! 

My wife just received a wonderful present from one of her library friends: a beautiful woolen shawl that the friend made herself. No way I can compete with that or would want to. I was as thrilled with it as she was when she showed it to me.