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Holiday gifts

December 11th, 2017 at 10:30 pm

So I'm not ready yet to tell my DK that santa isn't real. I'm sure my DK1 knows but I say if you don't believe in santa you get nothing.

This year we did the lego and chocolate advent calendars. We are doing a book again, pajamas, and a toy, and stocking stuffers. They get two toys 1 from DH and myself and 1 from santa. We provide the big toy because DH wants credit and the toy from santa this year is $10 bank. We usually aim for something nice around $20 then we get gifts from family and friends and we do the stockings.

It's really cut back on what we spend, not that we ever spent much. Until we moved 3 years we spent $0 on gifts because we were always traveling every holidays to see our families. So we just brought back enough gifts that we NEVER bought the DK a gift. We had enough and they were 5 and 3 before we got a tree.

So in 2015 we got out first tree and started gifts. I mean when we traveled usually to Hawaii my mom did stockings and gifts. I bought them gifts and my family but not the DK.

Now that we're hosting it we had to buy presents from us and Santa and I realize listening to other parent HOLY MOLY how much people spend on Christmas, Hannukah, etc. A LOT. They have a lot of big ticket items.

I think for our big gifts the kids want another hatchimal (peacat and griffin). Then these books they picked and $10 pajamas from Target.

But ugh I am hating wrapping and doing the stockings. Worse yet DH turned 40 yesterday (yeah!) but I got him nothing but an apple pie (he didn't want a cake) and a card. Seriously we looked at each and again we're struggling to want something to wrap up.

I know he's supposed to "get" me tiles to attach to my keys and phone so I can find them easily. But what else?

I wonder it comes with age. There is nothing we want for that we can't and won't buy when we want it. Because we don't want much there isn't much to buy. I was going to buy him a new hockey jersey but he said , why bother? Spend money on tickets to a game maybe.

I love the feeling of christmas and new years. I love having a tree decorated by kid ornaments. I love our lights and music and just relaxing. But boy this whole present thing is a PIA.

Any tips for buying for significant others?

6 Responses to “Holiday gifts”

  1. rob62521 Says:
    1513040198

    Can't help you on the gift for the SO, other than I try to surprise mine with something that he wouldn't buy himself. It doesn't have to be expensive. I found a used book this year that he doesn't know he wants yet...he doesn't realize the author has written this book, but it is on his favorite subject so I think he will like it.

  2. creditcardfree Says:
    1513080690

    Like rob, I've given books (yes, even used). The best gift was a Garmin several years ago. He did so much traveling it was very helpful and he didn't expect it at all. This year, I've been a bit stumped but he needs more clothes, so a pair of Levi's and a shirt have been purchased. I'm also thinking of getting him a new pan to make his eggs in the morning. The one he really liked started flaking off bits of the coating because we had it so long...so he probably would like a new one.

    A family game? Some useful gadget. Travel mug. A new wallet. Tickets to an event.

    I do get where you are coming from, we can buy what we need when we want to. We have skipped giving some years, or even picked a something we both want for the house.

  3. snafu Says:
    1513099100

    SO is the most difficult person to buy for as he's not very materialistic. Each guy has different values. I often buy new bed pillows each year, it's that combination of the bed pillows assessed by folding in half and judging if it pops back quickly + the idea of dead skin cells, sweat, oil, dust mites ewwww. I'll assess those on sale at an excellent liquidator otherwise, I'll wait for the January 'White Sales.'

    Small, effective, powerful pocket charger, for laptop, iPod, phone was a 'nailed it' gift. DH likes Cashmere v neck, sweater, light weight, warm, luxurious. DS bought him a 7 item 'Charging Hub,' small and super efficient on night table, likewise 'big hit.' I'm looking at 'Zubits' magnetic shoe closeurs as DH enjoys gizmos. He's a 'foodie' so I make his favourites to 'unexpectedly' show up in fridge or deep freeze throughout the holidays. I've money left over this year so I'll likely contribute to his ETF for his TSFA [similar to ROTH] if he has contribution room.

  4. Debt-free by Thir-ty Says:
    1513102496

    I try to buy DH things that I know he'd like/need, but doesn't want to necessarily spend money on himself. We have a really high-ceilinged office that is decorated in Star Wars decor. He gets the new movie posters each year. I also found an R2D2 trash can for it. Most of his other gifts consists of practical things like long-sleeved tshirts (he works outside) and a set of waders.

  5. MonkeyMama Says:
    1513103204

    Personally, I wouldn't buy anything. We haven't exchanged gifts for years. Why buy stuff if you don't want to?

    My birthday was last week. I always ask for a specific pie; that was my "birthday gift" from my family. (Too funny that your hubby just wanted a pie).


  6. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1513130606

    My DH is difficult to buy for - not because he doesn't want things, but because they're big ticket items outside what I want to spend. So I end up trying to find something I think he might like in my price range ... doesn't go well. This year after he told me he was getting me something, I asked him to tell me specifically what he wanted within my price range - even send me a direct link. He did (ugh! bullets for his gun ugh!)

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