Planning for the holidays

**perSue** · 10-29-2011, 09:51 AM

I'm just starting to think about the winter holidays. I'm a super busy full-time working student, and so we don't have a lot of expendable income. But, I really do believe I'm a terrible gift-giver.
By this time of year I usually have at least half a dozen ideas for dh - but this year, I have all of zero.

He's the type that if he wants it, he gets it, doesn't drop hints, doesn't need/want anything (cuz he's got it already).
He's not a huge sports fan (ie, doesn't want all his team stuff around the house), doesn't really have hobbies (no time or money), and i've made all the crafty things he's asked for & he doesn't want anymore. And every time I ask if he wants anything in particular, I get "nope." So, I've got no ideas.
I always feel horrible come xmas day when I open mine & i've got thoughtful, amazing things... and I've given him food, clothing & maybe a dvd (he specifically asked for).
The "listen all year" thing, doesn't cut it. B/c - like I mentioned - if he wants it, he gets it. There is no dropping of hints or "gee, I sure would like to have such&such for xmas."

**mystypooh** · 10-29-2011, 10:55 AM

I feel for you, it's the same with my dh. It's hard for me to buy gifts for adults...children are pretty easy, but for grownups...well I just suck at it. He occasionally mentions one or two things throughout the year, that he wished he had, but I forget about them or he's already bought them. So when I ask him what he wants he shrugs or says nothing.

He's great at giving me gifts for X-mas. Always gets me books which are my fave...and like you I feel horrible but he never makes me feel bad about it, thank goodness.

**Momto5RN** · 10-29-2011, 11:18 AM

perhaps the reason there is not much expendable income is because they buy things when they want them - all that adds up - just a thought if you ever try to tinker with the budget.

But besides that - make a coupon book for things he cant buy - a fav dessert or dinner - what about a show - or a mini trip with one overnight in an area he would like to go .

my usual gifts for my husband are work clothes - candy he likes- wallet - watch as needed - usually something he can use . last year was a personal dvd player so he can watch religious dvds he is given when the kids are using the TV for other things ( only family room TV has a dvd player ).

**Debbie-cat** · 10-29-2011, 01:10 PM

I feel for you. My DH is the same. He usually gets clothes. This year though I did find season 1,2, and 3 of the tv show Breaking Bad which he loves so picked that up for him. I know he will love that.

**Uniwolf** · 10-29-2011, 02:44 PM

I usually have hubbs and the kids make me a list,

I start harping on their list about the 1st of Oct. I pick up random small things through out the year. But the biggies, they have to give me a list. And "nothing" is not an acceptable list item.

My response the first time that he told me that was that would mean I didn't need to fix a Christmas dinner then

... That was not well received and I got a list a day or two later.

**shoiji** · 10-29-2011, 03:06 PM

Would he like tickets to a concert or game?

**gottadance** · 10-29-2011, 08:50 PM

Give the gift of an experience--take him somewhere and have a great day; or go to Surprise.com - Birthday Gifts, Anniversary Gifts, Unique Gift Ideas where they have all sorts of gifts and some are experience or activity type gifts.

**perSue** · 10-30-2011, 10:02 PM

Thanks everyone for your responses.
Re: the lack of expendable income is less to do w/budget (altho I don't need to explain this), kiddo and I are both in college, ergo, no money for big ticket items.
Re: coupons... I dunno how many yrs worth of holiday/anniversary coupons are stacked in a drawer somewhere never used.
The gift of experience would be nice, but it'd have to be a "let's do something when winter's over" & that sorta defeats the "let's open something under the tree" sorta ideas I'm looking for...
But I do think an experience gift will be first on my list when I graduate & get a job! We haven't done anything together "for us" in a long time.

I got some home made candy items, tshirts & shoes. Oh the excitement of opening those gifts... I can feel the disappointment already.
It's time for me to get off here for the night.... Again, many thanks for the replies. It's nice to hear what everyone says.

**gottadance** · 10-30-2011, 11:45 PM

Experiences don't have to be expensive. Our local forest preserve district has all sorts of activities that are fun and cheap - night hikes with bonfires; gps hikes; horse drawn carriage rides; etc.