Spinoff GTKY - What are you gifting SO?

cafedisco

Jumping off the Wish list thread, what are you getting your DH/SO for the Holidays?  Anyone stuck and needing ideas?

cafedisco

For DD, we do the something to wear, something to read, something she wants and something she needs gifting.  I've followed suit with DH because it makes it easier.

Something to wear - I'm changing to something to do because I can never get clothes for him right (he's one of those people that if he picks it, he likes it.  If I pick the same thing, he doesn't like it because he didn't pick it). I am trying to find a reasonably priced knife skills class.  He loves to cook. 

Something to read - subscription to newspaper online

Something he wants - I have no clue! The things he wants are too extreme/expensive (a new grills, landscape the backyard, etc)

Something he needs - new chef's knives.  I scored some major Black Friday deals so I was able to get 2 sizes instead of just one knife

catem07

I got DH tickets for us to see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway the day after Christmas. My mom lives in NJ, so we'll take the train to NYC. 

KirstinH88

My husband has "expensive" tastes. He's much more high maintenance than me.  He has so many wants and desires and quite honestly, I'm kind of tired of giving in to them! I'm not sure what I'll get him this year. I always get him one of those tins of popcorn (he loves it!) and stockings are always filled with practical socks, underwear, etc. I'll be lurking this thread for hopefully not too ridiculously expensive gift ideas.

bww_0331

Ugh, I have no idea what to get him. I've given all my ideas to his mom and my mom. We think we have decided to just do one really small gift for each other and then just do a date night. 

HGRich

DH never knows what he wants. So I plan to buy him things that benefit us both. He doesn't have much fashion sense and since he's up for a promotion, I want to get him in a few nicer clothes pieces and a more professional laptop bag. Benefits me because hey, he looks sexy, and...promotion. lol. Otherwise the only thing he wants is a motorcycle. Ha. 

twistsandturnsto2

He helped me pick out a fancy rolling tool box/storage for him. Super practical, but we are going to be renovating our mud room and it was a much needed investment 

smallanimal

My husband bought a new car recently, so he is getting chrome pedals for the car.  Not my idea, of course, but car stuff makes him soooo happy.  Men....

Dannylion24

Sounds like this is a common trait here, but my husband is tough to buy for. Plus mine never seems to want a lot of money spent on himself unless it's something he has a hand in picking out. However this year is way different than most bc we are moving into a new house 2 days before Christmas so any big gifts between us have to do with home projects (new shutters, new storm door, new light fixtures - I know, so boring). I'll get him a few practical personal items; razer, some pj pants and other clothes, a small framed photo of our family with our dog who just passed away for his office, and i ordered him these funny individual serving bowls that hold chips and dip, but that's about it! And my parents got us a new grill for our anniversary/housewarming and he'll go with them to pick it out this weekend so I know that will make him happy. 

SnarkasaurusRex

We haven't bought Christmas gifts for each other in YEARS. We have a huge family on his side and by the time we have gifts for all of the brothers/sisters/nephews/parents/grandparents/kids we're just completely wiped. I know he wants some accessories for his new car, but everything else he wants is very expensive (like, he wants a 3D printer). 

However, he did mention a few weeks ago that he'd gotten me something, so I'll have to figure something out. Good thing he has an Amazon wishlist!

KirstinH88

@smallanimal @SnarkasaurusRex Maybe I'll have to go with something related to his "fun car." Back in January, I (we) bought him a 93 Mustang. I totally don't get the appeal of it, but he loves it. And he keeps coming up with things that he "needs" for the car. Hmmmm....

Ekzerr

We had booked a trip to Cuba from dec 5-12 (should be there now and wish we were there's been a terrible blizzard here all week ) so that was to be our gift to each other, but we cancelled due to Zika. There's nothing else we either really need so he just kind of said to go out and pick something for myself lol. I think my parents and sister are getting me a gift card to the spa to use for a prenatal massage so I might just add another treatment and make it a spa day. And he really doesn't want anything! I'll probably just pick up some chocolate or something since he has such a sweet tooth 

schef070911

Count me among the people having a hard time shopping for DH this year. He is actually very good about telling me what he wants and has made a Christmas list for his folks every year, so it's not that he's difficult to shop for... it's that I don't really like looking at his list because I like to think of my own ideas/make things difficult.  Only problem is the ideas aren't coming to me this year.... so I'm probably gonna cave and get something off the list. 

rachelmiller03

Following! DH is so difficult. We are on a budget this year, and everything I think he would want is more than we have budgeted to spend. Also, if he wants something, he usually just goes out and buys it himself. I am at a loss. Looks like as of now, he is getting socks and underwear. 

HappyAnjel

We haven't bought eachother presents in years either.. we usually buy ourselves one big thing we both want.. (bigger TV, laptop, last year it was house stuff as we bought a new house) this year he went out and got a stove/oven and I didn't know til they delivered it.. so I'll probably get something else for the house he's mentioned wanting needing.. I don't want to get anything for just him as I don't want to go back to shopping for eachother each year

Koukonei

We're just doing stocking stuff for each other this year. I'm putting in a star trek ornament, lots of chocolate, saxx underwear, beef jerky, littlw bottle of scotch, and maybe another little thing or two that I haven't decided on!

pammasu0909

DH is getting a pair of sneakers he's been trying to find for years.  I'm not super excited about them, but apparently he really wants them.

smallanimal

@kirstinh88  your best bet is subtly asking him... I would never dare to even try coming up with one on my own.  another alternative is to go on mustang forums and find out what the guys on there chat about, any cool accessory, event, etc... if you really want to put in the legwork
 good luck!

KirstinH88

@smallanimal Thanks for the ideas. Honestly, he is just so picky. I'm thinking of just getting through the holidays and then we won't be in as big of a financial crunch. His bday is in February, so maybe giving him a larger budget and letting him buy whatever the heck he wants as a combo Christmas/birthday present. Plus, we are thinking of having my baby shower/sprinkle on his bday (he said he didn't mind), but poor guy, I kind of feel bad (not really  )

kitkat8387

The past few years for Christmas we have been doing a joint gift - one year we bought ourselves a new TV, last year we went to a really nice/expensive restaurant we would never normally go to, etc. We are both the kind of people that are impossible to shop for/never want anything so it works out perfectly. Sometimes we'll get really small gifts for each other, but it's never expected. We usually do the same thing for anniversaries, valentines day, etc. Birthdays are the one thing we go all out for in terms of gifts, but usually ends up being an event of some sort (weekend getaway, concert tickets, etc). 

shaunessa

@Koukonei

Same here.  We're just doing stocking stuffers.  Ferrero Rocher chocolates, beef jerky, i-tunes gift card.

Blueberry85

DH's birthday is just a few days before Christmas, so coming up with everything for him all at once is a big pain in the bum. He does keep an Amazon wishlist, which is helpful, but I still like to get him a few surprises, too. This year it's a combo of DVDs, CDs, books, new PJs, and some t-shirts from a couple local breweries.

The one kind of interesting gift this year is that my best friend and I will be sending our husbands on a man-date and booked them into a homebrew class for next month. They're welcome to make a day of it and go out for lunch or a few beers or whatever.

shaunessa

Blueberry85 said:

DH's birthday is just a few days before Christmas, so coming up with everything for him all at once is a big pain in the bum. He does keep an Amazon wishlist, which is helpful, but I still like to get him a few surprises, too. This year it's a combo of DVDs, CDs, books, new PJs, and some t-shirts from a couple local breweries.

The one kind of interesting gift this year is that my best friend and I will be sending our husbands on a man-date and booked them into a homebrew class for next month. They're welcome to make a day of it and go out for lunch or a few beers or whatever.

Sounds fun!  What a great gift!  

MWoodside

Apple watch.

Beckyf321

I bought my husband a gift certificate to a local tattoo shop.  He got his first tattoo a few years ago and has been wanting another one.  He's been in the Navy for almost 14 years and wants a memorial for his grandfather, who was a dentist in the USN during WWII, by getting the Naval dental crest.

MrsBakes

I got my husband a fitbit and a beard grooming kit. I'll probably get him a gift certificate to Lids too since he loves his hats. He also wanted a new cell cover but i'm having a hard time finding what he really wants... 
Next year I want to just do gifts for our kids and leave us out. I'd rather we spent the money for home improvement stuff, or simply put it in savings. 

cafedisco

@MrsBakes where did you find the beard grooming kit?  That would be perfect for my husband too!

ebloom3

After we get the kids to bed, DH likes to unwind by playing video games. This has also been one of the main ways he has kept in touch with friends because they would play together online. Well, his friends all moved on to XBox One or PlayStation 4, so he cannot really do that anymore. I got an awesome deal on a PlayStation 4, so that is what he is getting. He already knows he is getting it because I know nothing about game consoles and needed help determining which system worked better for what he plays. He will also get socks and an ornament in his socking. He is getting Batman socks from our 3-yr old DS (who loves Batman) and an ornament of a dad jersey and a daughter jersey to commemorate his first season coaching our DD's soccer team.

justdoit93

We also haven't bought each other Christmas gifts in years. I think the last time was before DD1 was born, 4 years ago. He has been the only one working though while I've been a SAHM and he's pretty great about buying me things like new clothes or whatever when I want them. He NEVER spends money on himself besides his bi-weekly haircut. The last couple times he's gone he's talked about wanting this package of tea tree shampoo and hair stuff but I know he will never buy it for himself. He's going to a 5 month military school soon so I think I will get him that to take with him! He will actually be thrilled..he loves his hair haha 
eta the bump cut my post in half 

cafedisco

Well, I was going to build DH a new countertop for the kitchen island...yeah, guess who hasn't even gone hunting for the wood?  

I'm screwed!

blessedinmt

@cafedisco I greatly admire your carpentry skills and motivation,  woman! 

smoochie041719

I am so glad to be reading ideas on here! Usually I am a total plan-ahead type, but this year with my husbands deployment, my extended trip home to visit my parents, and living overseas I am so behind! I ended up getting my husband a pair of his favorite socks and some snacks for his stocking... I wish I had a couple more ideas. Maybe an ornamanet or something. For under the tree I got him a stack of 8 books to read with baby (he's super excited about reading books together!). They are all about daddies, planes (he's a pilot), and "I love you" type board books. I also got him some men's lotion and face sun screen from Jack black and a leather case for his MacBook that he wanted but it's on pre order so he has to open a photo of it. I think I might add a sweater and call it good, but he has a mid-dec birthday and I did clothes for his birthday so it feels a little repetitive, oh well. 

smallanimal

Finally found the right gift for my husband.  He already got chrome pedals for his car but he chose that - I also wanted to get a surprise.  So I got him vouchers for the Ice Bar, it's for entrance and a number of drinks and a 45 mins experience.  Got three so that he can take two of his mates, I figured it would be a good idea to let him have some guys time before the baby is born.  Or even after, for that matter. 

cafedisco

thecavfamily said:

@cafedisco I greatly admire your carpentry skills and motivation,  woman! 

Probably should wait till I actually produce something to be impressed!  I have Friday off and DD is going to my parents so I have about 8 hours to make magic happen...

blessedinmt

@cafedisco Ah, but the fact that you apparently have the requisite skills necessary to undertake the countertop project is undeniably impressive (to me). Are you not the gal who recently made a new dining table? 

chelle087

I got DH a few small things...we are trying not to spend a ton of money on Christmas for each other this year to save for our upcoming move and baby related expenses.  But I did get him a charging station for his phone, small electronics, and random crap.  My OCD self is hoping that it will organize the piles of junk that he dumps from his pockets the second he walks in the door!

cafedisco

I did build a table, which is what prompted the counter.  Nothing matches now.  

I just seriously burned my hand by grabbing the glass top off a casserole dish... While it was in the oven. I don't think anything is getting built this week.  

blessedinmt

@cafedisco Crap! Sorry, lady. 

cafedisco

I'm totally being an AW, sorry! I was able to finish the countertop for the island on time. It's not perfect but it's so so pretty.  You can see the old ugly green laminate in the background.  Of course, now we want to re-do all the counters...

KirstinH88

@cafedisco WOW!!! That looks so good! I love it! I always wanted a kitchen with a island (mine is not the right style/size for an island) and I would love for it to be wood/butcher block. So pretty!

cafedisco

@KirstinH88 I have mixed feelings about it, actually.  Since our kitchen is so small, the island can get crowded to move around.  On the other hand, we would not have enough counter space without it. 

And to be clear, I didn't actually build the cabinet, just the countertop