Men do you?

DWilbanks

My boss at work and I were talking yesterday about Christmas presents. He told me that he does not get his wife's present. That she tells him what she wants, how much it costs, and she goes and gets the present and wraps it. Now I think this is terrible. I personally like to be surprised by my man. Granted there is an up side to it, she does get exactly what she wants, but where's the fun and mystery?

So MFP men, do you get your wife a present, or do you let you wife pick out the present and go get it like my boss? LOL husband is waiting on the answer to see if he can get out of it this year..(NOT)

DWilbanks

Opps realized I was being sexist... Women, what are your views? Which do you prefer?

TheRoadDog

I like to buy her presents. I've already finished for this year. However, if she finds something she likes, she'll get it, bring it home, and ask me if I'd like to see what I got her.

GorillaNJ

Hers is the only present I buy (other then booze for my dad and buddies, but liquor store is not exactly dreadful Christmas shopping) I always wait until the week of Christmas before heading to a store to wonder around aimlessly looking for a saleswoman to point me in a direction that always seems to work out.

On the other hand I tell her exactly what I want, or order it for myself like i did this year. She will still get me something small from her and from the kids too....

estevo66

My wife is telling what she wants for Christmas. So, we go out and get it no big deal.

jennajava

That's messed up. My husband always surprises me. And it's always better than something I would've picked anyway.

cydonian

Me and my husband do a mix. I made him a little list this year, and on one of the things, it was makeup and quite complex so I sat on the website with him and showed him what I wanted and how to order. Haven't seen the package or anything since then so I don't know where it is or what he's doing with it. As for my list, I put down a style of something or a type of something and I'll leave it up to him to find! I do think it's a bit of a copout when the woman literally buys her gifts and then he wraps them...

kykykenna

Hubby always goes out and buys mine. I never have a "list" as his buddys wives do when they go out for their annual shopping guys night. What he DOES do is listen to me. Evidently I "ask" or say I would like things throughout the year...and voila! christmas morning I unwrap them and forgot I even wanted them. Like last years Frye boots and diamond ear rings. Lucky? Yes.

MichelleFirestone

If your spouse doesn't know you well enough to think of one thing you might like, that's pretty bad. My husband and I have fun thinking of things they might like. How about making a mental note, of something the other mentioned they would like earlier in the year, but wouldn't buy for themselves?

seriously, you can't think of one thing?

Classalete

MMm...So practical and efficient...I like it.

I would at least get her one other thing, even if it's something small, just because I love the hunt of the perfect unconventionally meaningful gift.

ackeebee

if i really want something in particular i will mention it and he will buy it. other times, he will surpise me. both are acceptable in my opinion

KimmieBrie

My focus is gifts for other people, not myself.

I take note all year of things my husband sees and likes or says he needs - whatever he doesn't go buy himself of those things before Christmas is what he gets. I keep the list in my phone - I'm always updating it. I don't give him a list and he does fantastic on his own, and if he didn't I wouldn't care. It's just stuff and if it's something I really need I can get it myself later.

My Mom ALWAYS without fail either returned or criticized my Dad's gifts to her. For me, that is not the spirit of Christmas.
If you are married to that type I guess you'd be safer doing what your boss does or something similar.

onefitdiva

In the past, I told him exactly what I want....usually provide the add, or link online so there is no mistake. He likes it this way so I am sure to be happy with the gift, he also picks stuff on his own so I have a surprise but he also does the same for me in regards to providing the info of what we desire most.

LorinaLynn

My husband (Fritz) and I don't exchange gifts, but we're not Christian, so it doesn't much matter. We do, however, celebrate Fritzmas, celebrating his birth in January, with extra splurges on after-holiday sales. :laugh:

mmuzzatti

I listen to her for the year but she never really wants anything and if she does she goes out and buys it. So I try to find something that she may like. When Kindle came out I bought here the first one and she really was not sure if she would like it. After some time she did and now she is on her second kindle. On the other hand, it has gotten to the point that we do not get each other anything big and then just get each other really small stupid things that crack us up. We have no kids at home now so that's better for me, I should note that I can't stand the commercialized Christmas and would rather be on an island. Final note, every two years I buy the entire family a cruise and the cruise for next year is costing me $15K so I think it's a win for them.

DWilbanks

I guess what I really thought was awful was that she even wraps her present and places it under the tree. He doesn't even get her a card or anything. I guess it's a sign of the times, but when it comes to this, my husband better be "old fashioned"..LOL

KimmieBrie

I listen to her for the year but she never really wants anything and if she does she goes out and buys it. So I try to find something that she may like. When Kindle came out I bought here the first one and she really was not sure if she would like it. After some time she did and now she is on her second kindle. On the other hand, it has gotten to the point that we do not get each other anything big and then just get each other really small stupid things that crack us up. We have no kids at home now so that's better for me, I should note that I can't stand the commercialized Christmas and would rather be on an island. Final note, every two years I buy the entire family a cruise and the cruise for next year is costing me $15K so I think it's a win for them.

Oooooo - this is good. I would much prefer quality time on vacation than more stuff!
I also find everything is far too commercialized now but I love hunting down the perfect live tree - the smell, decorations, and all the beautiful Christmas lights.

Iam918

I don't buy presents for anyone. not for christmas, birthdays nor whatever.

ilookthetype

My dad is super oblivious so my mom tells my sisters and I what she asked my dad for (not expecting to get it because he'll forget) so we drag him out to get it for her.

drvvork

At least he gets her one... whether she got it or not. I never received one from any of my husbands (with the exception of the last Christmas with the 1st husband - he sprung the divorce on me).

kathas0trophal

However, if she finds something she likes, she'll get it, bring it home, and ask me if I'd like to see what I got her.

That could have been me ;.-)
we do not make any presents for each. Only really silly ones that do not cost much for entertaining

jmgcummins

We buy a gift for the both of us. This year we bought a new bed (much needed as we were in a double) . Next year we are going to spend our money on a vacation (probably January 2013). I do buy little stuff to put in our stockings though.

suky424

My boyfried asked me for a list this year (I like to be surprised so I didn't really want to do it but I did anyway) last night he told me he hasn't got me anything from the list .... WHY DID HE BOTHER ASKING ME TO DO THE LIST ... He is so annoying!!!!

jsteffen80

There is no way my wife and I would think of doing that (wrapping our own presents -- that's just weird). But we do a mix of knowing what we're getting each other and not knowing. Usually I know some of what I'm getting, but I rarely let her know what she's getting... she can usually figure some of it out.

Weathers58

I always buy my wifes present and always get her something she wasnt expecting as well.

I think choosing thought and time go into the gift as well as merely giving it.
xxx

CharityPearce

*********I should note that I can't stand the commercialized Christmas and would rather be on an island.************

I love this idea!!!!! I love the music, the lights, the spirit, but the commercialization gets a little exhausting. I'd love to save the $$$ spent on gifts and take a lovely island vacation in January!!!

That being said, we've done it both ways. This year, I asked him to just choose something. I wanted to be surprised. He did however take me shopping and asked me if a Kindle Fire would be something I would enjoy. My 18 year old son (who I have to admit is also one of my best friends), told him that would be the perfect gift. I'm an avid reader. My hubby's choices tend to lean toward jewelry (which is nice also, but I'm pretty minimalist when it comes to jewelry), and strange clothing (which I believe he has his mother help him choose). I always appreciate the thought, though. I know he means well whatever he buys.

Football_N_Guns

Nope. If we want something throughout the year, we get it. Once in awhile I will surprise her with a small gift or flowers.

bry_all01

I personally think that Christmas should be for the kids and my husband and I should not buy each other anything, as we can buy stuff for ourselves/each other throughout the year. Anniversaries, birthdays and Valentine's are days I would think should be reserved for gift giving, but my husband does not see it that way, so presents for each other, it is...


ETA: We are not rolling in the dough right now and are looking to move, so we are trying to save up to move. This is my reasoning for preferring not to buy presents for each other.

Tori_356

Im not a man, but this year I decided I wanted a tablet and he decided he wanted a new video card for his computer. So we went to best buy a few months ago and bought those items and we are both happy.

Secret_Agent_007

I buy it, usually last minute b/c she's a huge snooper, or hide it so well even I can't find it. It's not my fault, she does it to herself. :laugh:

Jennloella

here's the deal: I've been married nearly 12 years, he's already impressed me, I'm not concerned with him proving he can read my mind and take my breath away with surprise every year. Whenever I need or want something, I usually get it, so around xmas time there's really nothing hanging in the air that he knows I've been wanting -so he needs my help! We would both rather get what we want since we work hard for our money, and who likes exchanging and returning after xmas? We usually do a couple small things for each other that the other doesn't know about, like cologne, jewelry, etc. but the big gifts we both have a say in what's under the tree for us!