Christmas shopping for spouses

[OldRightHander]

In my family Christmas gifts were always to be a surprise and you didn't just go tell someone exactly what you want and then expect to get exactly that. You might drop major hints and all that and then hope you got it, which was all good if you did. My wife is not a surprise person. She likes things planned in advance and doesn't care for being surprised or for surprising people.

Every year it's the same way. She is asking me what I want for Christmas and expecting to get a specific answer so she can just go out and get exactly that, absolutely no surprise, unless I ask for something that fails the practical test. I'm always dropping all kinds of hints, some of them blatantly obvious, and hoping she will pick up on them. I think she gets the hints, but she is the essence of practicality and will always get me the thing that I "need" the most. That usually translates into a new pair of shoes so an older pair that are really comfortable can be pitched because they're no longer presentable. Then she will point out things in a catalog that she likes, usually clothing items of a very practical nature, and it will go beyond a strong hint. I usually end up getting her a gift card for whatever store is carrying that item. That way she can go and pick out something she likes.

So here's what will happen this year, but first I must backtrack. Back in late 2001, right after we got married, she talked me into switching to an electric razor. "You spend so much money on those blades. Why not just buy something once and not have to buy new blades all the time?" So I got what was in the budget at the time, a fairly inexpensive Braun. It works fine, but I used to shave in the shower all the time and I can't with this one because it can only be used dry. So now this is the fifth Christmas since we've been married and each year I spend from October-December pointing out all of those nice wet/dry electrics that you can use in the shower. If we're in a store I will point it out when we walk by that section and say something like, "Look at that, you can use it in the shower. I miss shaving in the shower." She will say something like "Hmm, that's nice." If she has the ads from the Sunday paper, I will find one in there and point it out. The other day I even found one on the internet and left the browser window up on the computer so she would see it when she got on the computer. I have been as abvious as my upbringing will allow me to be, since we never just came out and said, "Get me this." But I looked in the closet and my brown shoes are starting to wear a bit. They're comfortable as heck right now, but they're showing signs of wear. Soon they will be relegated to "you can only wear these around the house" status. What can I expect under the tree this year? A brand new pair of brown leather shoes. What will she get from me? A gift card to whatever clothing store has something she likes. If I get her the item, she won't trust me that I got the best deal and she will probably take it back and swap it for something else anyway. Christmas is so predictable, which is so different for a guy who grew up with surprise being the order of the day. Maybe this year she will surprise me and do something unpredictable, or buy something somewhat less than practical. Maybe the Reds will win the pennant too. One can always dream.

[Redsland]

You want unpredictable? Give her a gift card to Sharper Image and let her buy you the shaver you want at the after-Christmas sale. :)

Oh, and this (http://www.wildfree.com/prods/DM50000011.html) stuff will keep your worn-in and comfortable shoes looking great forever. :thumbup:

[OldRightHander]

Oh, and this (http://www.wildfree.com/prods/DM50000011.html) stuff will keep your worn-in and comfortable shoes looking great forever. :thumbup:

Now that could do the trick. Get the shoes looking really nice and there will have to be a different option.

[vaticanplum]

I totally understand the nostalgiac and kind of moving attitudes toward gift-giving expressed in this post, but dude, buy yourself a razor.

[OldRightHander]

I totally understand the nostalgiac and kind of moving attitudes toward gift-giving expressed in this post, but dude, buy yourself a razor.

It's all about avoiding that "you spent all that money on something you already have" argument. I'm not very confrontational.

With that said, I had already concluded that if it's not there this year I'm just going to buy the darn thing anyway. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

[KronoRed]

Break the old one

Problem solved.

;)

[OldRightHander]

Break the old one

Problem solved.

;)

I like the way you think.

[Johnny Footstool]

Try shaving in the shower with the old one. When your wife discovers you half-conscious and twitching on the floor, explain that you got nostalgic for shaving in the shower and though you'd see if your old razor would do the trick.

[Redsland]

It's obvious you're being far to subtle in your hinting. Perhaps a billboard?

Or you could put a mousetrap in her purse with the ad attached.

"Disappear" for a few days and then send a ransom note with cutout letters glued to it that demands a wet/dry razor for your "return."

Claim to have electrocuted yourself shaving in the shower. Grow out your beard and insist you're never shaving with that "death machine" again.

Send yourself an e-mail from sexylady@yahoo.com that empathizes with your plight and promises to "give you the razor you deserve after we run away together."

And so forth. :)

[vaticanplum]

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Ahahaha.

I am never getting married. But I'm going to adopt this as a rule for living anyway.

[LoganBuck]

Just drop the thing on the sink in the backroom and suddenly you need a new one. Stand on the toilet to get more acceleration from gravity.

[Red in Chicago]

isn't shaving in the shower kind of a waste of water, versus doing it in the sink? kind of like people who brush their teeth, with the water running...just sayin':devil:

[SandyD]

Send an e-mail to a friend about how you really want a new electric razor you can use in the shower. Ask for advice on brand/etc. Have your friend reply with the model you want. Have him even include a note ... "maybe your wife will get you one for Christmas."

Leave the e-mail you received open on your computer. For good measure, print it out and leave it on the desk along with a printout from a site that sells that model. You could even "doodle" a wrapped gift on the page for good measure if you want.

Edit: make sure your friend copies your message with he sends it.

[KittyDuran]

Send an e-mail to a friend about how you really want a new electric razor you can use in the shower. Ask for advice on brand/etc. Have your friend reply with the model you want. Have him even include a note ... "maybe your wife will get you one for Christmas."

Leave the e-mail you received open on your computer. For good measure, print it out and leave it on the desk along with a printout from a site that sells that model. You could even "doodle" a wrapped gift on the page for good measure if you want.

Edit: make sure your friend copies your message with he sends it.Or just print out this thread...;)

[GAC]

An electric shower razor? Why didn't I think of that? That's a great gift for the spouse.

My wife is a real prude (or should I say Scrooge) when it comes to getting her gifts...Bah Humbug! She hates getting candy and flowers (thinks it's a waste of time and money).

She's practical, but too pratical to the point it takes all the fun out of gift giving.

She went out the other day and bought a breadmaker. I told her that if I knew that I'd have gotten her one for Christmas. Her response?... "Why? I saw the one I wanted, it was on sale, so I bought it. You would have went overboard and bought me one that not only made bread, but also had a combination knife/garden tool sharpener, ice maker, and trash compactor." :lol:

I put a new set of tires on her car tonight. That she liked! That's practical to her.

I did go out though and buy her some of those cotton nightshirts she likes to sleep in and lounge around the house, a new manicure set, and a thermal throw for the couch. Why can't woman ever be warm enough? Even in the middle of July?

I also got her a new hair dryer. The one she has I know is about 15 years old. The On/Off switch doesn't work. She just plugs it into the wall to turn it on, and unplugs it to turn it off. No problem.

I bought her one that is 2500 watts, 3000 rpm, and 5 speeds. It also can be used as an automotive engine timing light. Now that is practical!

But I write the kid's names on the tags. I'm not taking any of the heat. ;)

[SandyD]

This year we're giving my parents Home Depot gift cards.

They're incredibly hard to buy for. We aren't usually that practical, but this year is seemed appropriate.

[KittyDuran]

Went and got my parents $25 gift certificates (each) to Belterra Casino. Our family are only allowed to spend $25 for each person - adults draw names, and me and my sisters each give my parents presents.

[Reds Nd2]

Maybe this year she will surprise me and do something unpredictable, or buy something somewhat less than practical. Maybe the Reds will win the pennant too.

I see new shoes in your future.

[GAC]

I see new shoes in your future.

Maybe a pair of these? He probably won't get a pennant, but will end in Kansas! :lol:

http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/pub/eres/EDSPC715_MCINTYRE/OzRubySlippers.jpg

[LoganBuck]

I bought my wife a new stonewear baking dish, to replace her favorite that she broke. It cost $40, she really misses the old one. So far that is it.

GAC is in the same boat as I am. When she needs something she looks for the best deal and gets it. So far that is it. I am planning an expedition tomorrow. I have done thermal pj's the past two years, along with some other things that she likes, but this year I am stymied. I better not go into Christmas Day with just a baking dish. We always try to stick to around $50 apiece on each other(I know that I need to double that, I just never tell her).

[15fan]

Last year, I heard repeatedly that I never buy my wife any jewelry. More specifically, I never buy her any diamond or gold jewelry. All year long I heard it.

So I bought her some diamond stud earrings set in yellow gold for Christmas last year.

She didn't like them & they went back to the store for something else.

Then I heard about how I never surprise her and make her feel special. So I splurged for a pair of tickets to hear U2 when they were in town a few weeks ago. Not a birthday gift. Not an anniversary gift. Not a Christmas gift. A "just because" present. A rare night out away from the kid for the two of us to just have some fun. Neither of us are big concert goers, but I've heard her say repeatedly that U2 is one of the few acts that she'd like to hear live.

From the time the tickets showed up until we put our butts in the seats for the show, I heard about how much I overpaid for the tickets and how she would have rather spent the money on something for the house or the yard or...some gold or diamond jewelry.

Can you say "can't win for losing"?

I can.

[Reds Nd2]

Maybe a pair of these? He probably won't get a pennant, but will end in Kansas! :lol:

http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/pub/eres/EDSPC715_MCINTYRE/OzRubySlippers.jpg

Given the propensity of ORH to stand on chairs, Mrs. RightHander might find these to be more practical. :evil:

http://www.spookyboutique.com/boutique/shoes/zack.jpg

[OldRightHander]

Last year, I heard repeatedly that I never buy my wife any jewelry. More specifically, I never buy her any diamond or gold jewelry. All year long I heard it.

So I bought her some diamond stud earrings set in yellow gold for Christmas last year.

She didn't like them & they went back to the store for something else.

Then I heard about how I never surprise her and make her feel special. So I splurged for a pair of tickets to hear U2 when they were in town a few weeks ago. Not a birthday gift. Not an anniversary gift. Not a Christmas gift. A "just because" present. A rare night out away from the kid for the two of us to just have some fun. Neither of us are big concert goers, but I've heard her say repeatedly that U2 is one of the few acts that she'd like to hear live.

From the time the tickets showed up until we put our butts in the seats for the show, I heard about how much I overpaid for the tickets and how she would have rather spent the money on something for the house or the yard or...some gold or diamond jewelry.

Can you say "can't win for losing"?

I can.

I had a similar experience. My wife really likes Bill Cosby, so last year I bought two tickets for one of his shows at the Rosemont Theater in Chicago, got a room close to the airport, and a fairly cheap round trip plane ticket. I also called her workplace and told them when we would be gone and requested that they not put her on the schedule. The show was in early October, but I gave her the tickets on our anniversary in September. For close to a month I kept hearing little comments about how that money could have been used in a more practical manner.

It just turns out that the last week of work before the show was a real bear and she needed the time away. By the time we got to Chicago, she was loosening up a bit and not complaining about the money. By the time the show was over, she had laughed so hard her sides hurt and I never heard another thing about how much money it cost. I didn't sleep too well that night. ;)

The next day we bought lunch and took it down to Lincoln Park to eat, walked along the lake for a bit, and then went back to the airport for an early evening flight back home. At the end, she was glad we went, but she sure did complain at first.

[SandyD]

I think a lot of women feel a little guilty about spending money on stuff they enjoy. So they give mixed signals. They feel like household needs come first.

[savafan]

Loving women is the root of all evil. I'm serious, look at history. The Garden of Eden, the Trojan War, Anakin Skywalker...

Just sayin'

[SunDeck]

I think the secret to being happy with the presents I get is to not want anything in particular. Obviously, that does make it difficult to deal with people who stress out about not knowing exactly what to get me, but for them I can usually come up with something fairly easy, like a set of golf balls or a gift certificate. If they need that certainty, I do try to oblige.

But, if I really want something and I'm going to try and rely on Christmas presents from my wife to get the job done, it will never work out. So, I just let her get whatever she thinks is a good present for me. Sometimes she scores a jackpot, sometimes she whiffs, but it's always nice to know that she gave it her best effort. To me, that's kind of the whole point of the thing anyway; trying to find things that you know someone will want, or need or appreciate, rather than filling up their checklist.

In other words, if it were me I would have bought the new razor long ago.

[Johnny Footstool]

I shop for myself on the internet, then I send a list of links to my wife so she can distribute gift ideas to the rest of the family. Now, if I could just get them to follow the list and not try to surprise me with things they think I want...

[GAC]

Last year, I heard repeatedly that I never buy my wife any jewelry. More specifically, I never buy her any diamond or gold jewelry. All year long I heard it.

So I bought her some diamond stud earrings set in yellow gold for Christmas last year.

Ever heard Ron White's routine on DeBeer's commercials? Hilarious. :lol:

One year their theme is.... "This year at Christmas leave her breathless with diamonds."

The next year... "Take her breath away this Holiday Season with diamonds"

This year....

"Diamonds.... THAT'LL SHUT HER UP!"

:lol:

[GAC]

I shop for myself on the internet, then I send a list of links to my wife so she can distribute gift ideas to the rest of the family. Now, if I could just get them to follow the list and not try to surprise me with things they think I want...

Internet shopping. The greatest invention since sliced bread.

Never had to leave the safety of my home and fight those manic-depressive, schizophrenic crowds. I found everything my kids wanted - and at a discount, plus free shipping.

Within a week's time it's delivered to my door, I check it out to make sure it's OK, and slide it under the bed till it's time to wrap them.

Piece of cake. ;)

[Johnny Footstool]

If you want to save money on shipping, Best Buy, Circuit City, and several other stores allow you to purchase items online and pick them up in the store. The biggest advantage is that you go to the customer service desk to pick up your item, and it's already paid for. You get to avoid the ridiculously long lines at the checkout counter.

[marcshoe]

Interesting thread and all, but no one's addressed the issue presented in the thread's title.

Where does one go to purchase a spouse, anyway? :confused:

[TeamCasey]

Interesting thread and all, but no one's addressed the issue presented in the thread's title.

Where does one go to purchase a spouse, anyway? :confused:

:laugh: :thumbup: