Christmas gift disappointment with a capital "D"!

[Paula]

Oh man Jami!! I'm sorry your DH isn't more astute when it comes to giving gifts.

 

[ashliwolf]

I can relate this year completely. I got my dh the Garmin GPS that he'd been drooling over (and he KNEW it was coming because I asked him for specifics so I'd get the right one) and I got NOTHING. Not even something little that he stuck in my stocking. Just nothing. And it wasn't because he didn't have ideas, we'd talked about countless things in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

And you're right Aaron, it is the thought that counts, but when there's no thought at all, it really can be heartbreaking. I think it's doubly hard when you've shopped for everyone else and put so much thought into getting them things that they will love and then you get no thought at all.

yeah..i am TOTALLY with ya heather....when there is NO THOUGHT...that sucks i mean NOTHING?! seriously! write me a little note....get me a starbucks card for $5...SOMETHING!!!! When we bust our A&& buying for everyone and getting the perfect gift for each and everyone of his family members with our own money... {oh...sorry...he gave me $168...yep...you saw that right...} that would cover the kids, my parents, brothers, his parents, gift exchange gifts and my grandmothers....NICE! I am over it...but it sucks....and guess what Jan. 14 is coming...another dissappointment is on the horizon....oh well...that's the way the ball bounces.... i am off to clean MORE messes..........will this Christmas chaos EVER cease?!

 

[Kari]

My dh used to frustrate me on gifts because of lack of thought - I mean he tried but his definition of thought and mine did not match up. DH would wait until 2 days before Christmas and then call me on the way home from work to say he had to shop before he came home - I would be :cursing: because I was typically waiting for him to come home and help with the kids while I worked on christmas baking/wrapping etc and he didn't understand at all why I was annoyed. Then of course I had issue with the fact that my gifts were basically dictated by what was still available on Dec. 23rd at 7:30 at night. :thumbdown: He didn't understand why I was unhappy and I didn't understand why he coudln't plan ahead so he could find the things I wanted in stock, order online, etc. He didn't understand that to ME this was not thoughtful gift giving - at best it was fire fighting and hard for me to accept.

That being said I do think it's important to not get wrapped up in the - well if he was going to spend $150 on me I would have rather have XYZ than this crap (ha!). Honestly I think the best solution is to either buy for yourself and have him just add in one surprise gift, or limit what you spend on each other to a really small amount (like $25-$50) and then buy for yourself at another time (like when the tax refund comes if that works for you).

If you can politely ask for receipts and switch out gifts I'd do that but I wouldn't complain or give him a hard time - if you make him feel bad, he'll probably just stop trying all together.

Sorry it was a disappointing Christmas for you!

My DH does that. He waits until the last possible moment. But he's never been a great gift giver. Our first Christmas, he told me he was going to the store, I asked him to pick up some shampoo while he was out..well, he didn't bring any home. Christmas morning, I unwrap a bottle of shampoo.

 

[ashliwolf]

ok ok ok...maybe i have been a little ugly about my dh....he did get me a rosebush for Valentine's day and said..now you can never say that i don't get you flowers.... i still heart him...even though he totally sucks at gift giving

 

[mrshobbes]

Can totally relate and DH is a crappy gift giver, but I know he thinks about it. This year we both didn't exchange presents, because it's been hard financially and we'd rather splurge on something for our anniversary which is in early January. But I already consider the scrapping budget he gave me for DSD and all the Xmas Scrap sales as part of his Christmas gift to me!

 

[Angie4b1g]

Maybe your expectations are too high.

 

[lovely1m]

My DH does that. He waits until the last possible moment. But he's never been a great gift giver. Our first Christmas, he told me he was going to the store, I asked him to pick up some shampoo while he was out..well, he didn't bring any home. Christmas morning, I unwrap a bottle of shampoo.

OMG, that's hilarious! :blink: Men.