Christmas shopping fills me with dread and depression.

[Hill Wimp]

Buy her a bike

Seriously it's a hideous time but if bloke asks the question it always deserves a serious reply. Otherwise we only have ourselves to blame.

Depending on budget what about a Spa break, you can do that online ?

Book a weekend away for the two of you again this can be done online.

Buy the books she wants from Amazon just send them to another address, she will never know.

If she has asked for the night cream, get it.

Where does she usually buy her clothes ? Get their vouchers. She can then buy something she wants from their sale.

Bit mean of her to turn up her nose at the shawl especially if it is something you chose yourself.

Go into somewhere like House of Frazer and buy other products from the perfume range she likes. Again this can be done online.

Ask the kids what they she she will like or better still take them out for the afternoon with out her, giving her time on her own and you time with them getting all christmassy buying presents.

There are many many women out there that would love their partner to buy something they had thought of themselves even if it is not what they wanted. The thought matters a lot more to some.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I've got Mrs F a nice pres this year though.

Nice pair of slippers?

 

[Globalti]

Buy her a bike She's got one.

Depending on budget what about a Spa break, you can do that online ? No.

Book a weekend away for the two of you again this can be done online. Hotels are usually draughty, cold, noisy and don't cater very well for vegetarians.

Buy the books she wants from Amazon just send them to another address, she will never know. She's just unsubscribed us from Amazon after the documentary. Gonna go to Waterstones.

If she has asked for the night cream, get it. Ordered online through work email.

Where does she usually buy her clothes ? Get their vouchers. She can then buy something she wants from their sale. She thinks TK Max is quite good

Go into somewhere like House of Frazer and buy other products from the perfume range she likes. Again this can be done online. She doesn't wear perfume or jewellery.

Ask the kids what they she she will like or better still take them out for the afternoon with out her, giving her time on her own and you time with them getting all christmassy buying presents. Oh God!

 

[Saluki]

For the last few years we have gone down the M&S voucher route. All hubbies family live a goodly way from us and I am not spending my hard earned money on parcel-farce costs.
As for hubby, I'll get him the same as I did last year, only a different colour.

I loathe the whole shopping thing generally. I don't even like going food shopping throughout the year for necessities so I am not about to enter the fray for non-essentials.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Buy her a bike She's got one but never rides it in anything other than hot sunshine.

Depending on budget what about a Spa break, you can do that online ? She hates anybody touching her or massaging her.

Book a weekend away for the two of you again this can be done online. She hates weekends away because hotels are usually draughty, cold, noisy and don't cater very well for vegetarians and anyway what would we talk about?

Buy the books she wants from Amazon just send them to another address, she will never know. She's just unsubscribed us from Amazon after the documentary. Gonna go to Waterstones.

If she has asked for the night cream, get it. Ordered online through work email.

Where does she usually buy her clothes ? Get their vouchers. She can then buy something she wants from their sale. She seems to think TK Max is quite good

Bit mean of her to turn up her nose at the shawl especially if it is something you chose yourself. Absolutely depressing.

Go into somewhere like House of Frazer and buy other products from the perfume range she likes. Again this can be done online. She doesn't wear perfume or jewellery.

Ask the kids what they she she will like or better still take them out for the afternoon with out her, giving her time on her own and you time with them getting all christmassy buying presents. Oh God!

OK good luck then !

 

[Fnaar]

I have (on occasion) bought people some very nice presents from charity shops, and simply not let on where they came from

Strokes of luck in this respect include 'random' book for sci-fi mad brother in law...I hate sci-fi, so just chose one thaty didn't look half bad. He loved it! It cost £2.
Jumper for my brother... he's doesn't give a monkeys about Christmas, so grunted a 'tahnks'. No idea if he likes it or not. It cost £4
Picture frame for father in law (£1) plus I added a photo of my kids...he loved it!

 

[jayonabike]

I love a bit of Christmas shopping. Seriously. It's easy, if you know what to get. Women love (expensive) smellies, body butters/creams from the likes of Molten Brown, Jo Malone, Sanctuary Spa. You wont go far wrong with these. Jewellery also if budget allows, is a sure fire winner. John Lewis is brilliant for presents, I've ordered most of mine for the Mrs from there, and I have the added bonus of it being her birthday on the 28th of December.

 

[Spinney]

I love a bit of Christmas shopping. Seriously. It's easy, if you know what to get. Women love (expensive) smellies, body butters/creams from the likes of Molten Brown, Jo Malone, Sanctuary Spa. You wont go far wrong with these. Jewellery also if budget allows, is a sure fire winner. John Lewis is brilliant for presents, I've ordered most of mine for the Mrs from there, and I have the added bonus of it being her birthday on the 28th of December.

Not all women...anything more expensive than bodyshop stuff is a waste of money, don't wear jewellery...

I'd prefer books (or chocolate!)

But then I'm not Mrs Jaoynabike or Mrs Gti!

 

[totallyfixed]

I am lucky as we are both cyclists, enjoy books and we know what each other likes, nevertheless we do not spend much on each other. For family and friends it will usually be something we have made, I think it means more. I think our Dutch friends have the right idea, they are not obsessed with consumerism like the UK and their young daughter will just get one present and that is often second hand. It sounds mean to many I am sure, but the children appear to be very well adjusted and not in the least spoilt as well as understanding the value of things.
The grasping greed I see at this time of year is hugely depressing and I often wonder where we went wrong that so many parents feel the need to buy their young children smart phones, ipads and the like.
I blame Thatcher [but then I blame her for everything].

 

[jayonabike]

What a bunch of miserable sods you lot are
Books? Second hand presents?
The wife buys books all year round so I wouldn't see getting her another book as something special. I see giving a Christmas present as a way of spoiling the one you love with something they wouldn't normally buy for themselves.

 

[biggs682]

another vote for on line shopping from me , you cant beat it

 

[Julia9054]

I don't mind Christmas shopping.
What panics me is being asked what I want.
I've usually no idea!

 

[jayonabike]

What panics me is being asked what I want.
I've usually no idea!

I'm the same, I know exactly what to get everyone else, but when it comes to me I don't know what I want (except this year I have asked for a torque wrench set for the bikes)

 

[Arch]

I quite like Christmas shopping. I've just spent a couple of hours doing most of this year's. I'm lucky that I had a few specific requests, and a few things where I had some choosing to do, but within a firm category, so there's none of the "What AM I going to get for X?" panic.

I'll still get a few more odds and ends I expect, and I'm having trouble getting hold of one request, so might have to fall back on a second option, although even that means seeking out a big toyshop like ToysRUs, which means out of town shopping, which is a pain.

I was in L'Occitane (slightly posh bath jollop type outlet) getting Mum's favourite shower gel, and two lads came in - late teens early twenties maybe - and as I was heading to the counter with my purchase, a shop assistant was leading them to the shelves and saying "What sort of smells does she like?" and one of them said "Er... I Dunno. Nice ones?"

Well, it's a start....

 

[Pat "5mph"]

When in doubt about a Christmas present, I get baking: we all love home baked cookies or homemade chocolates