What the heck do you buy for DH for Christmas?

I have the same problem every year. I just ask him usually. This year he wanted a cardigan. Now I realise that sounds rather old-man-ish but I have got him a nice one which doesn't look like a granddad's one, although he is a granddad! My DD is always stuck as to what to buy him but has come up with some lovely things in the past. Last year she bought a wicker basket on ebay and filled it with foody things that he likes such as posh olive oils, jars of olives, spicy sauces, chocolate, nice crackers and some of his favourite cheeses. He loved it.

I have bought OH a fleece-lined shirt from Cotton Traders - he feels the cold.

Over the last 6 years or so we have chosen to buy each other tickets for the BSO New Years Day Gala concert, plus a couple of night in a hotel, dinners etc.
As we have DD's wedding just before Christmas and then are away with the whole (extended) family over Christmas, I think that will be to much for him this year so we will stay at home.
Might have to be a cardi/book/slippers, I fear! (Curbing my enthusiasm)
Box sets are good though.

I just buy him whatever I think he needs in the clothing line. He's inclined to switch off when present opening time comes round anyway.

I did, one year, get him a fake nose picking gargoyle for the door of his hobby shed. To act as a permanent hand slap.

We solved the problem 5 years ago by agreeing to not buy gifts. We have everything we could possibly want. Half of my family have birthdays at Christmas which makes it difficult enough. DH's birthday, 5 days before Christmas, DC give him edible gifts and I give him a couple of books.

Oh, and one year I bought an ornamental hanging bell with a bird on it which I jangle to get him in for his dinner.

jingl

I have got MrA a copy of 'Dull Men of Gt Britain*

Same problem we usually agree to not buy them but put the money together for a few days away or on an outing of some kind.. I have bought him a DVD I know he wants so I guess it might be just a small gift this year.. and so it begins

In our family everybody provides a wish list. I consult that, sometimes buy things I know he will like but hasn't thought of or if all else fails consult him. This year I have already bought, and hidden a copy of Bill Bryson's latest book.

Just to rub salt into the wound my DH has a birthday 2days before Christmas and this year it is an "th". I am going to get him a Kindle so he can play his card games etc without pinching my iPad. Also have got tickets for a WE show in late December. (We used to go up for a show fairly regularly but not these days so hope he really enjoys it). Not sure yet which gift will be for birthday and which for Christmas.

I'm with harrigran on this. We stopped buying each other Christmas and birthday presents some time ago as we had everything that we needed and if there was something that we really wanted we're usually too impatient to wait till present giving time. Too much "stuff" in our house anyway

Take him out for a meal instead. Too much stuff here too.

We don't buy each other presents, it goes back years to when we had very little money.
My birthday is too near to Christmas and quite frankly I really don't need anything anyway.

We prefer to go out for a nice meal instead nowhere near Christmas for preference

This year DH and I have bought each other new coats. Which we both needed.
Usually it's tools, books, a good bottle of port or don't laugh he's into painting by numbers.
I have previously said lets not bother but he insists I " have to have something" so of course I have to get him something.
We have in the past saved the money for a long weekend in early Spring. Just buying a tree present for each other.

Does he have any special interests?
Could you buy him something that he can do with grandchildren? A kite? Something arty?

Picture? Pet related item?

We hedge our bets, and buy several things. Something to wear, something to read, something to watch or listen to, something to play or make, and in his case, something to drink, which means I have to track down a whisky that he hasn't yet tried. I am lucky because I have a distillery with a very good shop nearby.

Mr Roses is a particularly difficult specimen to buy anything for! A non smoker, wine drinker ( but we already have wine, as he goes and chooses it)
Has sensitive skin, so no fancy toiletries, refuses to wear scarves or hats in Winter ( has plenty of hair) too choosy with books for me to buy them.Has no obvious hobbies anymore ( used to be golf) Has refused a cardigan point blank( they are for old men apparently) even though they are trendy now and our son wears them!
I suppose DVD's are a good idea, and maybe a big crossword book ,and he does like chocs. We don't need anything really, as others say, but nice to have something to open on the day.

This year we're not buying for each other - we're doing Secret Santa as a family, so each of us is just buying for one family member. We both have January birthdays, so we'll do presents then.

But we've enough stuff, so in recent years it's been a trip away or tickets to a concert. Granted I've benefitted as well from these, but I did try to tailor the gift more to his taste than mine (not always easy ).

A couple of years ago I tried to make a bit of a treasure hunt about the trip to Paris I'd booked - I gave him the Amelie dvd, a bottle of French wine, some Paris themed coasters. It should have been fun, but ended up with confusion all round.

Two Fruit of the Loom sweatshirts and a bottle of Pussers Navy Rum will be my contribution to his Christmas. Simples!

DH has asked for a(nother) hoodie as DD bought him one for his birthday. And I would like to buy him a 'good' camera but have no flipping clue where to start! Photography is supposed to be a new hobby for when he stops work but it doesn't look like he is going to for a while so I will be looking for good ideas as well.

kitty buy him those joke dentures that you wind up and they rush about
On the floor ( they still amuse me!)

Greyduster, was your DH in the mob?

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