What Should I Get My Husband for Christmas?

Coming Up with a Christmas Gift for My Husband

November 14th, 2008 · charity & giving, marriage & relationships · 10 Comments

(If he’s a blogger, check out this list of gift ideas for bloggers!)

I was browsing some old posts in my reader today, and I ran across a great one from last Christmas, when Lazy Man slammed the idea of surprising your spouse with a car. I think most readers wouldn’t be very happy if their spouse/partner bought a gift which would send them into further debt.

I remember when Frugal Chick wrote:

The AmEx bill included the television DF gifted me on my birthday. Yep, I paid for my own gift. If I wasn’t so irritated I probably would have cried with all these bills.

Um what? An expensive gift from your husband is one thing if you share finances, but a fiance using your credit card to pay for your birthday present and you having to pay it off? Not cool.

Anyway, the approach of Christmas has made me start wondering what I would like to do for Micah this Christmas. For birthdays, the birthday person gets to buy one item they’re interested in. Micah got a sachel this year and a book last year. Last Christmas, we didn’t exchange gifts. But there’s something to be said for taking time to do something for each other or give something.

After all, despite the commercialism that springs up around Christmas, giving is certainly a virtue. And it can be a lot of fun for a couple.

I thought about things like coupon books for dates, marital favors, even a monthly movie night, but we do those sorts of things anyway. One person just has to propose it and we have to have the money. Perhaps it’s because we don’t have kids and our lives aren’t hectic enough (or they’re hectic, but we can shuffle it around) to prevent any of these things. Besides, Micah would probably feel weird about redeeming the coupons because that’s who he is…he wouldn’t want to pressure me into something, he’d rather ask.

I do know that Micah’s not big on planned activities, nor would he be interested in anything sports or gadget-related. He’s so involved in his dissertation that he doesn’t want a book or a magazine subscription this year. He’d like a new winter coat, which we could make his “Christmas present,” but he was supposed to buy it last month so it’s more a matter of getting around to it.

Some ideas I’ve had so far:

Asking Micah what one thing he hasn’t been letting himself buy. Maybe there’s something he hasn’t mentioned but has been thinking about.
Tracking down a mini-coffee mug for him as an early present (have to give it now so he doesn’t buy it himself) because I know he’d like one as part of cutting back on cofee.
Writing him a things-you’ve-done-I’m-really-grateful-for-and-why-you’re-awesome letter.
Doing nothing dramatic but making a resolution to do him a certain number of favors or take on a certain number of chores over a certain period.

What are you doing/getting for your spouse, partner, or significant other this year? If you’re also looking for ideas, check out plonkee’s post on 8 reasonably-priced gift baskets. Maybe I can come up with a philosophy gift basket. Who knows?

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10 responses so far ↓

1 A.J. // Nov 14, 2008 at 7:12 am

“marital favors.” lulz.
2 plonkee // Nov 14, 2008 at 8:10 am

@A.J.
On this blog, anything goes

@Mrs. Micah:
One of the things I like about Xmas presents is the idea of getting something completely decadent and luxurious. Is there anything Micah regularly uses/has that you could upgrade? If he was a girl, it would be things like overpriced bubble bath or something.

Otherwise, if you don’t do Xmas stockings already, one filled with stupid gag gifts and lots and lots and lots of unwrapping can be fun, for the right recipient. Like having a set of colouring pencils and wrapping each one individually.

Of course, these ideas are unhelpful because I think Micah is a reader, but maybe they’ll help someone else.
3 Lisa // Nov 14, 2008 at 8:18 am

This year has been very financially tight for me and my SO. I was thinking about having some sort of chat with him about what to do about holiday gift-giving for one another. I was thinking about setting a mutually acceptable dollar limit, or something like that.

As for inexpensive gift ideas, one of my most treasured gifts is a picture of my dog Roxie in a nice frame. It’s a FUNNY, candid, tongue-lolling picture, and I love it. I think pictures of loved ones in a nice frame are always a good idea.
4 Tina // Nov 14, 2008 at 9:05 am

My husband has recently become interested in wine. I’m buying him a very nice bottle from this online wine store I found (www.vinfolio.com) that deals in collectible wine as well as a neat wine reference guide I found (www.winevintagecard.com.)

I think he’s going to be thrilled.
5 That One Caveman // Nov 14, 2008 at 10:14 am

Oh, I so know what I’m asking my wife for Christmas, now! Inexpensive, but rewarding and certainly appreciated!
6 Aryn // Nov 14, 2008 at 12:38 pm

My husband and I don’t always get gifts for each other. This year we’re taking a vacation and will probably buy a piece of art there. We’re also considering a Wii, but then again we considered that last year, too. So think about something you both want that you could get for each other as a sort of joint gift from/to yourselves.
7 Frugalchick // Nov 14, 2008 at 1:09 pm

Thanks for the mention, MrsMicah. Those were definitely one of our darker days.

As for a gift idea, I vote for the coupon book. I did it one Christmas for my then fiance, and I tell you, he guarded that book like a hawk. It was his most prized possession and made sure he used every single one before they expired. Some of his favorites were “Do not disturb, I’m watching football for the next 2 hours. Please serve some snacks” and “King of the Remote Control for the Night” as well as passes for household chores.
8 Gypsie // Nov 14, 2008 at 7:06 pm

My DH (weve been married 3 years) asked a couple of months ago if i minded if he wore a different ring instead of his wedding ring, something with a design. He found a ring online with a design that he likes for around $30. I dont care what ring he wears as long as he wears a ring so this year i am going to get him an alternative wedding ring.
10 daddy t // Dec 23, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Your gift ideas are all excellent. In addition give Micah a toy of some kind to satisfy his “inner child”.