When it comes to a gift for my wife... I receive an EPIC FAIL!

[EvilTOJ]

See, I guess I do know a "hobby" of hers but I cannot think of anything to get.

She is the one who makes the photo albums and calendars and such. She and I both are artists. She is a graphic designer/professor by trade.

Buy her some supplies then. I don't know what a graphic designer/professor uses in day to day stuff, but if you know of a certain item she uses a lot, or maybe has an old filthy thing that could use upgrading buy her a new one. It sounds like she's more into practical gifts (to a point) than luxury baubles.

 

[McKBrew]

To steal from a tacky line from the movie "Beer for my Horses" just tell her you have something big and warm and it's wrapped in a pair of underwear. Buy her some rubber gloves too, tell her it's an upgrade for the dishwasher. . She'll find this so amusing that the laughter you bring her will be the greatest gift ever. :rockin:

 

[jmendez29]

You're screwed then. What ever you do, do not buy her a vacuum cleaner.

Agreed. If you do, then I guess we should all start calling you "Dual Bag"

 

[Stratotankard]

Right there with ya man!

My SWMBO has no hobbies, no collections and, as a pilot, she rarely wears jewelry. I struggle to find anything for her. She's talked about wanting to go meteorite hunting, so maybe this year I'll pick up a nifty metal detector, some powerful magnets and a GPS. She's out of the country until February, so I have some time and can take advantage of the after-Christmas sales.

She got me into brewing a year ago by buying me my first kit. She got me a membership to wines of the month this year. Yeah, I'm a lucky man.

 

[jmendez29]

There's always this.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f45/great-christmas-gift-idea-swmbo-93763/

 

[Donasay]

I am going to give you the ultimate SWMBO gift secret which is cheap and shows you are thoughtful and care. I will even spell out the steps for you so you cant mess it up.

Step 1: go on to your computer and look for digital pictures of you and the swmbo together doing fun stuff, it doesn't matter how old the pictures are, or if they are off center or whatever. You put aside about 10 pictures of the two of you, preferably head shots and the like. You then upload the pictures to your a pharmacy website, I use CVS. com as they have built in photo editing on the web site. You then use the photo editing on the site to appropriately crop the pictures, then you order a copy of each printed out in black and white, get an assortment of sizes both 5x7 and 4x6. If you can't find pictures of the two of you on your hard drive, check your SWMBO's facebook or myspace for pictures of her and her friends and use some of them.

Step 2: Go to the local thrift store or Ikea or pier one and buy a bunch of 3 to 5 dollar frames. the best ones are 5 x 7 and 8x10 you will want to get the larger frames one size larger than the pictures you have ordered so a 5x7 picture goes in an 8x10 frame and a 4x6 picture goes in a 5x7 frame.

Step 3: Go to the pharmacy and pick up your black and white prints, while there buy about 10 sheets of black construction paper. Don't forget to hit on the hot photo clerk...

Step 4: Go home and cut the construction paper to fit inside the frames, then tape the pictures to the construction paper and put the pictures in the frames.

Step 5: Wrap the frames and give to SWMBO. If she works in any type of office setting, these pictures will make pretty much every other woman in the office jealous.

It is an amazing gift. This year I was able to give every single woman I know framed pictures of our group of friends hanging out as a present for under $40 total, amazingly cheap and amazingly great.

 

[schweaty]

Panties, bras and lingerie are always a good idea. My SWMBO loves to get them because they make her feel sexy. Really, we both benefit from them because I get to look at her before I take them off!

 

[bearkluttz]

Z, Two words... Coach Bag. Frugal? NO. Happy SWMBO? HELL YES!

 

[ChshreCat]

SWMBO and I have always made it easy on each other. We each find something we want. We tell the other. The other says ok. We order our own christmas present online (or pick it up at the store) and when it gets here, the other says "Merry Christmas!".

 

[Yooper]

We don't do much for gifts- just the "token" gifts. I think it's super easy to please most women, because it's true that it's the thought that counts.

How about something inexpensive, but still luxurious that she wouldn't buy herself? Like.............a super soft pair of warm gloves; a wonderful scarf; department store bath salts; silk long johns (if you live somewhere cold!); sheepskin lined slippers, something with real cashmere even if it's just the trim on gloves; the photos that were mentioned earlier; a super special Christmas ornament for the tree; a special type of gourmet food if she's into something (like expensive cheese, but only a small amount with the gourmet crackers to go with it); a nice bottle of wine and a note for a "date" in January, when the kids must go to Grandma's (arranged by YOU!); a gift certificate for a pedicure; a coupon book made by you with plenty of coupons for a massage, doing the dishes, a "free" night out with the girls, etc; a goofy handmade trophy for the "world's best wife"; a secretly made home video of you and the kids saying all the ways you love her; chocolates (if she's a chocoholic). Well, that's all I can think of at the moment. But you get the idea- very little money, but meaningful, is what women like.
NO toasters, mixmasters, roombas, etc.

 

[curt656]

I don't care what most SWMBO's say, when they agree to go frugal it means that they will buy cheap for you but you'd better pull out all the stops for them.

You can't go wrong with expensive. Jewelry is most often a can't miss. Maybe something with her birthstone or a gem of her favorite color, something like that. Just make sure it's not too flashy that she'll never wear it. I can't tell you the items of jewelry that sit in a box in a drawer that only get worn once a year.

Another great idea brought up by a PP is spa time. Arrange for some pampering for her and a friend. Maybe in addition to a massage, she get's her hair done and a manicure and pedicure. Look into a package.

My SWMBO likes gadgets so I have gotten her things like an ipod or the new latest greatest cell phone.

Do some research and see if there is a concert, play, musical, ballet, or symphony playing in your area and buy tickets for you and her or her and some friends. This will more than likely entail you sucking it up and suffering through some sort of miserable cultural activity for an evening. You could even add-on dinner reservations or a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant to make a night of it. Try this website Vermont Arts Council Home or you may have to make a day trip to Montreal, lol. Whatever it is, show her you are willing to happily suffer through something that she may love knowing that you hate and that is a gift in itself.

That's all I've got for you. You could brew her a commemorative holiday brew or something like that, but I doubt it's going to be well received.


Good luck!

 

[Laurel]

NO toasters, mixmasters, roombas, etc.

I'd DIE for a roomba for christmas. I've been telling hwmbo about it for the last 3 months. I'm sure I'll end up with gun parts for the rifle he can't wait for me to be done with, but what can ya do.

 

[phrogpilot73]

Z, Two words... Coach Bag. Frugal? NO. Happy SWMBO? HELL YES!

+1, and they can be found on eBay (even new ones) for less. My wife and I were in a store and she saw a Coach bag that she fell in love with post-Valentine's. I make mental note for her birthday. Go back to store to buy, D'oh! Sold out, and just my luck - it was a limited edition so they're not getting anymore. When I buy my wife the diamond earrings in a jewelry store in NYC, I tell her at dinner what I wanted to get. She is now bummed, and is frustrated I didn't go back immediately after we saw it and put it away. We buy fake, sorta looks like it bag in China Town. Little does she know that after many hours invested on eBay, she now has the Coach bag she originally wanted wrapped up under the tree. $110 isn't bad for the look on her face.

You and my wife share the gift ideas in common. I start dropping hints for what I want around November, and she still has no idea what to get me. The way we solved the problem? We have amazon.com wishlists (because you can add any product that is for sale on the internet to their wish list). I keep mine updated throughout the year, and it covers all price points (from $5 all the way up to $1000) so all she has to do when something is coming up is buy something off the list. And amazon has a filter set up, so I can't see that she's bought it until after the event. Might be good to try.

 

[Yooper]

I don't care what most SWMBO's say, when they agree to go frugal it means that they will buy cheap for you but you'd better pull out all the stops for them.


Good luck!

I disagree with this- I'd feel like a total **** if we agree to be frugal this year because of the economy and the commercialization of Christmas, and I got an expensive gift. I'd feel like I'd been "had", if that makes sense.

Seriously, it's the thought that counts. That's why buying gifts is so hard- it's easy to pick up a pair of diamond earrings. It's not so easy to get something thoughtful and meaningful that doesn't cost much. That's why it's appreciated more.

 

[Zymurgrafi]

See, my wife and I are not your typical couple. When she says frugal she really means frugal for both of us.

She is not into stereotypical gifts for a "woman"

Our idea of a fun weekend when we lived in a city was going on a thrift store shopping spree to every thrift store we could find. When we occasionally have a date these days (two very young kids & baren landscape for babysitters...) We often go to the one thrift store in town.

We have often done only handmade gifts too.

Yoopers suggestions had us pegged pretty well.

I guess the problem is I never get a "wow" out of her and often the gifts I get do not get used.

Part of it is she is just not a person who shows much emotion easily. I suppose I am just being too critical of myself, as usual. Guess its part of her being a Minnesotan.

"Oh yah, that's pretty good, thanks."

 

[Chriso]

I got an idea.... I didn't see it in any of the previous posts... but I know that MOST women would like to get these.....

CASHMERE SOCKS. They go nuts for them. Soft and warm. And cheaper than, say, a cashmere sweater.

Otherwise... Make Your Own Gift Basket with a gift card to a nice restaurant, a gift card to a movie theater (or play or whatever), a gift card for somewhere dessert-y afterwards (bonus points if your town has a Cheesecake Factory... mine doesnt. ) ...

Or one year I made SWMBO a basket with her favorite things... mugs, hot cocoa and nice tea, bags of Peanut m&m's, popcorn, Blockbuster gift certs, some random lotion/etc from Bath & Body Works, a bottle of Coffee liqueur, etc. It was just a big heaping ol' basket of things I knew she'd like, use, and would normally pay money for.

You said she doesn't like Victorias Secret... but what about somewhere else? SWMBO gets a new pajama set every year - she likes the Nick And Nora brand that Target sells around christmas time... they're soft as hell

 

[StunnedMonkey]

She is not into stereotypical gifts for a "woman"

I guess the problem is I never get a "wow" out of her and often the gifts I get do not get used.

Zymurgrafy, reading this thread I'm inclined to think we're married to the same woman. I feel your pain brother.

Here's something I did once. It wasn't a "main" gift, but rather just one gift in the pile. She likes wine. I didn't just want to buy her some wine, because we buy wine all the time. So I made it a point to buy six bottles, each from different countries or areas, and then I made up small little dinner menus for each one reflecting something that would be properly paired with each wine, ie a Spanish meal with the Spanish wine, etc. I attached the menus to each bottle, and so when she wanted to break open a bottle she'd give me the menu and I'd prepare that meal to go with it. She loved it, and still talks about how thoughtful that was. She probably can''t even remember anything else I got her that year.

You don't have to do six like I did. Two or three would have the same effect. Just an idea.

 

[Chriso]

Good idea, Stunned. I might just gank that idea from you, and go buy the wine right now. (SWMBO is still sawing logs next to me, her favorite Saturday morning-and-afternoon activity. )

 

[Blue_Water]

I thought a gym membership was a good idea.

I found out later that a gym membership is NOT a good idea.

Do not buy her a gym membership.

 

[budbo]

Get her a $??? gift card from her favorite store (this can be found by checking your credit card statements or checkbook Leger)

After 22 years with my wife I have found Gift cards to be the perfect gift, she is always happy (she gets to go shopping), I am Happy since I don't have to put any thought into it at all, and never get that "I hate this you ignorant fool" look while she is telling me how much she loves it and how thoughtful it is.

 

[JoeMama]

I got an idea.... I didn't see it in any of the previous posts... but I know that MOST women would like to get these.....

CASHMERE SOCKS. They go nuts for them. Soft and warm. And cheaper than, say, a cashmere sweater.

Yeah! The chick from the Progressive Insurance commercials (Flo) likes them! OR You can get your wife a big tricked out name tag!
-Me

 

[Fingers]

Really, we both benefit from them because I get to look at her before I take them off!

Just to change things up, try letting HER wear them. :rockin:


I got SWMBO a new purse and wallet combo. She tends to use the same purse until it finally falls apart into rags.

 

[wigstr]

I paid for SWMBO's hair to get cut and colored, manicure, pedicure... This helps in a couple of ways...

1. kinda like getting in on with another girl when she does something drastic to her hair.
2. She feels pretty and tends to get unclothed easier...:rockin:

 

[Bedlam]

You mentioned she liked Suduko...so get her a Nintendo DS with Brain Age. I got one for my mom this year. D'ya know, it might even help stave off Alzheimer's Disease?

To me, the perfect gift is something I'd like to own, but don't want to buy for myself, either because it seems too silly or extravagant. And I must admit that I, too, subscribe to the whole "rather you put some thought into it than just pick up some shiny piece of something at a jewelery story" theory. El Hubbo is an engineer, so has some trouble wrapping his practical, logical little head around this notion.

But, over the years, we've reached an understanding. I love practical gifts, if there's some thought behind it. For instance, my favorite gift he ever got me was for our first Valentine's Day. He got me a new rear shock for my motorcycle. Perfect! I needed one, but wasn't about to blow dough on it. I was just planning to limp along until next riding season. It was lovely and thoughtful.

Now, the WORST experience was for my last birthday, when he got me a fancy-schmancy fold-up portable chair. The chair itself was just fine, but he got a bit carried away with the "presentation" so to speak. There he was, extolling the features of the tricked-out chair, showing me the various items...double cup holders, pouch in the back, blah, blah...then he blurts out proudly, "...and it has a weight limit of 300 pounds!"

D'ya know that it's awfully hard to walk with a portable chair shoved up your ass? Or so he tells me.

 

[Chriso]

Jill, It sounds like I can relate with your husband on so, so, so many levels. Analytical nerdy engineer brains are GREAT for getting things done, or rattling off features of a product, etc etc etc.

But...

Those same brains cause HAVOC when they are put too close to Females! They just don't TRANSLATE right! And out comes stupid sh!t!!! SWMBO catches me on a foot-in-mouth statement almost every single day. :/

Honesty is the best suicide policy.

 

[niquejim]

I bought my wife several gifts this year(several for different hobbies) and this Hot Stone Massage Book & Kit, Alison Trulock, Item - Barnes & Noble.

With that I gave a book of gift certificates for a massage from me whenever she wants it.

just be creative and caring and you'll be good

 

[fshnne1]

I bought my wife lasiks eye surgery (or however you spill it)

 

[jmulligan]

Tell her to make an Amazon wishlist next year. HWMO and I maintain wish lists for computer-aged relatives to have access to things we'd like. This year we each gave each other 2 things from our wishlist and one addtional thing that we each came up with on our own (I got pearls, he got salt and pepper mills - I sucked a little in this situation).

 

[Bedlam]

Update? Did you experience enlightenment and make her weep with joy at your thoughtfulness?

 

[NZGirl]

Updates please!

I wanna know how it ended...