Anonymous wrote:Extra points if it's the kind of thing that can be purchased late ... like Dec 22

Can you tell us something about your spouse, like hobbies or gifts they've liked in the past? I love the Fine Gardening subscription I get every year, but that's not everyone's hobby.

Last year I got my husband a 6 mos subscription to International Yumm boxes (3 seemed cheap, a year seemed like it might be too much). Snackfood from different countries arrivesd each month with info about the country as well. It was a hit (and who knew potato chips came in so many unusual flavors?!?).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you not been listening to or living with your spouse for the past year? You can't think of anything s/he wants or would be able to use?

Not OP but PP. Some people, including some spouses, get whatever they want for themselves, or truly do not use much "stuff." I know this is hard for some folks to believe but it's true. My brother and SIL have always been difficult to shop for in any meaningful way so we get them a lot of books related to stuff they like and then a lot of food gifts, because they truly do get themselves whatever they want or need to use.

Do you live with them? Do you see them every day? This isn’t the same as your spouse. Sorry. If you can’t some up with ONE item to buy your spouse you aren’t paying attention, or you are just lazy.

I mean…my DH buys what he wants. But I can think of 5 things I can buy him immediately.

Uh, I can find plenty to buy my spouse, sure, but was noting that there really are people who (especially if they do the "there's nothing I want or need" dance all year long) are hard to buy for. Period.

Do you actually have any suggestions of specific gifts for OP, or are you here just to tell us how perfectly you can anticipate your own spouse's wants, and to judge OP as "lazy" for not being as perfect as you are--?

I've made a few suggestions above but am not sure why you're here, other than to preen about your perfection and to make OP feel crappy. Such holiday cheer.

Apple watch back when it first came out. Not sure if the excitement would be the same nowadays.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you not been listening to or living with your spouse for the past year? You can't think of anything s/he wants or would be able to use?

Not OP but PP. Some people, including some spouses, get whatever they want for themselves, or truly do not use much "stuff." I know this is hard for some folks to believe but it's true. My brother and SIL have always been difficult to shop for in any meaningful way so we get them a lot of books related to stuff they like and then a lot of food gifts, because they truly do get themselves whatever they want or need to use.

Do you live with them? Do you see them every day? This isn’t the same as your spouse. Sorry. If you can’t some up with ONE item to buy your spouse you aren’t paying attention, or you are just lazy.

I mean…my DH buys what he wants. But I can think of 5 things I can buy him immediately.

If you’re really running into a last minute situation there are coupons online you can print and fill out. Depending on what your spouse says they want more of — could be acts of service, quality time (like a special tea, picnic, walk in the woods with hot chocolate, date night, massage), special adult favors, etc. Pair with a box of their favorite booze or treats, DVD of a favorite movie, and Smart Wool socks, shirt, or gloves.

Gifts relating to our hobbies. I’ve given my spouse things like an air compressed, table saw, really every tool sold by Lowes. I’ve gotten a Cricut, a glass saw, an upgraded Cricut, a glass grinder, certificates to take classes, etc. Also I’ve gotten some really nice jewelry over the years.

Anonymous wrote:Extra points if it's the kind of thing that can be purchased late ... like Dec 22

Events can be good though currently there's no way to know what events will go forward or how long things will be affected by the pandemic. Tickets to a concert, play, festival, sporting event. Season tickets to something your spouse would be excited to attend through a whole season. I think the gift of an event is really fun and very thoughtful, though just now I'd be sure I checked the venue's cancellation policies, just in case. But I still would consider giving tickets. Maybe buy a picnic basket to put Wolf Trap outdoor concert tickets into it, or otherwise arrange a theme to the packaging that goes with the event. I would look at events in late spring or farther out, maybe.

A few years ago we decided to not exchange gifts and that’s been a wonderful gift! No pressure! We focus gifts on our children and now grandchildren and that’s hard enough. Seriously, if there is something one of us really wants we just buy it but neither of is materialistic. It makes life easy.

Anonymous wrote:Surprise trip booking. (Obviously easier said than done in the current environment.)

Nice in concept but even without the current pandemic, surprise trips can backfire re: work scheduling, kid scheduling, etc. Trips are great gifts but making them surprises can be risky unless you do a lot of sleuthing first, which can be hard to do with a spouse: "Soooo....can you take off March X through Y? Uh, to... clean out the garage."

Anonymous wrote:Have you not been listening to or living with your spouse for the past year? You can't think of anything s/he wants or would be able to use?

Not OP but PP. Some people, including some spouses, get whatever they want for themselves, or truly do not use much "stuff." I know this is hard for some folks to believe but it's true. My brother and SIL have always been difficult to shop for in any meaningful way so we get them a lot of books related to stuff they like and then a lot of food gifts, because they truly do get themselves whatever they want or need to use.

Surprise trip booking. (Obviously easier said than done in the current environment.)

Anonymous wrote:Extra points if it's the kind of thing that can be purchased late ... like Dec 22

The best gift (besides the obvious squishy stuff like your love....) is going to be the massive DVD set he's giving me, of a TV show I love. Yeah, I can stream it but the DVDs have commentaries. extras etc. He and I just ask each other point blank each year what we want to get. It works out beautifully. We are master actors and feign surprise and delight very effectively.

Seriously, if you're getting a gift this late (and I am NOT judging that because we do it too), then ask your spouse what to get. I know folks love surprises etc. but we old married people love to get what we actually most want. I love that he bothers to ask.

Is there a show or movie your spouse loves enough to want things like deleted scenes, commentaries, etc.? Hit Amazon. Or: An amazing food gift if your spouse either loves to eat or loves to cook. You can still get stuff delivered by or on the 24th from food companies.

Have you not been listening to or living with your spouse for the past year? You can't think of anything s/he wants or would be able to use?

Extra points if it's the kind of thing that can be purchased late ... like Dec 22