Maybe he wants you to read a book he liked so you have something to talk about?

I'm guessing even if he did buy you the earrings or purse, he would have bought the WRONG earrings or purse.

And this is why I hate adult gift exchanges.

Buy your own earrings and purse.

Spend time together.

Anonymous wrote:I look at the thought behind the gift. I'm a reader. If you gave me books, I'd think that was a lovely gift.

DH gave me slippers and socks one year because I was always complaining about how cold I was. He also bought me a selection of teas and a teapot. It was a very thoughtful gift.

To me, he's a better gift giver than I am. I just throw money at it. He takes the time to remember the little things I've said over the year.

Those are my favorite gift givers! DH and my inlaws are great at that.

I look at the thought behind the gift. I'm a reader. If you gave me books, I'd think that was a lovely gift.

DH gave me slippers and socks one year because I was always complaining about how cold I was. He also bought me a selection of teas and a teapot. It was a very thoughtful gift.

To me, he's a better gift giver than I am. I just throw money at it. He takes the time to remember the little things I've said over the year.

I don't think giving books is cheap. I gave my brother Jergins soap one year for Hanukah. I knew he really liked the smell, I knew it had been discontinued, I found it and knew he'd get a kick out of it. He didn't think I was cheap.

Everyone does Christmas different. It's not really about the gifts and commercialism though you seem to think it is. Sad. Sounds like you and your fiancé have different love languages and different ideas of the meaning of Christmas gifts.

I think you just have to like, be up front about your expectations. My DH had different ideas about christmas going in, would buy me like, SUPER practical stuff I needed.

I had to be like, 'christmas is fun! I understand you're putting thought into these gifts but they seem clinical and not like there's any feeling, can you try to think of something that will make me feel like you care and spent some time thinking about it?'

After that he has been an a+ gift giver, you just have to explain where you're coming from and what you're looking for.

OP is probably the one who wants to receive pearls and then regions the crap from the office secret santa.

I would discuss expectations WELL before Christmas (i.e. Jan/Feb, not now) and set some guidelines. He probably thought books were a nice gift.

Who cares? Buy yourself the earrings and then go enjoy your Christmas.

You should communicate that. Maybe he is cheap and you are a terrible communicator.

Or maybe you're just greedy, spoiled and entitled and he should run for the hills.

Well maybe Xmas is not a big deal for him or he didn't want to give you something personal. Maybe he's saving for the wedding? Or maybe this is a sign he is cheap and then you should run to the mountains

Can a christmas present ever be too cheap?

Last year my fiancé face me a couple of books for Christmas.

I was expecting a nice set of pearl earrings or a new purse.

I thought he was stingy.