<p>Every December I have the same problem. What to get for my H. Add to the problem Dec is also his birthday month.
He isn’t a fan of gifts but I hate not giving him anything.
Ideas? He hates getting clothes. Though I did get him a couple of casual T shirts but he needs them and I would have bought them and just given them to him anyway.
Have done all the different flashlight stuff.
Sports he plays- beach volleyball, tennis, snowboarding
I will buy a case of tennis balls- another item that while I will wrap them he would have bought them anyway
What are you getting your spouse?</p>
<p>He doesn’t care. Wrap the stuff you would get him any way and be done with it. Really. He’s fine with this. </p>
<p>Our family Xmas and December bitrhday present is theater tickets. Happykid gets to pick the show.</p>
<p>I buy gourmet items he and/or I like, wrap and gift H. It makes him happy, much more so than things he doesn’t want/can’t use. Works well for us. You could also put in a box a gift certificate that you create for a trip to a mystery destination for the two of you or something. We like to travel as gifts for each other.</p>
<p>I get mine clothes. He has more than enough tools, ( although I did just remember we had been talking about a new router - for woodworking)
I ordered him a couple pair of jeans, a fleece vest, a bunch of long sleeved shirts, & I downloaded a couple more Kindle books with him in mind.
I don’t think it matters that he needed the clothes anyway.
Christmas for our family has always been more about experiences.
For decades we went away for Christmas- that was our big present.
I also bought season tickets to the Children’s theatre, because it worked better for our family to have to make a commitment to a date.
I still do the same thing by ordering concert tickets- even if sometimes I have to eat them because I don’t feel up to it.
It works pretty well as a device however- & you get more milage out of it by having plans in advance.</p>
<p>So does anyone have suggestions for parents in their 70’s that have everything??</p>
<p>I’m the hard to buy for spouse. I don’t get anything, and I like it that way. If I wanted something, I’d get it myself. And thank my spouse for the present. ;)</p>
<p>We always get our grandparents a dinner out to a nice restaurant. We take them. That’s what they want. We print it up in a scroll type thing and caligraphy type deal and put a ribbon around it. We’ve all done this for years. So, they get dinner out with almost every kid, grandkid, great grandkid over the course of the year. They get to choose the date.</p>
<p>For hard to buy for H’s… cologne, itunes gift cards, anything related to outdoor grilling… massage gift certificates for salons they would never go into for themselves. Men like manicures, even though they also won’t buy that. have a happy holiday</p>
<p>Crossword puzzle books, trivia type book.
He also always likes different nice coffees.</p>
<p>This year, dh is getting several gift sets of liquor. They’re priced the same as the bottle alone but come with specialty glasses or mini bottles of variations on his favorites (easy to pack for trips.) He’s also getting a couple of books that he wants to read but would otherwise wait for the paperback to save a little money. If I don’t get them for him now, he won’t have time for them again until summer.</p>
<p>Most years, I try to find clothes or shoes that he wouldn’t buy for himself. For example, he likes Allen Edmond shoes but he can’t bring himself to pay full price for them. I’ve had good luck on Amazon and Sierra Trading Post finding at least one pair each year for 75% off MSRP. This year I didn’t find shoes, but I did find some very soft pajamas for 1/4 of their usual cost. </p>
<p>Food gifts are a big hit, too. Dh has a few favorite candies that he only gets for Christmas. One of the kids usually gives him Coca-Cola in glass bottles made with cane sugar (vs. corn syrup.) We also order several specialty food items as a family gift.</p>
<p>For elderly parents, we’ve mostly sent food gifts. One especially likes pears from Pittman & Davis. One liked getting petit fours and small cakes to serve to visiting friends when she was no longer able to bake. Another liked getting box set DVDs of old TV shows.</p>
<p>Okay, I know this sounds strange…but what about a nice pair of shoes? Let me explain…my H was living on sneakers, 1 pair of dress shoes, 1 pair of docksiders and that’s it. I took him shopping and he got 4 pairs of shoes! Stuff he would never have picked out for himself! He loves the variety he now has and they are all quite comfortable. Now he says he has a choice and they are all stylish and useful. Three in the casual style with the fourth one being a nice choice for going out to nicely casual dinners with friends.</p>
<p>rushedmom: I would suggest pictures of kids and grandkids…we made our mil a book of pictures from Costco that you could actually put your own captions on via computer and then Costco downloads it and makes the pictures and words into a small album. Not expensive at all and mil LOVED it. I also agree with nice dinners out or to a show or concert too.</p>
<p>Also like the gourmet food idea or tickets to something he would enjoy…sports games? Or take him away for a day! Plan the day outing as your gift!</p>
<p>edit: x-posted with Silpat, same general ideas!</p>
<p>I was a bit extravagant this year and got H a solar cell phone/ iPad charger. It looks like something from the Mars rover, two book sized panels that unfold, but got great reviews on Amazon. It will probably provide amusement for a day or two then sit forgotten in a closet. However it should appeal to his gadget fondness and satisfies my need to be prepared for any conceivable disaster ( we’re in earthquake country).</p>
<p>We decided this hear to pick a charity and donate to it. We both have what we need/want, and I don’t like buying something just for the sake of having something to unwrap. We’ll do stockings for each other and then make the donation.</p>
<p>* Men like manicures, *</p>
<p>[Eddie</a> Vedder @ the spa](<a href=“http://i50.■■■■■■■.com/2dinm8j.jpg]Eddie”>http://i50.■■■■■■■.com/2dinm8j.jpg)
I think he’s on his phone.</p>
![http://i50.■■■■■■■.com/2dinm8j.jpg]Eddie](http://i50.tinypic.com/2dinm8j.jpg%5DEddie){kind=link}
<p>My husband also has a December birthday. This year I got him these mugs - [Solid</a> Copper Moscow Mule Mugs (Set of 4) | Overstock.com](<a href=“Overstock.com: Online Shopping - Bedding, Furniture, Electronics, Jewelry, Clothing & more”>Overstock.com: Online Shopping - Bedding, Furniture, Electronics, Jewelry, Clothing & more) and I’m about to go get this: [Craftsman</a> Creeper Seat, Mechanics Adjustable - Tools - Mechanics & Auto Tools - Creepers](<a href=“http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00951118000P]Craftsman”>http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00951118000P) </p>
<p>He liked the mugs, but is just going to keep two and give the other two away. Since they came in four individual boxes, that will be easy. I’m hoping that he likes the seat.</p>
<p>I often buy my H sweaters, books, liquor gifts (he loves the belgian beer gift sets with a “chalice”) and grill items too. I think his favorite was when I bought a “staycation”, a hotel room for one night in our hometown. At first he thought it would be a waste of money, but then we left the kids, dogs & grandparents behind. After dinner out, a beautiful room with a view & a good night’s sleep he was convinced it was a terrific idea. We invited the grandparents & kids to join us for a lovely afternoon tea after we checked out.</p>
<p>I just got H softest cashmere/cotton pjs. He also likes Massimo Dutti casual wears, so I am waiting for them to go on sale Dec 17 (rumor has it).</p>
<p>I usually get my husband a $100 gift certificate to his favorite restaurant. Last year he accidentally threw it in the fireplace along with some wrapping paper! It was a major effort to get the restaurant to give us a new one.</p>
<p>Does he like good beer? If so you could get him a homebrewing starter kit. Midwest Supplies would be a good source to get one.</p>
<p>Does your H like music? I have bought H boxed sets of music that he likes. I have also bought the boxed sets of old TV shows/movies that he likes.</p>
<p>Someone asked about buying for parents. We got MIL a boxed set of old classic movies one year and she liked that.</p>
<p>Blue tooth headphones. Theater tickets.
A KIVA certificate–they do micro-loans around the world. $25 can change someone’s life and you can get your money back or re-invest it. We gave this one year and it was a big hit. You get on their site and can invest very little money to make someone’s life so much better. It’s not charity, it’s an investment opportunity and really is a feel good gift especially for someone who has everything.</p>