Holiday present snoops unite!

[chemgirl]

I can't stand secrets. It really drives me crazy to not know what I'm getting for birthday/christmas/anniversary. I'm very picky about what I wear and I'm always paranoid that DH will spend a lot on something I have lukewarm feelings about. I think its almost a control thing? I end up following all of the clues to figure out exactly what I'm getting. I'm pretty good at it too (well DH is pretty bad at being deceptive so its easy).

For example, the local symphony's opening night is always on the same week as my birthday. This year he asked me how I usually go about getting discounted tickets. I explained, and no less than five minutes later he pulled out his credit card to order ink for the printer...right...guess who got symphony tickets for her birthday.

Its actually pretty bad because I'm rarely surprised. This year for Christmas I'm pretty sure I'm getting white freshwater pearl earings and a new watch. I think I know which watch and everything. I followed the clues and I'm fairly sure I have it guessed spot on.

Anybody else a horrible snoop when it comes to presents?

 

[janlwf]

yep The first year my husband and I were together, I asked him for "hints" for what he had me for Christmas. He kept saying no for the longest time and then finally said, What kind of hint? I replied 'like what letter of the alphabet does it begin with....without blinking he says "W"...so ummm, I guess Watch! I mean, really, what other new girlfriend gifts are there that begin with the letter, W???

Of course, it is now 25 years later, and I realize that playing a letter based game with a dyslexic is hardly fair

 

[elrohwen]

I HATE SURPRISES!!! Haha, sorry, but I really do! Lucky for me DH hates surprises as much as I do.

My parents were thinking of getting him a jersey from his favorite college bball team. I wasn't sure if he would like it or not - he's just picky and you never know. My mom told me not to tell him about it, but I did anyway to make sure they were getting exactly what he wanted. He said he was glad I told him because he was more excited about it now than he would've been if he had gotten it as a surprise.

This is why we don't buy each other gifts ... It's just not fun for either of us!

eta: Bahahaha, Janlwf.

 

[jstarfireb]

I HATE SURPRISES!!! Haha, sorry, but I really do! Lucky for me DH hates surprises as much as I do.

My parents were thinking of getting him a jersey from his favorite college bball team. I wasn't sure if he would like it or not - he's just picky and you never know. My mom told me not to tell him about it, but I did anyway to make sure they were getting exactly what he wanted. He said he was glad I told him because he was more excited about it now than he would've been if he had gotten it as a surprise.

This is why we don't buy each other gifts ... It's just not fun for either of us!

eta: Bahahaha, Janlwf.

We're exactly the same way. Surprises are overrated...and we've gotten to the point that we really don't get each other gifts either! If we do buy each other gifts, the conversation usually goes:

Him: What do you want for your birthday?
Me: Oh, I dunno, I guess jewelry?
Him: OK, pick something out and send me the bill.

I hate surprises so much that I told him he wasn't allowed to pick out my engagement ring...I had to pick out the stone and setting and follow the process every step of the way.

 

[elrohwen]

I HATE SURPRISES!!! Haha, sorry, but I really do! Lucky for me DH hates surprises as much as I do.

My parents were thinking of getting him a jersey from his favorite college bball team. I wasn't sure if he would like it or not - he's just picky and you never know. My mom told me not to tell him about it, but I did anyway to make sure they were getting exactly what he wanted. He said he was glad I told him because he was more excited about it now than he would've been if he had gotten it as a surprise.

This is why we don't buy each other gifts ... It's just not fun for either of us!

eta: Bahahaha, Janlwf.

We're exactly the same way. Surprises are overrated...and we've gotten to the point that we really don't get each other gifts either! If we do buy each other gifts, the conversation usually goes:

Him: What do you want for your birthday?
Me: Oh, I dunno, I guess jewelry?
Him: OK, pick something out and send me the bill.

I hate surprises so much that I told him he wasn't allowed to pick out my engagement ring...I had to pick out the stone and setting and follow the process every step of the way.

I picked out my ering too! Haha. We only buy gifts that the other has picked out. This year DH needed a new Xbox (his broke about 2 weeks ago) so I said that was his present. I want a teapot and some loose tea, so I said we'd go and pick it out together and he could say it was his gift to me.

I get it from my parents - we always send each other lists and just buy what the other person wants. So much easier that way.

 

[chemgirl]

I HATE SURPRISES!!! Haha, sorry, but I really do! Lucky for me DH hates surprises as much as I do.

My parents were thinking of getting him a jersey from his favorite college bball team. I wasn't sure if he would like it or not - he's just picky and you never know. My mom told me not to tell him about it, but I did anyway to make sure they were getting exactly what he wanted. He said he was glad I told him because he was more excited about it now than he would've been if he had gotten it as a surprise.

This is why we don't buy each other gifts ... It's just not fun for either of us!

eta: Bahahaha, Janlwf.

We're exactly the same way. Surprises are overrated...and we've gotten to the point that we really don't get each other gifts either! If we do buy each other gifts, the conversation usually goes:

Him: What do you want for your birthday?
Me: Oh, I dunno, I guess jewelry?
Him: OK, pick something out and send me the bill.

I hate surprises so much that I told him he wasn't allowed to pick out my engagement ring...I had to pick out the stone and setting and follow the process every step of the way.

I picked out my engagement ring too! Haha. We only buy gifts that the other has picked out. This year DH needed a new Xbox (his broke about 2 weeks ago) so I said that was his present. I want a teapot and some loose tea, so I said we'd go and pick it out together and he could say it was his gift to me.

I get it from my parents - we always send each other lists and just buy what the other person wants. So much easier that way.

Hehe, I also picked out my ring (its not traditional so he never would have gone for something like it without my input).

I we need to adopt your plan of deciding on gifts together. That way we both get what we want and I'm not analyzing everything he says!

 

[radiantquest]

We both have quite a history of giving gifts the other doesnt want. I sent him an email with a list and really all that I wanted only totaled to like $200. I asked the other day if I could add to the list and he told me no that he has already spent X amount. I was not happy with this. I told him specifically what I wanted and if he bought other things instead of what I wanted I will not be a happy camper. Of course I wont be a spoiled brat because I know that he would have done it out of love, but why in the heck would you buy things that are not on the list when you know that what is on the list is what I want!!! Uurgh.

Back to the original topic. I will snoop. Then I will bug about what it is so he hides it all from me. Its like he is acting that Santa brings it all because I cant see presents to me without going crazy trying to figure out what it is. Even knowing that he is hiding them every time I walk in the house after being gone while he is home I will do a quick scan of all the presents to see if there is a new one and if it is for me.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

.

Anybody else a horrible snoop when it comes to presents?

I use to snoop when I was a kid...now I don't. I'm not even sure if my DH is getting me anything so there is nothing to snoop around for! Sigh.

This year, both of my sons are giving each other gifts and my younger son told my older son what he got him (a stuffed cow to add to his collection) and now my older son is upset b/c he wanted *me* to get that item for him, so he wants me to still get him one, as well. 10,000 stuffed cows later...

 

[MichelleCarmen]

We both have quite a history of giving gifts the other doesnt want. I sent him an email with a list and really all that I wanted only totaled to like $200. I asked the other day if I could add to the list and he told me no that he has already spent X amount. I was not happy with this. I told him specifically what I wanted and if he bought other things instead of what I wanted I will not be a happy camper. Of course I wont be a spoiled brat because I know that he would have done it out of love, but why in the heck would you buy things that are not on the list when you know that what is on the list is what I want!!! Uurgh.

Back to the original topic. I will snoop. Then I will bug about what it is so he hides it all from me. Its like he is acting that Santa brings it all because I cant see presents to me without going crazy trying to figure out what it is. Even knowing that he is hiding them every time I walk in the house after being gone while he is home I will do a quick scan of all the presents to see if there is a new one and if it is for me.

I wish my DH would write a list as he's impossible to buy for. He's so-so on guessing what I want. One year, he bought me a bunch of CDs by bands (like the Who) that I do not like. I like stuff like The Smiths and Joy Division. lol He knows that.

 

[somethingshiny]

Snooping is bad. I just don't understand why people would have to make sure it's "good enough." I mean I understand the financial aspect and all, but my thinking is -- I get what I want you to have. If I'm buying you a gift I know you well enough to know what you would enjoy and I am putting thought into it. So, if it came down to not being good enough in some way, I'd never give a gift to that person again.

That being said, I do enjoy a good gift shaking session, but that's just for the fun of figuring out what's in the box. I have stumbled across gifts before and have been disappointed that I ruined the surprise -- not for myself but for the person who wants to surprise me with it.

 

[geckodani]

I don't snoop. I sincerely hope he went off the list, and am fairly certain he didn't for a few things, LOL. I know exactly where my presents are, and I won't look. (We pick a spot and tell the other person to stay out!)