What Are You Getting Your Husband for Christmas?

I alway buy my fiance's favorite store gift card, let him buy whatever he wants or need. It is easy.

I suggest a gift card to a store that he would enjoy getting himself something. My husband actually loves gift cards and put that on his wish list at his job. Just pick a store that HE would like.

Hope this helps!
T.

I don't have the budget to afford some of the things other people can get, but I would agree with all those who said gift cards, although, like someone said, sometimes they just sit there. My husband has had 2 Cabela's gift cards sitting here for over a year! Drives me nuts! Here is something I did for Father's day that he really liked though... I made a video of him. I took some small video clips of him from over the years (teaching kids to ride a bike or hit a baseball, etc.) and also all of our favorite photos with him in it and I put them to music. If you don't have a program to do it, I'm sure you could find someone who could do it for a minimal price. (Try a local high school kid--they love doing things like that.) Of course, if you can do it, you can add your own personal touches and it means a lot more. My husband appreciated it mostly, I think, because he knew it took my time and that meant I cared about him. Although he doesn't pull it out and watch it all the time, my kids love to get it out and watch it (because they're in it too), and he wanted me to make copies and send to our parents too (which I haven't done yet... maybe for Christmas). And, the best thing is... he can't return it! :) Good luck! Men are so hard to buy for... They either want "Nothing" or "A new truck." Ha ha.

We have been married for over 12 years and we just don't buy each other presents. We make it a day of family bonding and just set up a getaway weekend in wich the kids stay with Grandma.

Tammi,
I know how hard it is to get something your husband will like. So after years of not getting it right and the gift card thing (that never got used) I started giving my husband time. He likes to mountain bike, kyak, and things that are hard to take the kids to do. So I make time certificates that he can trade in for time to do his favorite alone activity through out the year. This has been a bigger hit than gift cards for him. Hope this helps.

What are his hobbies? What does he do in his spare time?

My husband's biggest "complaint" is that I don't ever plan for us to get away or have dates. He always has to prod me to call the sitter.
If that is also your situation, I'd go with something along those lines. You don't necessarily have to plan a trip or anything.. thats not necessarily what I mean. But maybe get something that you two can do together. A set of tennis rackets? A new bike? Whatever it is that he might enjoy. Then, put together (I know, I know...) a coupon book, full of coupons for you and him to do this activity together. The coupon includes that YOU arrange for the sitter (or grandma or whoever).
One year we bought tennis racquets together. This year, our kids each got one for their birthdays.. so now we all 4 can go to the court together (they can't do much yet,but they are learning and it is great family time..and we don't have to have a sitter... they are 10 and 7).
We have given each other bicycles in the past also.
By far, anything that involves us doing something together is the biggest hit. Plan a single night away... to go along with tickets to something. He will be SO excited.. because you planned for the 2 of you to be alone...
If he is into books, then search out a hard to find copy of something he is interested in, and write an inscription in the front cover to him! You could even write a love letter and tuck it into the pages for him to find later on (just be careful it doesn't fall out when he opens the gift - or the kids will be sitting there when he opens the letter to see what it is!)
Good luck to ya!

If you are an art teacher, I'm assuming you have some artistic skill....why don't you make him something original? For example if you paint, paint a portrait of your kids. I'm sure he would treasure that and won't be able to return it!!

This has been a hard year for me as I've recently lost my mom, my husband and my friend.....the reason I'm telling you this is that my friend, whose name was Cindy, had many talents and gifts, and one of her hobbies was painting. At her funeral wake, the room was full of original pictures she had painted, many of them of her children at various stages of their lives. Her husband was so proud of those pictures and encouraged everyone to look at them all. Part of Cindy was in the paintings, and her husband really cherished that.

My husband was also hard to shop for. (aren't women just so much easier?!) Every year I got him things he needed, like shirts and ties for work (bor-ing!), a framed picture of the kids for the office (which he loved, but it's not really an elaborate gift!), maybe a really good bottle of port wine.....these were all satisfactory, but then he would get me a BEAUTIFUL piece of jewelry and of course all the stuff I got him could never compare to that! One year I got him a special record player that dubs albums into CD's; he really liked that (but I used it more than he did!) I think one of his favorite gifts was when I went to glamour shots and had some really glam pictures done of myself; I felt a little indulgent doing this but the results were fantastic; he displayed one of them proudly in his office and people would comment on how beautiful his wife was (they can do a lot with airbrushing and retouching!!), so it made him feel good. If he's into this, you can cook him a special dinner , or plan an evening without the kids and some nice lingerie...(a gift for you, and him!) The problem is then he has nothing concrete to show for it....(unless it results in another child! lol!) I'm just giving you ideas, but you know what your man is into, maybe a sport or hobby that he likes....you just have to get creative!

Just enjoy each other. Make holiday memories as a family. Those are ultimately the things that matter most!!

K. G.

Hi ! One year I got my husband a family picture calender. I tried to put special pictures with each month. Ex:August is his son's birth month, so for August I had a nice picture of his son.
I discovered he really enjoyed it because at each months changing, he'd look at the picture and talk about the memory of it being taken!
Also it is something that can NOT be returned! ha-ha!
GOOD LUCK!
Happy Holidays!
Kathy N.

My husband would prefer time with me alone to just about anything ;) so I suggest for a gift...just that! Find a babysitter, budget either dinner out or perpare a nice dinner..you get the picture!

So far, I have purchased my husband; a titanium (indestructible) Seiko watch, a nice MP3 player with a screen for videos, a nice pair of shoes (which he needs), and some Ray Stevens DVD's/CD's (for his corny since of humor). I am also thinking of getting him the pistol he's been eying for a while now (he's a police officer). As for gifts of years past, I would say the leather coat from our first Christmas together is our favorite. I invested in a top quality leather coat, and made sure I was familiar with the care instructions. I purchased the conditioner and protective spray that day to ensure I got the right stuff. The coat is by far his favorite coat and it still looks like it is brand new. I got myself one the same day, but being a female I went for the name brand and just assumed that the big name would use quality leather - not so. My coat was retired 3 years ago, and like I said his is still great. So, if you go that route, go with quality leather, not name brand. Good luck on your hunt and Merry Christmas.

Tammi,
Lol, men are HARD to buy for period. I am a local wood carver who will be at the Woodstock show this weekend(booth 204). Along with a gazillion other artists lol. There you might find some unique gifts? I carve mainly realistic fish from snook to tarpon reliefs and everything in between.(along with some 3-D work). The show will run from sat 9-5 & sun 9-4. To get in free just bring 5 cans of food (per person or its 5.00 to get in) It will be held in Sunrise at Welleby Park, NW44th Street & Histus Road. And remember its the thought that counts right? Good LUCK!! L.

Does he like movies, electronic games. Any sports? Is he a geek? Some books?

Tammi,

You didn't mention what types of things your husband was into. One year I wrote him a poem and framed it. But something in the past that I have done for my husband that he absolutely loved is the most recent; I purchase a digital picture frame and pre-loaded it with pictures of our children, pictures with hime with the boys and a few with me. Then there was pictures of the kids in picture frames for his office or a t-shirt that says world's greatest dad. Homemade cards and pictures from the boys. Little things like that meant more to him than anything I could have bought in the store.

Hope this helps. Good Luck.

S.

Tammi there is a great website that you can order a gift card and he is the one that gets to pick what he wants depending on the amount of money you want to spend, they great stuff for guys check it out!

____@____.com

My husband loves itunes gift cards and I try to get him something sentimental from our girls.

In the past I have done what Tiffaney has done-gotten the hubbie gift cards to adventures. One she didn't mention is the Richard Petty driving experience. There really are a lot of things to do around here if you have the "eyes of a tourist." If that's not what you're looking for, then by all means, ask! I asked my husband what he might want or need that "Santa" could bring him. This year he wants a new carry case to bring to work.

Good Luck!

My husband prefers to do things than to get things. We live in Orlando and over the last several years I have given him things like a day at Sky Venture (the fake sky diving place), a trip up in an ultralight plane, a helicopter ride around Orlando, etc. If you live in Central FL there are tons of fun things to take advantage of, which all cost about the same as a regular gift would.
Pretend you are a tourist. What would your husband love to do if he were here on vacation? Is he a golfer? Does he like fine dining? Is he into museums? There are all sorts of things that we tend to forget about if we live here (especially if you venture out towards I-drive.) A nice card with a gift certificate to an adventure he would love has worked for me several times now. And, in the end he gets a great memory with the family too...so it makes him happy and keeps our family bond healthy. :)

I try to pay attention to things he comments on throughout the year, that is how he shops for me. He always has some specific things he really wants but we don't get around to. So I started keeping a list of things I knew he wanted at some point (that was not way above our price range). Then each year for Christmas and Birthdays I will plan to buy something off that list that we can afford that works well for the time frame. If I notice another thing he seems to really want, then I add it to the list.

We do a lot of window shopping and looking at ideas we'd like to get in the future, and that's usually when he points out those things he desires. Most things are at hardware stores, cooking stores, bed & bath stores, and electronics stores. I stay away from the video games, but if there is something like a DVD player or computer equipment that he wants it goes on the list. He only gets one of the listed items most times, but I also tend to get extras to go with that thing, that allows me to get him things he wants, have more than one present, and to still have ideas for most occasions.

We are still waiting to give each other a trip to get massages while the kids are out at a friends or sitters. We've been wanting to do that for a couple of years now, yet we never seem to get to planning it and scheduling it. I think the hardest thing for me is finding a valentines gift when the time comes. That holiday is so geared toward females, and my hubby can't handle much chocolate (it actually makes him sick), so I find it very hard to find something good. Anyway enough of my blather. Have fun trying to figure something out. Also have a great holiday, this time of year can be so much fun (when we don't get too aggravated buy it all.)

Hey Tami- Have you asked him what he wants? Or maybe listen to what he comments that he needs? After my husband & I were married I began to get him things that he "needs" not wants. What he wants is always too expensive & he knows he will not get it. I stick to things like clothes, cologne, things like that, that he comments that he needs. He wants a new rasor this year, but I checked on the price $300...yeah he won't be getting anything. Gifts are only fun when they are happy with them, otherwise it is pointless. Over the last 3 years we have agreed not to do Christmas for each other. We feel we have everything we need & if we don't we usually just go out & get it. This leaves the focus on the kids & saves us a lot of money. It is very hard to buy for Men! I don't know if I helped, if not, good luck!