what do I want for Christmas?

[steviesterno]

Maybe this belongs in MMM problems, but my wife and I have always done it up around christmas/Birthdays. which is great, but with finding this page, buying a home, having a baby, etc, we've decided to cut back. I suggested I would be fine with not doing any kind of exchange, but she's against that idea because of some christmases she's had in the past.

We have set the rules (loosely) as follows:
 max of $100 spent on each other
Has to be fun. I wanted new work shoes and socks and she shot that down as not festive enough. fair, we buy stuff as needed.
with that said, she's suggested she wants some bird feeders and houses, along with a bat house. I also found a book she doesn't know she wants.

But I have no idea what I could want/need? I have a garage full of tools, all the gadgets I think I need, all the stuff I'm looking at for my competitive shooting hobby is expensive and I don't need it.

what would be good stuff to ask for? Thinking things to work on the house with, or learn more about MMM. or otherwise? Help me with this annoying and certainly first world problem.

[Papa Mustache]

I'm in the same pinch. What to get? I don't want for much. Modest tastes, hobbies are well stocked. Hmmmm.... looking for ideas.

[lthenderson]

I ask for gift certificates to the local home improvement store and the book store.

[Livingthedream55]

One of my splurge/fun items that I bought for myself is a $25 gift card to a restaurant which I will use at some point this year.

To make it stretch even further I pick one that adds something extra - so today is the last day for this in my area  - and I think you have to buy it in person in my area - but the the Cheesecake Factory near me adds two additional gift cards for two slices of cheesecake (which usually sell for $8.00 each) so they are throwing in $16.00 of additional product with the purchase of a $25 card.

After today - it's 1 free slice of cheesecake for each $25 gift card purchased. See link:

https://thecheesecakefactory.cashstar.com/

So - that represents two splurge meals (I order "to go" so no tip needed) which i enjoy in my very comfortable home or make it a picnic at at a park, etc. sometime this year.

[BlueHouse]

Why don't you ask for something like "all the ingredients to make a cheesecake, and then spend the time together making it".  That way, you get some fun out of a practical gift. 

Could also be all the fixings for a "Nacho Football Game".

If you sew or knit, ask for a very special kind of fabric or yarn. 

I don't know how to make socks fun.  sorry. 

[Moustachienne]

DH and I were talking about this this morning.  We don't want/need anything but want to have some fun (no kids).  I suggested the 'something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read' formula.  He thought it would be too hard but then agreed that everyone *needs* a toothbrush, etc.  :)  We'll keep the budget low overall as the point is to have a few fun things to unwrap.  We may write out a wish list each with cheap/less cheap ideas in each category. He needs that help in thinking about things for me!

[Livingthedream55]

Thriftbooks does gift cards (used books priced more competitively than Amazon IMHO) and it's free shipping once you've spent $10.

http://www.thriftbooks.com/giftcard.aspx

[Goldielocks]

For the first time in many years, I want to be splurg-y. It is likely because I am I. My OMY mode and making money just to eventually spend it.

I asked for an electric bike kit and DH to install it for me.

For OP. think of a fun January activity to do together.

[Guses]

I hate when people ask you what you want, you tell them and then they don't accept the answer. If socks and shoes are what you want, who is your wife to say that it's not festive enough. Are bird feeders festive? I don't think so.....

Maybe she really likes getting people fun presents, in which case, she shouldn't be asking you what you want, it's part of the fun.

I will take a gift certificate at vanguard please!

[Livingthedream55]

I will take a gift certificate at vanguard please!

+1

[I'm a red panda]

This is why husband and I don't exchange gifts. If it is a chore to think up of something, I don't want to be a part of it.  How about new mp3s?

A good tip is to run an amazon wishlist throughout the year, then in December you can pick something from it. 

[stashgrower]

haha I'd take the Vanguard gift cert too :D Funds for indexing was my first thought before I opened the thread.

[11ducks]

I've asked for boxing hand wraps, as my gloves are falling apart.

Perhaps choose something that can be an experience for the two of you (tickets to an event or a cooking class). At least that way it can double as a special event/date night for the two of you- and make some wonderful memories?

Or books on budgeting/diy/car mechanics? The stuff to start a small veggie garden?

[Le Poisson]

My entire Christmas list:

Slippers.

Momma's entire list:

An electric blanket

We're gonna be whooping it up around here I tell ya. We should take the remaining Christmas budget and throw it all at Vanguard.

[shelivesthedream]

1. Books. Read, donate, done.
2. CDs. Upload to iTunes, donate, done.
3. Tickets to a thing. Theatre, concert, museum, expo...
4. Super fancy food. Eat, enjoy, done. Could be booze, cheese, chocolates, pie, cake, oils/vinegars...

Yes, these things are maybe not optimal value for money or what you would have bought if you were doing the shopping. But you'll be able to receive them, enjoy them, and then not be burdened by hauling them around for the rest of your life.

[Iplawyer]

My entire Christmas list:

Slippers.

Momma's entire list:

An electric blanket

We're gonna be whooping it up around here I tell ya. We should take the remaining Christmas budget and throw it all at Vanguard.

What is this Vangaurd thing everyone talks about?  I know I'm missing something.

[Le Poisson]

My entire Christmas list:

Slippers.

Momma's entire list:

An electric blanket

We're gonna be whooping it up around here I tell ya. We should take the remaining Christmas budget and throw it all at Vanguard.

What is this Vangaurd thing everyone talks about?  I know I'm missing something.

I'm not sure if you are being serious or not... Here ya go: https://www.vanguardcanada.ca/

[darknight]

This year for us is unique as we are moving Jan 1 and are currently putting some thing in storage. The last thing we need is more stuff (including the kids, 8 mo & 3yr). My parents get too many toys etc anyways for the kids, we usually spend no more than $25 for b-day and Christmas each.
I think this year we're going to try to get something (or make something) meaningful for each other. I like to carve, my wife's a graphic designer/artist so I'm thinking it will be something along those lines.

[pedal stache]

What I want for Christmas is a day full of skiing then to come home and be with friends (won't be with family this year). Already have the group assembled and plans made!

Some of my family insists on doing presents so I have a few items on the list:
- rain pants (I am in a very rainy area and bike to work daily which means wet pants at work)
- computer monitor for home office
- $ to help with a plane ticket to see family
- bike parts (chainring, pedals, shoes...)

Each of these items should be able to be found for under $100.

(edit) I just realized I did not really answer the actual question and instead made my Christmas list, sorry.

[mrsdreamer]

For the first Christmas ever (since I have now drank the Mustachian Koolaid), I too am having trouble thinking of what I want...

I tried to ask for things that were fun but also practical and helpful for a Mustachian lifestyle. 

- Herbs in a cute container garden (so I don't have to buy them anymore)
- Oven Mitts (again with the cook at home theme)

For my DH I'm getting:

- bluetooth car adapter so he can take calls in his car hands-free (IL law)
- fancy electric measuring tape that remembers your measurements (a little 'luxurious' but also practical to boot!)

Last Christmas we both got bikes from my parents... perhaps the most 'Mustachian' gift of all!

[redbird]

My husband and I want an expensive gift that we're buying for ourselves. We're trying to buy a piece of land! I don't know if the whole process will be done by Christmas or not, but seeing as it's a 5 figure purchase, that's not exactly Mustachian. But we're going to be paying for it in cash and then building a house on it, so it's helping us for the future. Looking forward to no longer renting. :)

Anyway, husband and I stopped buying each other gifts for holidays maybe 5 years ago. I joked about the "gift" above, but it's not really a gift. It just has that coincidental timing of the purchase of it near the holidays. We got tired of struggling to think up what to buy each other and what to ask for. We tend to buy things we need as they come up throughout the year, and we don't like pointless "stuff" sitting around the house. Instead we'll just do things together - either a date that costs money or we'll stay home and watch some movies together. Much less stress and much more fun having the time together rather than material things.

[BlueHouse]

I hate when people ask you what you want, you tell them and then they don't accept the answer. If socks and shoes are what you want, who is your wife to say that it's not festive enough. Are bird feeders festive? I don't think so.....

Maybe she really likes getting people fun presents, in which case, she shouldn't be asking you what you want, it's part of the fun.

I will take a gift certificate at vanguard please!

If you make your request very very specific and make the giver feel like it's hard to find item, then it can be very thoughtful.  I routinely ask for socks and toothbrushes and floss, but I am very particular in the types and I explain that I haven't been able to find them anywhere.  Oral-b extra soft, SMALL head toothbrush.  the kind of floss that is braided, unwaxed.  This one's always hard to find because there is no picture on the packaging and there are no words printed on the container, only on the packaging.  I always get it wrong.  I think it's J&J woven, but not sure.  Anyway, it's specific enough and tough enough to find that when these things show up in my stocking, I am genuinely thrilled and can't help oohing and aaahing about the giver's success in finding something to make me happy.

[o2bfree]

All I want for Christmas is some V T SAX, some V T SAX, some V T SAX...

[RysChristensen]

My husband and I want an expensive gift that we're buying for ourselves. We're trying to buy a piece of land! I don't know if the whole process will be done by Christmas or not, but seeing as it's a 5 figure purchase, that's not exactly Mustachian. But we're going to be paying for it in cash and then building a house on it, so it's helping us for the future. Looking forward to no longer renting. :)

Funny, I got myself the same gift a little over a year ago! Mine came with a free Moose with every purchase of eleventy-billion saplings...

[steviesterno]

update to OP. we talked about it more and wife goes "you know what I really want and could use? an instant pot!"  having read a bunch of threads on here about how amazing these are and people use them every day, I think this may be worth it to get for her.

I put "local cheap lunch date" on the list I wrote for her, along with some hobby stuff I don't need but would really enjoy, "the millionaire next door", wooden hangars for coats, black t shirts, matching tupperware, and a splurgy set of $6 pens.

I guess now I just need to find the best deal on an instant pot...

[SomedayStache]

My parents are paying to have my carpets cleaned! (My gift, that I asked for and am looking forward to)

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

[Zikoris]

CHOCOLATE AND CANDY! That's all I need. A whole stocking full, please.

[Le Poisson]

CHOCOLATE AND CANDY! That's all I need. A whole stocking full, please.

You can never go wrong with chocolate.

[Metric Mouse]

Think of this as an opportunity to make capital investments in optimizing your routine. Some ideas to get you started:
- contribution to the charity of your choice - in the past my sister asked my parents to buy a cow for a family in Africa through a program of some sort

I picture an aid plane dropping cows across the African plains...  This made me smile this morning. Thank you.

[Cativa]

I agree with the others that if you really don't want/need any THING, than you should be looking at experiences you would enjoy.  A really fine bottle of brandy, a packet of movie tickets, a day at the museum.  Bonus points if the experience is something you really enjoy but don't do much of because she isn't really into it.  One year I took my boyfriend to the air show for his birthday - a total yawn for me - but he had a ball and I enjoyed seeing my gift make him happy.

I know it is rotten, but when I read that she protested the gift had to be "fun" I had the awful temptation to tell you to ask for a can of whip cream...and I'll leave it at that.