Author Topic: birthday presents for a mustachian?  (Read 7682 times)

Psychstache

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birthday presents for a mustachian?
« on: September 16, 2013, 09:46:58 AM »
Hey team,

I have an odd problem at the moment. I have a birthday coming up and my DW informed me that her parents wanted to know if there is something I want for the event. They are going to get me something, so she said I might as well make it something I want.

The problem is.......I really can't think of any 'thing' that I want right now. If there is something that I truly need then I go buy it, so no concerns there, and I find that there isn't much 'fun' stuff that I want. I have a hobby, but it is self sustaining (even brings in a few bucks from time to time), so I am really at a loss.

Anyone else have this problem and come up with a novel solution?

NinetyFour

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2013, 09:54:20 AM »
How about letting them get you a gift card for Amazon, or some other place from which you might buy things down the road?

avonlea

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2013, 10:09:45 AM »
If there is a charitable organization that is near and dear to your heart, you could ask the in-laws to make a donation in your honor. 

(Side note: This is a great gift for teachers at the holidays.  They usually don't want trinkets and treats, but they love to help others...and also appreciate being thought of.)

Mississippi Mudstache

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2013, 10:25:08 AM »
How about restaurant gift cards? I always enjoy getting them, because it gives my wife and I an excuse to go out for dinner. We only eat out about once a month if it's on our dime.

smalllife

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2013, 10:26:20 AM »
Is there anything on your "nice to have" mental list that you have been putting off because you don't want to spend the money or have other priorities?  Any tools or projects that they could help you complete?  There's always something I have been putting off  . . . . required gift receiving is a change to knock those out while allowing those that love you give you a gift.

kt

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2013, 12:08:11 PM »
second the nice to have items. i love baking so i sometimes ask for new baking items as presents. not things i'd buy but things i very much enjoy if someone gives them to me (cake tins, pestle and mortar etc). perhaps a nice book you'd borrow rather than buy usually.
or consumables. i often ask for 'luxury' items such as nice chocolate or jam (i'm only just not a student!). perhaps some nice wine or similar. if you have a garden maybe a plants, seeds or plant pot.

Will

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2013, 12:13:56 PM »
How about a Famous Americans Portrait Collection?  George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, US Grant, Ben Franklin...  all printed on a fine linen measuring about 6.14 x 2.61 inches?

Megatron

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2013, 12:22:09 PM »
Ask them to take you guys out to a nice dinner that includes the parents. I have asked my fiancee to tell all her relatives to not to buy me any gifts for bdays or Christmas because I'm a minimalist and I have everything I need. If they want, they can buy us a nice meal. It's been working perfectly for mah belly.

Psychstache

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #8 on: September 16, 2013, 01:24:33 PM »
Thanks for all of the great ideas everyone.

I think the problem is a combination of the fact that we just got married at the beginning of the summer (and thus got all sorts of crap to fill up the new house, and still have tons of credit at BBB and Crate and Barrell that we don't know what to do with) and that I am not even really sure what I am interested in to ask for something related to it (up until recently, my hobbies had been trying to straighten out my finances and work extra jobs).

Megatron: Nice try, but they are already taking us out to dinner. They are looking for something to give me at said dinner.

I know, woe is me and my problems. All my hundreds don't fit in my wallet and my diamond shoes are too tight!

Thanks for the ideas!

Left

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2013, 01:33:20 PM »
cash? I have no problems giving/getting that as a gift

hm, what about some yard/garden supplies, it's the end of the season so it's a bit cheaper. If you do your own yard/garden, since you mentioned you got married with a new house (I'm assuming new yard too). And most people don't get that for wedding gifts.

Psychstache

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2013, 01:42:28 PM »
To quote my MIL: "Gifts have to be thoughtful and cash and gift cards require no thought"

Sidenote: I find it funny to observe the cultural differences like this. At our wedding, the middle eastern side of my family had no problem just handing over cash, which I am a big fan of, but would had put looks of horror on the white sides of our families (since that is not what proper southern folk do).

Luckily, the yard in the house is pretty small, so I am good to go with the mower and clippers that I have.

BoulderTC

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #11 on: September 16, 2013, 02:48:58 PM »
Don't forget that to some people (including most people in my family), gift giving can be more about the giver than the receiver. Even if I say I don't want/need anything, they'd feel bad not giving something, and they want it to be something GOOD. So, maybe think of something they'd want you to have....

For me, that might be a neat bike gadget or new sneakers. As a giver, I like to give experiences rather than things... so I'd organize a bowling night, one of those sipping and painting classes, family photos or something similar. If that sounds more like you, maybe you could ask for them to organize a fun night out?

travelbug

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #12 on: September 16, 2013, 03:45:54 PM »
What about a yearly pass to a museum or zoo or somewhere you could go?
Tickets to a great show/concert/sporting match?
I agree with the food stuff; yummy stuff that you may not purchase due to saving like deli items/chocolate/great coffee/wine/delicious cheeses all in a hamper.  Even a fruit basket.
Or a DVD you want with popcorn (or other treat).
Tickets to the movies.
A spa day.
Gift card to buy all the books you love but borrow over and over from the library.
New shoes/sweater/t-shirts/scarf etc; whatever you may need in the next year or so.
A photo framed from your wedding.
A photo book of you and your wife and your life so far.


Will

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #13 on: September 16, 2013, 04:31:10 PM »
How about porn?

kkbmustang

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #14 on: September 16, 2013, 05:10:22 PM »
Consumables or services. For me that would be wine/cheese/etc. or massage/pedicure/etc. if you have an equivalent consumable or service that you enjoy, you could ask for that.

Mega

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #15 on: September 17, 2013, 07:17:05 AM »
Don't forget that to some people (including most people in my family), gift giving can be more about the giver than the receiver. Even if I say I don't want/need anything, they'd feel bad not giving something, and they want it to be something GOOD.

This^. This is why the white people were so resistant to giving money. You will not be able to overcome their culture.

Adventine

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #16 on: September 17, 2013, 08:33:53 AM »
Yup, as the others have said, now is the perfect time to get one of those things you've always thought would be "nice to have" but just never found the motivation to get for yourself.

Elaine

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #17 on: September 17, 2013, 11:36:26 AM »
If there is truly nothing you want I would call around to charitable places in town and see if there is something they need. Could the women's shelter use a coffee pot? Maybe Salvation Army is short on crock pots. You can ask your inlaws for something useful and then give it away. This way they feel good giving you something, and you can feel good by giving it to someone who really needs it.

impaire

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #18 on: September 17, 2013, 12:28:33 PM »
If there is truly nothing you want I would call around to charitable places in town and see if there is something they need. Could the women's shelter use a coffee pot? Maybe Salvation Army is short on crock pots. You can ask your inlaws for something useful and then give it away. This way they feel good giving you something, and you can feel good by giving it to someone who really needs it.
I was actually going to suggest a variation on that--find something in your house that is still in good condition, and ask them for the upgrade, then give away the initial item. Could be a sweater or a coffee pot...
I'd say keep the upgrade even though it sounds selfish, just in the interest of showing that you liked the present.

Or be really tough and say that you don't want to consume more, but that's just no doable without hurting feelings in many cases :)

Spudd

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Re: birthday presents for a mustachian?
« Reply #19 on: September 17, 2013, 12:42:32 PM »
Throughout the year as I think of things that I want, I add them to my Amazon wish list instead of buying them. Periodically I curate the list to ensure that the things that are there are still things I wouldn't mind getting. Some things are always on the list - nice chocolates and quality loose-leaf teas. These are things I can never have too much of! The rest of the list is just impulse things that I don't really need but at some point, I thought they'd be nice to have - so I get them off my mind by adding them to the list.

Happy birthday!