The past few nights I have had very little rest, so if this post makes no sense, I have an excuse this time.
It’s that time of the year again, when grown men quake in fear of potential death. No, not influenza. I’m talking about shopping for a Christmas gift for their significant others. Personally, I don’t envy y’all. I have met the enemy and she is us. I know we can be difficult to shop for, but there are some guidelines that can help y’all avoid pitfalls.
With the current weather, y’all do NOT want to be in the doghouse.
Gifts to Avoid
#5– Electric knife
Seriously, you want to give her something to make dismembering you THAT much easier??
#4– Holiday themed clothing
It’s a nice sentiment, but she unwraps it the last day she can wear it and then has to put it away for eleven months until she can wear it again? That’s just torture. As a bonus, see the potential risk displayed in the photo above.
#3– Pets
As adorable as it would be, most people wish to pick out their own, just as pets like to pick out their humans.
#2– Housekeeping appliances
It’s ok to bring home a Roombaโข any time of the year while telling her that you think she needs time for herself. It is NOT ok to have it under the tree without explanation.
#1– Gym membership
If you do get this for her, at least be considerate and get a cemetery plot for yourself as well.
Remember, these are guidelines. Your significant other’s mileage may vary.
Mine does not ๐
December 12th, 2013 at 10:09 AM
I baked LK’s noodle one year by asking for a Dust Buster. In his family, you didn’t DARE give a practical gift like that. But I had a baby and a toddler and I was tired of sweeping. Just remember, Gentlemen, make sure she ASKS for it before you try getting her something like that!
December 12th, 2013 at 2:23 PM
I got so pissed off at my wife’s family TELLING me that I was not allowed to spend any Christmas money on paying down debt or bills (cuz…you know…I made soooo much money working in retail sales that all of my financial problems were imaginary! Just like the imaginary bills I got weekly…), that I went and dumped north of $800 on Amazon. That was years ago, and I think I’ve just gotten to the end of that shelf of to-be-read books.
December 12th, 2013 at 4:08 PM
When you decide on vengeance, you go all out, huh? ๐
December 12th, 2013 at 4:21 PM
Well, they were very specific that I NOT use it to pay bills, but to get something I wanted. I read a lot. Therefore….
December 12th, 2013 at 4:22 PM
Niiiiiiiiiiiiice!!
December 12th, 2013 at 4:09 PM
Yep, definitely ask first ๐
December 12th, 2013 at 5:40 PM
Yes, my noodle was so thoroughly baked it was pure carbon.
I still am confused.
December 12th, 2013 at 6:56 PM
You poor thing ๐
December 12th, 2013 at 9:29 PM
I know, right?
December 12th, 2013 at 10:19 AM
**standing ovation**
December 12th, 2013 at 4:09 PM
*curtsies with machete*
December 12th, 2013 at 10:31 AM
I would add that Roombas suck. As a gift or otherwise.
Buy the woman a trip to the Caribbean, with a friend. Win win.
December 12th, 2013 at 4:10 PM
Experience talking?? ๐
December 12th, 2013 at 10:35 AM
I avoid any confusion or possible let-downs by not buying gifts at all anymore. Done learned my lesson by golly.
December 12th, 2013 at 2:21 PM
Gift cards. They’re not impersonal…they send the message that “hey, I care enough about you to not want to see you force a smile on your face and then have to stand in the return line the next day, go get what YOU want.”
December 12th, 2013 at 4:10 PM
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
December 12th, 2013 at 7:28 PM
RA, you are genius-level bio-matter, you know that? Awesome. Fat stack of cards, stamped signature, varying amount of paper and coin… Pure genius. Nothing else says “I care” like that.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:20 PM
Not. A. Thing.
December 13th, 2013 at 11:50 AM
Never been referred to as a “genius” (outside of royally screwing something up…which happens. A lot.), and the last time I was referred to as bio-matter, it was in boot camp and more along the lines of “worthless maggot/useless sad sack of meat/waste of oxygen”.
Funny thing is, though…everyone in Serenity’s family complained about how hard it was to buy for everyone else, and how difficult it was to call around and get ideas without the person being bought for knowing about it….guess what they all ask for and receive now. Heh. Gift cards. The particular store is pretty easy, and if you don’t know the person that well, get an American Express gift card. Christmas shopping done, and all while standing at Lowes. Win-win!
December 13th, 2013 at 1:18 PM
Bio-matter?? HAHAHAHA!!!
So stealing that ๐
December 12th, 2013 at 5:27 PM
True story. One XMAS (in the mid- to late-60s) morning my mother wondered where her XMAS present was. Dad says it’s in the garage. Mom, excited that she is getting her own car, puts on her coat and runs to the garage…
And finds a new snow shovel. Seems she had been complaining about the snow shovelling. Dad has always been a thoughtful guy.
December 12th, 2013 at 6:54 PM
I am at a loss… ๐
December 13th, 2013 at 11:50 AM
Epic. Purely epic!
December 12th, 2013 at 6:41 PM
office supplies. lame.
December 12th, 2013 at 6:56 PM
HA!!
December 12th, 2013 at 8:07 PM
An electric knife is a guy tool, for doing the male duty of carving the roast beast.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:20 PM
Well, sure… IF the male deigns to carve roast beasts ๐
December 12th, 2013 at 9:31 PM
We like to be begged to do chores and know that we have undying gratitude. Otherwise how else would we know the task is worthy of our time?
Ahem.
December 13th, 2013 at 8:04 AM
Wow, you went there. You have brass ๐
December 13th, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Not for long, he won’t….
December 13th, 2013 at 6:17 AM
#2โ Housekeeping appliances
Yes, those should never be given as gifts at Christmas. Birthdays are okay, though, right? ๐
December 13th, 2013 at 8:04 AM
Believe it or not, Hubby gifts them for my Valentine’s Day ๐
December 13th, 2013 at 10:36 AM
So the K-Yยฎ Ultimate Intimacy Kama Sutra Jungle Gym & Lube Kitโข would be an acceptable gift, then, right?
December 13th, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Buy two. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner!
December 13th, 2013 at 1:18 PM
Double ๐ฏ
December 13th, 2013 at 3:43 PM
Well, once you wear one out, you’ll know its exact limits for the second one. Duh. Nothing says I love you quite like “lets push this thing past its engineered specifications! Then we’ll unbox the second one and enjoy it a *bit* more sedately albeit for a much longer time”.
Well…maybe a shiny new machete, woodchipper, and a bag of quicklime, but that’s for another post.
December 13th, 2013 at 3:44 PM
….Serenity’s gonna kill me for this, isn’t she.
December 13th, 2013 at 6:03 PM
Big. Time.
HAHAHAHA!!! ๐
December 14th, 2013 at 9:42 AM
Aaaaaaaand I’m sure you’ll let her borrow your woodchipper, eh?
December 14th, 2013 at 12:26 PM
I don’t use a woodchipper. I don’t need to ๐
December 13th, 2013 at 1:18 PM
๐ฏ
December 13th, 2013 at 6:18 PM
Gift cards. Nothing says, “Merry Christmas and I have no idea what to give you so here’s a piece of plastic” like an Amazon gift card.
December 13th, 2013 at 6:49 PM
Best gift card ever ๐