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Quote: Originally posted by Blue Stripey Kitten on 15/11/2012

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Presents should be luxuries.

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Exactly! Gold, diamonds, lovely leather goods, French perfume, jumpers and scarves but only if they're cashmere or silk (and in a colour you know she likes and suits her - check the wardrobe), a really classy watch - all great presents imo.

I'm a glutton for anything really well made in nice leather, even if it's only a belt. I still use the filofax that I got for my birthday in 1983!

Quote: Originally posted by fran1000 on 17/11/2012

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Quote: Originally posted by Blue Stripey Kitten on 15/11/2012

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Presents should be luxuries.

I'm a glutton for anything really well made in nice leather, even if it's only a belt.

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Quote: Originally posted by Blue Stripey Kitten on 15/11/2012

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Presents should be luxuries. Some of you guys would do well to remember that if you don't want to spent Boxing Day in the shed!

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I thought it was funny many years ago when an ex asked my what I would like for christmas I asked for a power drill.

I am an independent woman and quite good at DIY and would quite happily put up my own shelves etc; as long as I had the right tools. I thought a drill would be of benefit as I was forever asking to borrow the neighbours.

Anyway - he did not buy my the drill that I wanted - he bought me a pressure cooker - needless to say I did not need or want a pressure cooker and so I took it back to the shop that he bought it from - got a refund and promptly bought a drill with the money!

Nowadays - I don't like to be asked what I would like - I like the element of surprise and it adds to the excitement.

Many years ago, my ex used to always give me £25 to buy myself a gift, but never offered any extra housekeeping to buy the festive food, or presents for the children. I wasnt working at the time, until the youngest started school, and christmas was always a finacial struggle for me, especially as parents and aunts and uncles would decend on us over the holiday and expect to be fed. Needless to say, my own pressie money always got swallowed up into the housekeeping budget, and January was always a 'cheap as possible' meal time, with lots of jacket spuds, egg and chips, beans on toast kind of meals. The worst part was though that i got nagged at as to why I hadnt bought my pressie with the money, and why I was always feeling stressed, tired and depressed over the festive season. I just felt that for me, it was everyone else taking without giving, the worst offenders being parents and aunts and uncles who could well afford to chip in a bit towards the food and drink they consumed, but they never offered a penny, nor did we get invited back to their place.

Luckily I dug myself out of this situation when I went back to work Nursing on shifts, which included working over the Christmas holidays, so they would have to fend for themselves, and at least I had my own cash then to relieve the stress of Chistmas.

Infact, after two years, I had decided I had had enough of my Ex and his ways, and we split and went our separate ways. Hes just gone through his 4th divorce, I have been happily married to my now OH for over 25 yrs.

I honestly dont think my parents gave it a thought as to how much of a financial struggle Christmas was for me back then, my mum was ill and I kept the peace for her sake, but if anyones visiting their children for Christmas this year, then please spare a thought to how much it has cost them to entertain you, and try and find a way to ease the finacial burden from them if you feel they are struggling to afford it.

Julia  

my OH is quite independent, if i'm not available and a fuse or plug needs changing she'll do it, if a picture needs hanging or even a tap washer needs replacing she'll do it.

all well and good you might think but she used to go into MY shed , use MY tools but rarely put them back and if she did they were never in the right place ,so come the time when i needed to use them it took me an age to find them

so a couple of years back i bought her her very own tool kit for christmas , complete with 2 different size  hammer's , a mallet, drill bits, screw drivers , pliers, metal tape measure, assorted spanners ,pincers and a small spirit level, plus a few other odds and sods all in their very own carrying case.

 her face was a picture on christmas morning

For the Mrs.... Perfume & sexy underwear , job done, never fails & not only will she smell great she,ll look great too !! Bingo !!

For a Bloke... Just ask him he,ll tell you, he dont need supprising.

THUMPER.

We decided this year to buy half a leisure battery each for Christmas.We have wanted another one for ages and just couldn't get round to it.We will still get each other a little surprise as well.