I hope I'm never as hard to buy a gift for as my dad is. Many older men I know are like this, although I'd say he's probably been in that state for longer than anyone I know. The first hitch is that if he sees something he wants, he usually just buys it for himself. The second, which is the trait I'd like to prevent in my own life, is he just doesn't do much anymore. No sports or hobbies, at least the kind that spawn gift ideas.
It's a delimma we face three times a year: Christmas, Father's Day, and his birthday (which was this month). One year we got so desperate that for both my father and hers, we sprung the news on them that the Petite Filet was pregnant. Their Father's Day cards contained copies of the first sonogram. Now, we were definitely ready to grow our little family, and the Cutlet was a long-planned addition. But part of the reason then was the time was so we wouldn't have to stress out over gifts. Um, sure.
Does anyone else have this problem, particularly with one person? Sure, it's the thought that counts. But thoughts are a little harder to wrap. We're not looking to bust the piggy bank, after all, so cheap and creative is a weapon we're willing to use. Just don't have any ammo left after years of cheap and creative, mixed in with expensive and semi-thoughtful. Any successful ideas would be more than entertained here.
There are bigger problems in the world, I know, but this problem has been around a long long time. It predates the hole in the ozone.
Oh, and if you were curious at all (you probably weren't), I like bicycling, kayaking, hiking, camping, collecting interesting pocketknives, traveling, reading things, photography and iTunes gift cards in any denomination. I'm also young enough that I don't have every conceivable tool I think I "need." Notwithstanding my previous entry, I also enjoy an occasional microbrew. Only 56 shopping days left to Christmas, y'all!
My dad is the same way, except that I tend to get him gardening stuff because that's the only thing I know that he's interested in. Other than that, I try to by him hipper clothes that he typically wears, or frames with pictures of his grandkids!
NO, I have this problem as well, with my beloved grandparents. They have taken care of me for years, and when I want to show them how much I care, and give THAT great gift, I fail. They love the hot cocoa set, of course, but it's never quiet right. They again, have no hobbies anymore, and they buy the things that they want. This year, I'm doing balnket shopping...I'm getting Key West bottles of wine, and they are serving as fancy stocking stuffers, as well my gift. THANK U SANTA! We have all adults, so no worries! This takes some of the pressure off, and it seems exotic to them. Good luck!
I totally have the same problem with my dad. He usually end up getting a lot of Sears gift cards (because any too he would want is too expensive for us to buy him but the card helps) and Snickers bars. Sometimes we get him (at his request) socks, undershirts, and underwear, but that is about it. Oh maybe one of us kids will suprise him with a new bathrobe he'll never wear or some shirts that he will wear that day and never again (because what he has is good enough and he doesn't need any new ones).
My dad is the kind of guy that doesn't really want anything but to spend time with his family. Well, he always asked for "a clean house and no fighting" but with 4 kids, all 2 years apart, there was just no way that was ever goign ot happen unless he sent us each off to a different relative's house.
Last year my sister and I decided to take him downtown (we live about 40 minutes from downtown Chicago) to any museum he wanted on any day he wanted. Dad picked a museum on the day it was free (puposely), and then he insisted on paying for everything all day long, except he let us buy his morning cup of coffee on the way there.
At the end of the day he told us that it was the best Christmas gift he had ever gotten and it only cost us about $1.50. It was also one of the best days I've ever had.
My point is that I hear ya. I totally understand how difficult a person can be to buy for. If only my dad played golf or wore ties, the gift pool would runneth over. But, alas, he is the most difficult man in the world to shkop for and I love him to death. At the end of the day, he is happy with no other gift than spending time with his kids.
I do think that the gift of time it the most precious of all.
My sister often complains that I'm difficult to buy gifts for. I'm not sure why, but I do feel bad about it. Like I did something to make her life difficult.
Mmm. Yes. Some consider gift certificates to be a cop-out. They are a great invention. On the premise that... someday, maybe, possibly, potentialy... the recipient might get off their butt and use a movie theatre certificate.
My father only wears one kind of sock that's hard to find. Plus he gets really insulted when he receives something in an Extra-Large. He only wears size L boxers even though mom says the waist band snaps. His teenage nickname used to be "Slim." Tell yourself it's not about you. How else is there to shop for someone in denial?