Gift Suggestions

Hazel_B

Ladies, can you help me out with some birthday gift suggestions for my BF?

1. Budget, I just bought a house and am still adjusting, what is a reasonable budget for a 35th bday gift?

2. Now the gift, suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

PaigeMcC

What kind of guy is BF?  Is he geeky?Sports enthusiast? Other?

Hazel_B

He's a real mix. Loves sports, particularly hockey and soccer, loves cars and tools, a foodie, film geek, history geek. There's a lot of stuff I could get him, but because it is his 35th I'm just not sure what to do.

catemeg

I didn't know 35 was a particularly big birthday.  I always thought after 21 (at least in the US), it was just the 10-year marked years that were considered big.

That said, only you can determine what your budget is.  What you're telling us is that you don't feel you have a lot of excess cash, due to recent purchases.  So figure out what you can afford to spend without a) not being able to pay bills, b) not feeling the squeeze financially, and c) think is reasonable.

We're big fans of gifts that involve time together - so getting a surprise hotel room for the night with a bottle of wine and a nice dinner out (a little stay-cation) tops a boxed movie set anyday.  If he was broke, I'd rather he make a nice dinner, set candles on the table, then take me to the beach for a moonlit walk, and then give me a nice massage.

  I'm sure whatever you get him, he'll love it!

Hazel_B

Well, I wouldn't say him being 35 is a huge deal but his family is coming from CA, so it just seems like a bigger deal this year than it did last year.

In terms of budget, I do have money to spend. However, he only recently got a better paying job, so up to this point we've kept gifts to a more modest budget. This is the first time budget is a little more open, aside from house stuff.

I do like the idea of spending time together gifts, we're just booked up until mid August right now so it's hard to really make things a surprise.

I found this, but I'm thinking season wise it'd be better as an Christmas gift. http://www.mainemadedogsleds.com/Recreationalkicksled.html

catemeg

Probably better for Christmas since he wouldn't get to use it until then, but it's cute!

I understand busy, but even one night?  Just getting a hotel near your house and making it special can really be a nice treat (trust me, BF did it last week and I was really impressed).  It doesn't take away from the busy schedule if you do it on a Friday or Saturday night.

Otherwise, just a nice card with a heartfelt message can turn an otherwise normal gift into amazing!  Or something homemade?  I made BF a Christmas ornament from the seashells we collected while on vacation in Costa Rica, and I think it's the best thing I've ever given him.

[Deleted User]

For my BF's last birthday, cash was definitely tight for both of us (and even more so now).  I made him his favorite dinner and surprised him with cupcakes that I displayed in a giant heart on the counter (waiting for him when he got to my house) and spelled out happy bday and had hearts iced all over them (he said he loved all the hearts) then we popped in a movie and sat on the couch cuddling all night.  He said it was one of the best birthdays he's ever had.