Surviving Christmas

Christmas shopping for your husband can be the most difficult part of the holiday season. This can happen for a number of reasons.

 First of all you may feel added stress to find a perfect gift for your husband. If you have been married to your husband for a number of years you may also have difficulty Christmas shopping for him because you may feel like you have already bought him everything.

This article will offer some useful tips for Christmas shopping for your husband which should make the process easier.


Considering your husband's interests and hobbies is one way to make Christmas shopping for him easier.


For example, if he recently started golfing and is still renting golf clubs you could consider purchasing a golf bag for him and giving him a gift certificate to purchase a set of golf clubs to fill the bag.

Or if he recently started running, you might consider items which would make his run more enjoyable. You might purchase an MP3 player which is designed to be worn on an armband while running or a speed and distance monitor which tracks his mileage and his pace throughout his workout.


Another useful tip for Christmas shopping for your husband is to not be afraid to repeat gifts you have given him the past.

You might normally consider purchasing a bottle of cologne for him for Christmas and then decide against it because you realize you gave him a bottle of cologne for Christmas two years ago.

This is very common because many people think it is boring to give the same gift more than once but it is not always a bad idea.


Of course, these items are almost cliche.


Ladies - I'm going to tell you the same thing I told your husbands in another post. ASK.


There are countless catalogs falling off that catch-all table - have him look through them and circle a bunch of things he would like to have.

You probably already know sizes for things like clothing and shoes etc - but if you don't know them off-hand they should already be located in your Christmas Notebook on the Christmas Gifts List.


If you haven't got one, get over to the downloads page and take a look - for the little bit of time required to put this together, it will save you dozens of hours and potentially hundreds of dollars throughout the year, every year.


If hubby is a sports fan, you have it made. There isn't a team out there that has not lost sleep on merchandising, so take advantage of it.

You can find everything from hats and scarves to cocktail glasses, blankets and car decals. But, this is a last resort for the uncreative and harried.

He might love it, but you are capable of far better things! If you must go the sports route because he can't live without watching his favorite team, get him a special package deal for Sport Clips to go with whatever memorabilia you purchase!


Also, items like money clips, cologne and after-shave - these should be reserved for stocking stuffers. You are probably in the medicine cabinet or cleaning the bedroom frequently enough to know what he prefers in this area, so these items are no-brainers.

Dump the idea of a tie if he doesn't need one for business or work, too.


I had great success one year when I decided my husband's gift would be an all-expense-paid mini-vacation.

I took him out to dinner and a show the day AFTER Christmas, but instead of returning home, we hit the snazziest local hotel I could afford for three days of no kids, no grand-kids and no interruptions...


I had the hotel put special chocolates on the bed and went before-hand with "a bottle" and two specially purchased cocktail glasses, a couple nice snack trays (prepared before Christmas), a plate of Christmas cookies and a couple movies we both enjoy - and had them waiting in the room when we arrived.


I also packed ahead and had our clothes and swim suits in the drawer waiting. We got couples massages, we got room service, we thoroughly enjoyed the pool and hot tub - and we had a ball.


If you plan ahead, you might ask if you can drop off the items for the hotel staff to put in the room rather than having to do it yourself, but I must confess...

It was rather a last minute idea I had, and so I wound up doing the work part myself. It was successful beyond my dreams, though - and so well worth the effort!


BTW - hotel staff usually LOVES this sort of thing... If you slip off to the powder room and call ahead giving them an ETA, they will greet you at the door, make a big fuss and usher you up to your room. Just don't forget to leave nice tips so they remember and do the same next time, lol!


I think it was a hit not because guys actually dream of these things, but because I did something for him that normally he would want to do for me. (But - most guys are afraid to do things like this for their wives. For us gals, we have just scored the biggest "Brownie points" of our married lives!).


We forget sometimes that men enjoy being pampered and cared for just as much as we do! They ain't never gonna tell you this, ladies - just consider it some words of wisdom from Grandma...


Finally, if you simply cannot decide what to get your husband for Christmas, it is acceptable to ask him what he wants. Have him make a list of several items he wants and plan on purchasing a few items from the list as well as a few surprises.

Many Blessings
GrannySue


Ok, guys!! Now's not the time to be shy. Let the ladies here know what some of your favorite presents have been so we get some more ideas rolling!!! Or, post what you'd like to get but haven't asked for (keep it "Rated G" or "PG" please)   ;-)