New Boyfriend - 40th Birthday

Debs0778

Hi All

I'm just after some help and ideas please

I'm in a new relationship (2 months) although already knew my boyfriend before we started seeing eachother. It's his 40th birthday in 2 weeks and I have no clue what to get him at all.

Obviously as its a new relationship I don't want to go too over the top but feel I still need to do something special or get him a really nice gift. I've been single for several years so don't really know how I should tackle this short of speaking to him to ask - I think a "surprise" would be nicer tho

Thanks
Debbie

saram613

Hi Debbie

do you have an amount in mind you want to spend?

How about a nice bottle of wine if he's a wine lover? You could spend maybe £10 on a decent bottle or if you want to spend a little more and with it being his 40th how about a bottle of champagne?

Or take him out to dinner for his birthday and pay for that?

Sara

Debs0778

I don't really have an amount in mind - I don't know how much I should be spending on this type of thing.

I cant afford to go mad but could spend up to £150 or £200. Only idea I have is a watch but don't know if that'll seem too much too soon or even what his taste would be

Nightmare............

moromir

Do you have any little 'in jokes'/past conversations you could utilise? I'm pretty much in the same position as you, although we're younger and I have the advantage that my birthday is two weeks before his so I can see how the land lies!

For example mr m has a million sets of different keys for work, house, car, gate to get car out, etc and we had a conversation about how much easier it would be to have one of those climbing clips so he can pull sets on and off much easier, so I've got him one of those just as a 'little' present (obv gonna get him some other things) but that should bring a smile.

I think I'd go 'thought' over 'cost' at the moment, if mr m bought me something that cost £150-200 I think I'd freak out and I couldn't guarantee it would be the good kind of freaking out!

verytired

A nice watch? A new suit? A games console?

A holiday? A long weekend in a hotel somewhere?

mum2one

Although the idea of a watch is a lovely idea, and the amount that you have avaialable, just thinking although its from the heart, its a lot to spend, and also turning the tables around, I'm 40 next yr, and if someone I was going out with spent that much, although it would be a lovely gift, I'd feel embarrased at the amount.

Me personally I would go for a cheaper option. maybe a nice bottle of wine, and maybe something from the year he wasborn, that 1970, still on old coinage, so maybe worth looking on ebay, and get a keyring, cuff links (if he wears them), from the year he was born, its still a personal present, but would be more asit would relate to the year he was born.

The other thing with the watch (sorry I don't mean to offend), just thinking the watch he's wearing at the moment may be a watch that was brought for an ocassion, or relates to something, or an event, and there may be an emotional attachement. I still have the gold watch from my 21st, wear ocassionaly, and my main watch I had for my 30th a designer watch, there sentiemental.

spike7451

Get him a tee shirt made saying "Life Begins At Forty" on the front & on the back "Birthday Stud".Then if he likes a certain resturant like,I dunno,Pizza Hut,(Have a look in the eating out forum for ideas)arrange for a group of friends to meet you's there for a night out.ensuring he's wearing the tee shirt.
As for a main present,does he have any hobbies?

richardvc

Awkward being a new relationship etc so rather than a physical gift why not take both of you on a day out - I've no idea where you live but £150 can get you a huge amount of 'day out' - train to London, dinner in Soho* and the cinema in Leicester Square followed by a couple of beers - a nice day out for both of you (out of your £150) without the difficulty of a gift ie watch etc

*Use MSE offers !!

skypie123_2

As its a new relationship I would bake him a cake or do something like that. Its small but personal.

saram613

i have to agree with it being a new relationship i would not look at buying any thing too personal or expensive (it may back fire on you if he thinks you've gone overboard..)

A day out where you treat him, dinner out in a nice restaurant, anything that shows you care rather than 'how much' you care i think is the right road to go down.

Sara

Odette

Yeah I agree with some of the above about not going too OTT as it might be a little embarrasing.

If it was me I would take him out for a meal maybe (if you are really into spending £200 maybe a meal and a hotel?) and get him a little silly or meaningful something of price up to £30.

That way he has something to remember and tresure and you both get to exprience a special celebration for his birthday (and possibly a dirty weekend/night! )