Husbands 40th birthday

teabody

How much is normal to spend? I don't want to combine my spend with in laws, family and so on either.....just something special from me.....but I have people who have suggested a watch, a time piece i.e a £1000 watch!!!! I really want it to be his best present ever....we have been together 15years and i am stuck. I normally spend between £50-£100....went over that perhaps before the mortgage and kids but I want him to be really impressed. Only thing is I am not sure what is reasonable. Help??? His birthday is in a weeks time.

Kynthia

I don't think there is a normal. It was my husband's 40th a fortnight ago and I wanted to make a big effort. I did ask if he wanted to go abroad somewhere but he wasn't fussed so I threw him a party. I invited friends and family and made it a retro kids party theme. I put in hours and hours of work for weeks, hired games for the garden, bought particular things needed that worked with the theme, did special decorations and really went to down on making a themed cake. That all cost a few hundred but I only spent £150 on his gift, which was a couple of lessons in something I knew he really wanted to do. He was really touched by all the effort I went to and the thoughtful touches that were about him and what he liked.

Perhaps if there was an expensive gift out there I knew he really really wanted then maybe I would have bought that instead. However there are so many gifts I've bought in the past that missed there mark or were a five minute wonder. So there was no point spending more for the sake of it.

So I guess my point is spend what you are happy to spend, but only if you're sure it's really wanted. Thought and effort are what makes someone feel special on their birthday, whether it involves a small or a large amount of money.

chinadolly_

What you need to know is that the most important gift is the one that you put the most effort into. It can cost £1 or £500, as long as it's clear that you've put effort into it, and the fact that it's from you, then it'll be amazing! You could get someone to look after your kids and take him out for dinner to his favourite restaurant, treat him to a few surprise presents, have a lovely night alone with him... Or you could buy a weekend away (if that's possible with work/kids etc), or you could buy him something that you know will mean a lot to him whether it costs £50 or £200 it's really up to you. He loves you and you love him, that's all that matters.

teabody

Thank you all. Have settled on one thing that I think he might like so will take a look this week....I also plan to do the weekend away with him. He knows thats the idea but does not have a clue where/when. I have not booked anything yet so will have to work hard on that too!