Need an inexpensive birthday for my wife

Rockitdog

Banned
My wife of 7 years is turing 30 on Friday and we are especially strapped for cash this year. Looking for some cool/ unique & inexpensive gift ideas for her. I don't have a lot of time to make anything so thats out of the question. We have 2 girls (4 yrs & 6 mos) so taking her out isn't an option either. Any ideas...?
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
You posted a week ago that you've decided not to sell your two APDs. Sell one, get her something, buy one when you have more cash.
 

sapient007

Semi-Pro
My wife of 7 years is turing 30 on Friday and we are especially strapped for cash this year. Looking for some cool/ unique & inexpensive gift ideas for her. I don't have a lot of time to make anything so thats out of the question. We have 2 girls (4 yrs & 6 mos) so taking her out isn't an option either. Any ideas...?

i'm guessing it's a federer type of wedding.
 

Rockitdog

Banned
You posted a week ago that you've decided not to sell your two APDs. Sell one, get her something, buy one when you have more cash.

Whoa, whoa, whoa... let's not get carried away here. I have money to buy a gift just not something expensive. Regardless, I still am looking for ideas of which I have zero right now....
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
Perhaps if you specified how much you want to spend rather than use meaningless words like "inexpensive" people could make suggestions.
 

statto

Professional
Give her some "Rockitdog love tokens" she can redeem as required.



BTW, if you actually do this don't expect any to be redeemed for a long time.
 

SlapShot

Hall of Fame
Being a hobby photographer, I would get some photos of the kids and have them printed and nicely framed at a local photo store.
 

Rockitdog

Banned
Perhaps if you specified how much you want to spend rather than use meaningless words like "inexpensive" people could make suggestions.

Less than $50

Give her some "Rockitdog love tokens" she can redeem as required.



BTW, if you actually do this don't expect any to be redeemed for a long time.

I can see the value in them, if only she could as well ;)

Being a hobby photographer, I would get some photos of the kids and have them printed and nicely framed at a local photo store.

We just got back from Disney World about 3 weeks ago and I was able to snag a frame that says "our Disney vacation" so I'm going to put some pics from the trip in there (present from the kids) :)
 

cluckcluck

Hall of Fame
Buy her a can of tennis balls.
Make her a nice dinner.
Give her a massage.
Tattoo her name on your butt.
We need to know what kind of person she is!
 

gopokes

Rookie
Make up a coupon book for her with things like a quality massage, 1 late night Chinese food run, 1 bathroom cleaning, a movie night where she chooses the movie, etc - It's usually the little things that mean the most to us...Even when $$$ isn't tight. Good Luck!
 

r2473

G.O.A.T.
Some days after, just tell her you forgot and that birthdays don't mean much anyway. That won't cost you a thing.
 

CaptainInsano

New User
Being a hobby photographer, I would get some photos of the kids and have them printed and nicely framed at a local photo store.

Make her a nice dinner.

There you go. Women like the genuine thought and effort that goes into gifts. Seeing you have little girls, I would throw in you take care of the house for the day for her. So:
- nicely framed pictures of the family
- you "cook" dinner with bottle of wine (simple food present well makes all the difference)
- do her house chores so she can relax
 

Rockitdog

Banned
How about a gift card from Department stores?

She comes from a family where GCs are considered a bad gift because its didn't take any thought, which couldn't be more opposite from my perpective.

^^^^ How about just cash?

Thats like taking money out of our checking account and giving it to her, not really a gift idea. Again, I like cash, she just like an actual gift.
 

Polaris

Hall of Fame
Would she like something science-y that she can share with the kids? In that case, the entire DVD set of Planet Earth is available now for close to $50. It is amazing if she is into that sort of thing.

If she is in a job, how about a digital photo-frame (with some good family pictures that can be updated from time to time) that she can put on her work table?
 

Rockitdog

Banned
OK about my wife.... she's a teacher, likes to read (loves Nicolas Sparks type books), just got an ipod touch, loves to sleep and drink slushies. TV/ internet addict too.
 

cluckcluck

Hall of Fame
OK about my wife.... she's a teacher, likes to read (loves Nicolas Sparks type books), just got an ipod touch, loves to sleep and drink slushies. TV/ internet addict too.

Ok, that's a good start. Perhaps a wireless keyboard/mouse? A giftcard to itunes? A book light? A new pillow? A slushie machine?
 
if you're so worried stop being cheap and raise the maximum of 50 bucks to like 100 and take her to a dinner with some singing violin people at chilis or something i dont know.

STop BEING CHEAP

sry if i sound mean, its just that when you love someone money shouldnt be a problem

take that quote any way you like.
 

Tina

Banned
OK about my wife.... she's a teacher, likes to read (loves Nicolas Sparks type books), just got an ipod touch, loves to sleep and drink slushies. TV/ internet addict too.

Kindle is the best gift for a reader.:) All the best.
 

CanadianChic

Hall of Fame
sry if i sound mean, its just that when you love someone money shouldnt be a problem

If you love someone, looks shouldn't be a problem either. Aren't you the same poster complaining about not being able to get a "hot" chick? At least this man is married and happy by the sounds of it so he must be doing something right.

Take that quote any way you like.
 

Tina

Banned
If you love someone, looks shouldn't be a problem either. Aren't you the same poster complaining about not being able to get a "hot" chick? At least this man is married and happy by the sounds of it so he must be doing something right.

Take that quote any way you like.

Hey CC, I do realize some married men here like to complain about their wives. Or I should say married men enjoy flirting with single women like us. What's going on here?
 

CanadianChic

Hall of Fame
Haha. I don't care if he spends time on line (in fact, after a few years we'll probably be pushing them into the computer room) but everything in moderation. I don't want a man who watches sports all day every day either.


As for the thread topic: Do you have any family that lives in town? I suggest taking the kids to a relative's for the evening and either cooking for her or ordering in some Chinese (or other relatively inexpensive equivalent), renting all the Nickolas Sparks movies the store carries (and watching them without complaint) and then draw her a bath, open a bottle of wine and see where the night leads......

Or....if you have a BBQ, why not throw her a surprise party? Invite some family, friends and colleagues, everyone can bring their own booze and meat. Just whip up a few salads and buy some buns, paperware and mix and it's a backyard celebration. People will more than likely bring a gift and you come out singing like a canary (after you clean up afterwards). There ya go. Two excellent suggestions that take little money and effort but will show you care.
 
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Tina

Banned
CC,

In addition to that, What's your perception about Fedance at TTW?

PS. If you don't mind answering ^_^.
 

Rockitdog

Banned
Haha. I don't care if he spends time on line (in fact, after a few years we'll probably be pushing them into the computer room) but everything in moderation. I don't want a man who watches sports all day every day either.


As for the thread topic: Do you have any family that lives in town? I suggest taking the kids to a relative's for the evening and either cooking for her or ordering in some Chinese (or other relatively inexpensive equivalent), renting all the Nickolas Sparks movies the store carries (and watching them without complaint) and then draw her a bath, open a bottle of wine and see where the night leads......

Or....if you have a BBQ, why not throw her a surprise party? Invite some family, friends and colleagues, everyone can bring their own booze and meat. Just whip up a few salads and buy some buns, paperware and mix and it's a backyard celebration. People will more than likely bring a gift and you come out singing like a canary (after you clean up afterwards). There ya go. Two excellent suggestions that take little money and effort but will show you care.

Thanks for the suggestions. Both our families actually live in town but our daughters are both having sleep issues right now so the thought of either them sleeping at someone's house or have someone come over to watch our kids is not good at the moment. I like the BBQ idea however we live in a townhouse and do have a decent size deck but its supposed to rain all weekend and without people beging able to go outside and chill on the deck we are basically screwed with more than 6 people in our house :|

As for watching Nicolas Sparks movies.... I'd rather watch paint dry ;)

I am working with the bath idea, got a couple of ideas brewing there...maybe a whole theme around the bath.
 

Rockitdog

Banned
if you're so worried stop being cheap and raise the maximum of 50 bucks to like 100 and take her to a dinner with some singing violin people at chilis or something i dont know.

STop BEING CHEAP

sry if i sound mean, its just that when you love someone money shouldnt be a problem

take that quote any way you like.


Its not called being cheap, its called living within your means a not driving yourself into debt. I'm guessing your probably under 25, still living with your folks and haven't a clue what its like being on your own and having to pay your own way without the help of family. Someday you'll know what I mean.

Kindle is the best gift for a reader.:) All the best.

Isn't Kindle like $200 or $300?
 

MAX PLY

Hall of Fame
If the two of you are watching your dollars, I assume her expectations for an expensive gift don't exist anyway. Instead, use your resources to make her feel special on her special day. Start her day with a nice card (make it yourself) and a light breakfast for her in the morning and end it with a nice dinner (that you prepare) and some alone time with her in the evening (if you have kids, depending on their ages, you can forgo the alone time and have them participate or leave them with a sitter). You could do your own flower arrangement by buying flowers at a Trader Joes (if you have one nearby) which is significantly less expensive than a florist plus it would have your touch. Finally, write her a heartfelt note expressing how important she is to you and give her a coupon for a "Free Wish." You should be able to do this with equity from your heart, head and skillset and not dent your wallet too bad. Good luck.
 
T

TennisandMusic

Guest
So your wife is turning 30, and you are turning to forum posters to pick a better gift than you can? Come on man, how well do you know your own wife vs. us?

30 is a "milestone" so get her something that shows her what she means to you. How could anyone here possibly pick that out? Don't get her DVD's or an ebook reader...make her feel like she's your cherished wife!

I really don't see how anyone here can help you with that.
 

aceX

Hall of Fame
Cook the kids their regular dinner and then send them to bed say (8ish).

Cook a nice meal (doesn't need to be gourmet - just a nice pasta dish or your wifes fav. will do). Use the nice cutlery/crockery. Buy some flowers and give them to her. Put on some quiet instrumental music. Light some candles. Nice bottle of wine. Make it as romantic as possible. Set up some candles in the bedroom and/or bathroom.

Other "gifts" might be nice, but she'll remember this one for months.
 

Tina

Banned
Cook a nice meal (doesn't need to be gourmet - just a nice pasta dish or your wifes fav. will do). Use the nice cutlery/crockery. Buy some flowers and give them to her. Put on some quiet instrumental music. Light some candles. Nice bottle of wine. Make it as romantic as possible. Set up some candles in the bedroom and/or bathroom.

Other "gifts" might be nice, but she'll remember this one for months.

Please let me know if you are still singe:)
 

TourTenor

Professional
Schedule an appointment for her with Dr. Fedace for a session.
Now Joel, there are some good suggestions by other posters here. He didn't say anything about wanting to change her sexual orientation. :-? And, even if he wanted to ... a session with a "Standford" grad is sure to run more than $50.
 

Rockitdog

Banned
So your wife is turning 30, and you are turning to forum posters to pick a better gift than you can? Come on man, how well do you know your own wife vs. us?

30 is a "milestone" so get her something that shows her what she means to you. How could anyone here possibly pick that out? Don't get her DVD's or an ebook reader...make her feel like she's your cherished wife!

I really don't see how anyone here can help you with that.

I never meant for people to tell me what to buy my wife. It was more of looking for ideas that wouldn't cost a ton that I hadn't already thought of. I have completed my search for a gift and am feeling good about it- kept it at a reasonable cost but the ideas that were thrown out were helpful (some weren't).

Thanks to all for the input... much appreciated!
 
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