The one year I got Dad's present right
My dad is an absolute horror to buy for, whatever any of us think of he is almost guaranteed to buy himself within a few days of the idea occurring.

However a few years ago I had the brainwave of buying him one of those new fangled DAB radios and feeling rather pleased with the idea I went and picked one up about a fortnight before Christmas. Happily the idea of buying himself one hadn't seemed to come to him so I pleaced the carefully wrapped present under the tree feeling quite smug that this year would finally be the one where I got it right for once.

Cut to Christmas morning and I come downstairs to see the radio playing away on top of the fridge, as you might guess this puzzled me, I know that I'd slept quite late but it would be very out of character for him to open my present when I wasn't up yet. Sure enough I peered into the front room and there in all its shiny glory was my present still under the tree.

Walking back into the kitchen I said as casually as I could manage
"New radio Dad?"
"oh, yes. I got it yesterday. Look at all this stuff it can do" he said showing me the various features. Before he could go into much detail and barely containing my ire I just straight out asked him quite what the fuck he thought he was doing buying himself something like that on Christmas Eve.
"Oh" he said, "I guess that might not have been the best idea"
At least he kept the receipt for his and could return it and I knew that even if he'd nearly killed the plan I had for once been able to get him exactly what he wanted.
(bill, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 2:53, 2 replies)

This is exactly why
there needs to be a rule that you can't buy yourself presents within a month of Christmas or birthdays
(xanthine, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 6:31, closed)

my girlfriend repeatedly tells me off for this
apparently she compiles a list of things that I express an interest in over the year and will select from it. I'm not allowed to buy things in the couple of months before christmas.

last year I wanted this coat, and my gf had been pretending really hard she didn't like it so I wouldn't buy it and it'd be a surprise. I spoiled that for her, by being intent on buying it. She had to spill the beans.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 9:49, closed)