For
Some reason every Christmas, the Missus spends a mini fortune on me (£250). Now this may sound good but those that have GF's/Wifes like this, know it can be a flaming nightmare, generally because you know that's the sort of money you have to spend on them back, especially if you are the higher earner. Also she will be skint afterwards and you will end up paying her share of the bills. This year i'm asking for fuck all and this time I mean it!!!
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 17:07, 11 replies)

Oh god yes
Personally I'd not "do" xmas for the adults, just the kiddies. But the wife insists on turning it into a battleground, just like you say. Birthdays, too.

One year, near the beginning of our relationship, she said "No, don't get me anything". Now, I knew this was WomanSpeak(tm) for "Spend an absolute fortune and all your waking hours trying to out-do the Sultan of Brunai in generosity and conspicuous consumption", but to try to make a point, I took it at face value. And got her nothing.

I'll let you guess how that went down.

Last xmas, I tried to be "more spontaneous", as frequently requested, by getting her a complete surprise gift. 10 months later I'm still in trouble for not getting anything on her list. *sigh*.
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 17:41, closed)

At some point in my relationship
I told the womank to 'Communicate with me properly as this is 100% essential in a relationship', meaning I'm not going to try and second guess whatever she says/be a mind reader when she doesn't say anything.

This is something every SINGLE RED BLOODED MALE MUST DO. It may seem illogical to them at the start as it would to anything that counters sadness with cookies and cream flavoured fatty semi solid sugar filled milk.

But as they realise, and as you point it out to them the issues they cause whenever they expect us to do the near impossible, you will wish you had the chat sooner.
(lemonadegame, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 21:58, closed)

Tried that, didn't help
I have lost count of the times I have tried to explain that, strangely, I am unable to read her mind and discover when the things she says actually mean the exact opposite.
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Thu 7 Oct 2010, 9:20, closed)

Last xmas, I tried to be "more spontaneous", as frequently requested, by getting her a complete surprise gift. 10 months later I'm still in trouble for not getting anything on her list.

Did you get her a socket set? Most chicks hate those.
(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Thu 7 Oct 2010, 6:54, closed)

Set a cap
It's the only way. Mind you I had a girlfriend who used to spend shitloads on my birthday presents so I waited until after she'd given me the $400 Alpine Star bike boots I'd hinted at before breaking up. If you had any idea of what a fucking nightmare bitch she'd been before that you'd agree it was an entirely appropriate thing to do. Rich brat treated everyone like shit and thought throwing money at things would fix everything.
( difficultchild, Thu 7 Oct 2010, 6:46, closed)

Can't buy me love.
(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Thu 7 Oct 2010, 6:54, closed)

Glad i'm not the only one!
Be strong guys, it's coming up to that time! I told her £50 limit last night, will she stick to that?.....Will she fuck!!It's impossible to argue with someone that thinks Christmas is a very magical time and still gets Santa sacks delivered from her mum. I'm not a total scrooge but when we have kids then the magic will return i'm sure.
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Thu 7 Oct 2010, 9:25, closed)

Oh fucking hell, tell me about it..
Women see the mind reading thing as a test for blokes, they don't understand that we're not capable of doing it, and prefer to be straightforward about these things.

It's not that I don't love her, I just want her to fucking SAY WHAT SHE WANTS.
( Finite "Aardvark sorted out my shit!" on, Thu 7 Oct 2010, 9:58, closed)

But if you love
her, you should know what she wants.

Disclaimer - The above line is the biggest pile of bollocks ever!
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Thu 7 Oct 2010, 10:09, closed)

The rules are simple:
Get what she says she wants: You've got it wrong.

Get what you think she really wants: You've got it wrong.

Ask her what she really wants, with a plea that she's really, totally honest: You've already got it wrong by asking, so it doesn't matter what you get.

Try to explain that, as adults, a small token of love should be enough and perhaps we should be mature enough to not need extravagant, ostentatious presents: Collect a duvet and set up home in the garden shed, you're not coming in again until late March.

</bitter>
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Thu 7 Oct 2010, 10:44, closed)

" i don't want nothing this year...I MEAN IT"
have u tried it? does it FUCK work because they she says "well, i can't get you NOTHING, so i've got you a little something". You then spend the next few weeks going mental trying to a) find the perfect present b) spend as much as possible
(TheManofScience, Thu 7 Oct 2010, 10:58, closed)