Christmas presents for significant others

[ThetaLove]

I know that Christmas isn't all about presents (at least I don't think of it that way) or about how much you should spend on presents.
But now for my question...
How much do you spend on your significant other for a present (and how long have you been together)?

I have a few things for him, but I would feel odd if I only spend a little and he goes out of his way and spends a ton. Although he would understand, b/c I'm on a limited budget and he has a bit more funds to work with.

[Cardinal026]

I would definitely say that this will vary from couple to couple. I learned a long time ago that since my bf makes so much more than I do, that I will never be able to spoil him as much as he does, so I often go the more creative route...something nice, sometimes a watch or an xbox game he'd been eyeing, and then a framed scrapbook-y page and so on. Three years ago I was strapped for cash around christmas and made up my own "12 days of christmas" song and spread out his presents every other week after christmas. He liked it that year, because even though the presents got smaller as I had to find things that I could by 10, 11, 12 of, it was nice because he was getting surprised long after the holiday...I had just given him my version of the song on christmas. Its a little late in the season now, but last year I sewed one of the Bucilla christmas stockings, and gave him the stocking with little presents inside it.

They look like this:

[Glitter650]

Originally Posted by Cardinal026

They look like this:

My grandmother made everyone in the immediate family one of these a few years ago, and makes them for every new baby... mine looks exactly like the one you posted. I'm getting the BF a ski pass for a resort in Tahoe X mas...

[PhoenixAzul]

Since BF and I are going back to Ireland in a few weeks, we're trying to keep our spending in line. He's really wanted an armband for his Ipod so he can use it when he trains, so I got him that, a book on roadside americana (he's obsessed), and I'm knitting him a scarf since he lost the last one I made for him!

We've been together 5 years and some change.

[GeekyPenguin]

I bought mine Packers/Vikings tickets. They were a combination anniversary/Christmas present because I am a broke student.

[cutie_cat_4ever]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

and I'm knitting him a scarf since he lost the last one I made for him!

Oh dear, I was just gonna say that nothing beats than making a lovely scarf for your dear (though don't be like me, who started off with 18 stiches, than 19, than 21 and back to 19....needless to say, it was a really interesting looking scarf ...but it was for my ex that time) For this year I'm so busy with work that I couldn't make one for my bf of one year. So I'm gonna give him some nice clean boxers and an H2O shaving kit. I tend to go a little pratical

[ThetaLove]

Thanks everyone! Those are all great ideas.

I was really wondering on a price range that would be practical for a grad student to spend on her boyfriend of a few months shy of a year. Now that I think of it, it really doesn't matter how much I spend... I know he will appreciate the gifts. I was thinking $ b/c for his birthday I got him a massage and took him out to dinner/drinks and I spent more than I wanted to. But he loved it all, so that is what matters. I just thought that in general, you should spend more $ on Christmas than birthdays.

What I have for his gifts so far are an LSU stocking that I'm getting a friend to help me make. I've had my nose in a book for far too long to learn how to sew. But I'm trying now. That is probably the gift (although small) that I've thought about the most. His living room is all LSU and we decorated a Christmas tree in purple and gold (obsessive, I know ). I was thinking about stuffing it with simple items like coffee grounds, candy, etc. And I'm getting him 2 new DVD's that he wanted. But I'm ordering them online and I feel like I'm getting off cheap.
Anyone else have a problem with buying for the man who has everything? I swear, they're were 5 items that I saw he needed/wanted, but he bought them for himself before I could get them!

[SWTXBelle]

I spent my morning researching gifts for my annual "Queen of Gifts" column!