Elizabeth Bernstein writes about Xmas (note not, Holiday) gift giving:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703954904574595872903137030.html. Essentially, women are very difficult to gage in terms of what to give while men are absolute nitwits when it comes to what to do this time of year. I've whittled it down a little through the years, and try to laser the process to a few stores to get it over with while coming up with something that will at least keep me out of the guest bedroom. Jewelry is usually a slam dunk. What typically happens is that Mrs. Bulba will swing by the jewelry store and let a certain salesperson know what she likes. Then, Mr. Bulba will stop by and will be informed that Mrs. Bulba just happened to have been by the store and saw some things she liked (it's sort of like Balkan diplomacy--all known subterfuge). Then, it's simply up to whether Mr. Bulba feels like shelling out for some shiny object with no utility value other than the potential flushing of body fluids should the house by empty of teenagers. She's actually pretty easy to buy for and not the kind to complain about gifts: she came from a big family and grew up appreciating whatever she received. I'll also get her some workout togs and that kind of stuff, nothing too out of the ordinary. On the other hand, I'm difficult to buy for, mainly because like most guys, I don't really need anything; whatever I need I usually pick up at that time. While well meaning, I've found that females are often as out to lunch as much as men are when it comes to buying gifts. If the guy is a golfer, he'll get all sorts of absurd and useless golf related shit and will have to bravely smile before consigning the worthless doohickey to the closet of no return. Golf balls are always a very useful gift for a golfer if they're the balls the guy plays. A flashlight is sort of a safe choice--most guys like flashlights even though they currently have at least twenty, none of which they can find whenever they're needed. Knives are good, mostly for the same reason. Pajamas--never. I guess gift cards are fine, the problems being that they are easily lost and mean that the guy will have to actually go shopping in order to use them. Amazon.com has benefited greatly from this--you can buy a lot of stuff from them beyond just books, it's shipped efficiently to you and you'll usually come away with something useful. Of course, the fundamental problem with your wife buying you gifts is that she's most often doing it with your money. Just great, honey. I really, really like those house shoes, especially knowing that they cost me fifty bucks and I'll never wear 'em. Merry Christmas.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703954904574595872903137030.html. Essentially, women are very difficult to gage in terms of what to give while men are absolute nitwits when it comes to what to do this time of year. I've whittled it down a little through the years, and try to laser the process to a few stores to get it over with while coming up with something that will at least keep me out of the guest bedroom. Jewelry is usually a slam dunk. What typically happens is that Mrs. Bulba will swing by the jewelry store and let a certain salesperson know what she likes. Then, Mr. Bulba will stop by and will be informed that Mrs. Bulba just happened to have been by the store and saw some things she liked (it's sort of like Balkan diplomacy--all known subterfuge). Then, it's simply up to whether Mr. Bulba feels like shelling out for some shiny object with no utility value other than the potential flushing of body fluids should the house by empty of teenagers. She's actually pretty easy to buy for and not the kind to complain about gifts: she came from a big family and grew up appreciating whatever she received. I'll also get her some workout togs and that kind of stuff, nothing too out of the ordinary. On the other hand, I'm difficult to buy for, mainly because like most guys, I don't really need anything; whatever I need I usually pick up at that time. While well meaning, I've found that females are often as out to lunch as much as men are when it comes to buying gifts. If the guy is a golfer, he'll get all sorts of absurd and useless golf related shit and will have to bravely smile before consigning the worthless doohickey to the closet of no return. Golf balls are always a very useful gift for a golfer if they're the balls the guy plays. A flashlight is sort of a safe choice--most guys like flashlights even though they currently have at least twenty, none of which they can find whenever they're needed. Knives are good, mostly for the same reason. Pajamas--never. I guess gift cards are fine, the problems being that they are easily lost and mean that the guy will have to actually go shopping in order to use them. Amazon.com has benefited greatly from this--you can buy a lot of stuff from them beyond just books, it's shipped efficiently to you and you'll usually come away with something useful. Of course, the fundamental problem with your wife buying you gifts is that she's most often doing it with your money. Just great, honey. I really, really like those house shoes, especially knowing that they cost me fifty bucks and I'll never wear 'em. Merry Christmas.
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