How do you buy for the man (or woman) who has everything?

I can not buy presents for my husband. I search for weeks (ok, days) for the perfect present. Then I give up and spend a stressful few hours running through every local shopping centre to find something. I then I take the purchases home, unpack them on the table and hit myself in the head a few times while wondering what I was thinking.

I know it can't just be me. My husband is notoriously difficult to buy for. If there is a new electronic device released, he'll walk into the house that evening playing with it. If he takes up a hobby, he'll have bought everything associated with it within 2 hours of taking it up (never to look at it again). If he needs jeans, he'll buy 3 pairs on the way home. He stopped wearing aftershave (much to my disappointment) and doesn't like cufflinks anymore. WHY!!!!

On his birthdays or Christmas I can see him looking at his pile of presents with a distinct lack of excitement. As he unwraps them, he smiles and says the right things and then pulls them in a 'special place', the place that is never to be looked at again and collects dust. So, now I tend to look at presents that I wouldn't mind inheriting when they land on that pile. Is that wrong?

Today I am wrapping a pile of disappointing presents. I really hope something hits the mark and is a winner. Do you have any problems finding your partner gifts.

I am so easy to buy for, any real piece of jewellery will always get a genuine smile.

How is your partner to buy for?

The Kris Kringle Rule breakers

You know the moment everyone is standing around the Christmas tree and you send in the little children to pick up present and deliver it to the named person? The recipient smiles, unwraps gift and discovers a pretty scarf and colourful bracelets, puts them on, and everyone coos how pretty she looks. She feels special and thanks her mystery gift giver.

The next gift is handed out to a smiling guest, he receives a box of international beers. He gives a manly laugh and a quiet, embarrassed thank you. The person opens a giant water pistol. Everyone is smiling, happy and joking.

Next gift, a lady receives a pretty wrapped gift, giggles and comments on wrapping, opens it to discover an iPad3. Silence.....what the???? She is happy, confused and embarrassed. She doesn't know who this mysterious gift giver is, but hopes that they aren't the receiver of her homemade toilet roll cover and rocky road, or even worse, some weird-arsed stalker. Awkward!!

The other guests are now looking at their scarf, water pistol, beer etc., wondering how they can google on it. They are now disappointed with their thoughtfully picked gifts.

I have no problem with Secret Santas or Kris Kringles, I fact I love them. I love that you have to put your energy into one special person. This may be a person you might not have put so much thought into previously. My problem is when people don't follow the Kris Kringle rules.

My husband completely disagrees with me on this.  Is it ok to buy someone a really expensive secret santa when a price limit has been set?

Signed,
The Grinch