Anyone else struggle with keeping Christmas presents secret/hidden?

[Scarpozzi]

I'm struggling because my wife has been using my Amex account and I want to keep her Christmas presents hidden from the books since the statements can be accessed from the intrawebs when she makes payments, etc...

It really sucks because that means I'm paying cash for everything and I just paid cash for a few future vacation weeks (timeshare fees)...it's PB&J for lunch this month just to keep her from knowing what I got her. Sheesh...

 

[purbeast0]

Why not just ask her not to look at the statements for the month of December? Does she like to ruin surprises?

 

[sandorski]

So you're Jonesing for Hookers and Blow and want us to help you out?

No way Dude! This is on you and You alone!!

 

[Kaido]

We use separate AMEX Serve cards (reloadable debit cards) with weekly allowances, which is handy for birthdays & holidays because then you don't see the statements. Although I manage the Prime account, so anything that she gets off there I see, haha.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Why not just ask her not to look at the statements for the month of December? Does she like to ruin surprises?

She can't be trusted! I know she'd probably check. Personally, I like surprises, but it's rare that I want/need anything...so the holidays are typically more about me buying stuff for her and the kids and keeping some of the gifts to each hidden from her so it's more fun (for me).

Plus, I'm really good at surprises/keeping secrets. If we weren't so stingy with our credit, we'd have more cards, but alas, we only have one card and top-rated credit because we keep it in check.

 

[Cheesemoo]

thats why you and your spouse should each have a CC with no access fro.m teh spouse.

 

[scorpmatt]

Nope. I hide them so well that I have been known to forget about them.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'm just having trouble thinking of what to GET for christmas.

 

[scorpmatt]

I'm just having trouble thinking of what to GET for christmas.

Get or Give?

 

[highland145]

I'm just having trouble thinking of what to GET for christmas.

This. 20 years of marriage and we're in our early 50's. We don't need jack. She's given me 2 ideas and I made her order one of them (300 designs to choose from). For me, I just ordered stuff for the shop that I was going to buy anyway. I'll act surprised.

I'm the one that tracks the credit card and I have everything shipped to my office.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Not a problem at all. I buy stuff Dec 24th.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Get or Give?

Get to give. So, give.

This. 20 years of marriage and we're in our early 50's. We don't need jack. She's given me 2 ideas and I made her order one of them (300 designs to choose from). For me, I just ordered stuff for the shop that I was going to buy anyway. I'll act surprised.

Similar situation, yeah.

 

[local]

No problem trying to hide it. Amazon removed that burden from my shoulders for me as they decided to ignore my request to send it in an Amazon box so she knew what it was the moment it arrived.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Get to give. So, give.



Similar situation, yeah.

I just decided to go big....I got my wife a new iPhone. Hers is a few years old and she wants a better camera/screen/more storage...it was a no-brainer and she's too cheap to upgrade on her own. Also, she's been really active this year...we did 7 half marathons a few 10ks a triathlon and have a marathon scheduled in a month. So workout gear is typically much appreciated with her.

 

[purbeast0]

She can't be trusted! I know she'd probably check. Personally, I like surprises, but it's rare that I want/need anything...so the holidays are typically more about me buying stuff for her and the kids and keeping some of the gifts to each hidden from her so it's more fun (for me).

Plus, I'm really good at surprises/keeping secrets. If we weren't so stingy with our credit, we'd have more cards, but alas, we only have one card and top-rated credit because we keep it in check.

If you're good with credit, you could be getting tons of free flights and vacations by opening up more accounts, especially since you have a wife and can basically open double.

 

[nutxo]

I had 5 young children. I put a lock on my closet door. I told the kids if they managed to get into the closet they would replace the dead kid locked in there..