Anything he wants, he buys but will be offended if I buy nothing!
I’ve looked at going some place nice like Lady Elliot Island but it’s very expensive ($5k for 3 nights), renting a boat in the Whitsundays for a week (don’t know how the kids will cope). He’d love a Kokoda trip but he has no one to go with.
I’m useless with technology ideas.
He has a good watch.
Maybe a divorce?? Hahaha
I’ve got a month - help!!!
As long as it’s one each 😉
Sounds like a great bday present!
This landed me in big trouble on my 30th Birthday.
Show (comedy/music/theatre) and a hotel in the city followed by a lazy brunch would be a good present.
Yes, I’d love that but wondered if he would. I don’t want to get him something that really is for me.
happy wife happy life. If you're happy, odds are he is too?
From my experience it's hard to have a lazy brunch with checkout times.
Depends on your definition of what a lazt brunch is I guess.
If he is into cars something like
https://www.adrenaline.com.au/gold-coast/v8-experiences/v8-s…
https://www.adrenaline.com.au/gold-coast/v8-experiences/v8-s…
If your extremely into cars you wont care much for it. Seems like a corolla is faster than those "v8s".
Don't know why this guy is being downvoted. I did a V8 experience and they limit the speed they can go to. Think mine maxed out at 200 on the straight… I might as well have driven my 2006 Honda Accord
Better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. It isnt fun until your accord is turning so hard through the corner you go through on 2 wheels.
Can you share some ideas to what things he likes to watch, see or do? Budget, what city you’re in, etc?
Gold Coast. Hasn’t got much time for hobbies as we have three kids under 9. Likes the garden. Would like a vintage cat but hasn’t really got time to spend on it or anywhere to put it. Budget - i looked at a Mustang but they only have four seats.
I presume you meant car. Although, by the time you add up the vet bills a vintage cat is pretty expensive as well.
Yep, he had one at 21 and it cost a fortune. I hate the thought of a rusty old car sitting out the front of my house, deteriorating until someone has to sweep it up. Plus, won’t fit the kids in either and with no air con, he’d be over it in no time.
Hahaha… yes, vintage car - not a vintage cat!
@LXE3: It’s just throwing good money after bad IMHO. I don’t mind spending a bit of money but I love good value for money and a bargain. Hence my reluctance to spend $5k on a 3 night getaway. We could fly to the US for less than that.
@onetwothreefour: It’s mid term for the kids and I’ve got to work this Xmas. The most I could take the kids out of school for would be a week. I’ve thought about the sailing or even Fiji but I’m concerned he’ll think that’s more what I’d like.
@LXE3: Does he like anything!! lol
I think I'm the same as your husband and my wife always struggles to get me something and whenever she does it's nothing I really want so we don't buy many presents anymore.
@onetwothreefour: Basically no! Kids kind of take over your life don’t they?
I’ve only posted because I’m actually that desperate for ideas. I’ve made him walk the isles at the obvious places like JB Hi-Fi and Bunnings and I’ve come up with nothing.
Any interests are so specialised that I feel he should pick his own things. Say for instance the mower someone has suggested. I would not have the faintest idea of where to even start with features etc. Equally, I’d be mortified if he tried to buy me a dress!
I suppose we love travel - or maybe that’s just me and he tags along.
@LXE3: We went on a family holiday for my 50th. Actually my wife and kids went for 3 weeks to Sri Lanka, Malaysia (lego land) and Singapore. I only went for 1 week to Singapore (we stayed at the Marina Bay Sands for 3 nights which was very fancy and very expensive) because I couldn’t get more time off work (January being premium holiday season). So basically I worked to pay for the holiday.
@Jono05: Whose birthday was it? So maybe I stay home and work and send my hubby to Legoland with the kids? Sounds fun 🤣 Actually, he did Legoland with the kids in April while I was laid up in some dodgy Malaysian hospital with Dengue fever.
@LXE3: Doesn't sound like it was fun for you. I couldn't get the time off work for the whole trip otherwise I would've gone as well. The 3 nights at Marina Bay Sands was the 'birthday present' but wasn't just for my benefit. Working shift work, I find myself joining the family half way through 'our' holidays a lot of the time.
@Jono05: not sure what you want the wife to do here? Maybe it is time you looked for a more family friendly job. Maybe both working and both looking after the kids. It must be annoying for her as well having to have sole responsibility for the kids whilst travelling. Just sayin’.
@try2bhelpful: By the way, I wasn't complaining. By working shift work I get to go to a lot of the kids' school events which I wouldn't be able to do with a 'family friendly' job. I also get to go to excursions as a parent helper and more often then not I look after them when they're sick at home from school. So don't worry I do plenty of parenting. Kids are old enough where they don't need much looking after now.
@LXE3: If he likes Lego, that's a great one to do. Get him a huge set or three…. Or ten. He can make it with the kids!
@Apoca89: We love LEGO and do sets with the kids all of the time! In fact, our house is overrun with LEGO.
@LXE3: In that case there's an island, I forget where now, where you can pay for either half or a full day I think - where you're dropped off by boat with a picnic basket. They come back at a set time so no interruptions. So you spend the day… um… 'fabricfree'. Saw it on something like 'Getwaway' a few years ago. Then have the kids make a fuss with the other few days. Take lots of photos. Of both, LOL. Those times are gone soon enough. Need I say a bit of 'activity' while there means he won't be thinking it was just for you.
@LXE3: Organise an overseas trip for the new year when you can all take some time off. Take him out to dinner and give him the itinerary! doesnt matter if its a few months away!
Thanks that made me genuinely LOL and be horrified simultaneously. The shaved leg for the injection was a highlight.
Likes the garden.
Weather station? I'd like a nice weather station, but I'm a data nerd too.
Quadcopter or pinball machine pool table memorabilia sort of things keg setup if he's in to beer https://www.keg-king.com.au/keg-couplers-and-keg-disconnects…
Skydiving, parasailing, skydiving, jet boat ride, hot air balloon, hire a jet ski, scuba diving, luxury cruise charter, cruise
also glider flight
sexy lingerie?
For her or him?
Por que no los dos?
Jajaja… buena idea
A big a$$ TV and new lazy boy recliners
That's a necessary right we have doesn't count as a present. If my TV broke down the dog eats over the neighbors and I buy beer in bulk for savings until it's paid for. Missus might have to go a bit easy on the war paint too
Depends what TV they currently have and whether there's an opportunity to make it larger.
$5k would get you an 82" or 86" TV with at least a decent soundbar (don't laugh, if I could I would gladly trade my mess of wiring/receiver/speakers/etc for a nice soundbar), or some change for a nice recliner, etc…
That being said, if Op is looking at a 50th present (i.e. a significant milestone) then maybe something more traditional like another nice watch, luxury good which retains some value (watch) or maybe even a nice belt/pair of shoes, etc…
You don’t do that already this is ozbargain
Hard to say without a budget.
Why don't you give the ultimate present and do the Kokoda with him?
Although I would say that lots of "old" blokes do Kokoda and there is always like one guy a day rushed out who collapses or is having a heart attack or something. So I hope the guy is fit! (Although there are options for the less fit to do it).
Dunno how old your kids are, but if they are over 10. They can survive a week without you! If you want to take them with you to the Whitsundays on a boat, i'm sure they'll survive, might be a life changing experience.
They’re all under 9 and I don’t have much desire to do Kokoda. I’ve had dengue and a second bout will probably kill me.
If I were him, I'd have no objections to doing the Kokoda on my own. Especially with three young kids, I don't imagine he has much solo time.
He is Mr Mom, so he has the kids all the time 😂🤣
@LXE3: I think you can go in groups with randoms anyway. Probably doing it with some strangers might end up making him some new friends for life.
@LXE3: That's probably your answer right there! Plan a day/weekend/week without them. Assuming the divorce option was just a joke and you still get along take a week off work and send the kids to school still and do stuff with him. Do things you/he used to do BC (before children). Include some adult play time each day, and it will be his best birthday yet.
a Harley Davidson?
Threesome
Foursome
husband and wife + another guy
Instead of Kokoda, get him an Outward Bound Course:
Article about Sea to Summit Course
Outward Bound
Cruise getaway?
Oh yes, that’s the family party - a 4 day cruise
Sessions with a personal trainer.
Yes, he’ll need that after the cruise!
Don’t I know that, sister. I went on a 5 day cruise and it is very hard to resist the all included food.
well you have paid for it, so in true Ozbargain style you need to get your moneys worth.
Whatever you decide, make sure if it’s technology based, or any type purchase, it’s something or from some company, that will accept a return based on change of mind if he doesn’t like it.
Nothing worse that getting an expensive gift that doesn’t suit. - A good Ozbargainer.
That said, looking at your posts, maybe since he likes bicycle riding, a holiday in NZ on one of the bicycle tours
E.g.
https://www.newzealand.com/au/feature/guided-cycling-tours-i…
And instead of booking it, you can print a brochure make a card etc for the trip, and package it with a Lycra shirt then when the time suits you book it with a limo to pick him to take or pick him up from airport etc. that at least gives you a way to save should he not like the idea,,,,,
That’s my greatest fear - spending a fortune and him hating it!
He loves riding but again probably not something he’d want to do on his own. I’d considered one of those few day or week long horse rides but not taken it further because I don’t know who he’d go with.
Maybe you could consult his friends on what he'd like? If he doesn't like doing things alone, ask the guys who he hangs out with?
Ah, that would be me! We moved to Qld so he has no real friends here. He is Mr Mum, so no work colleagues either. It’s just us and the kids.
Now that would definitely end in divorce!
Why? It sounds like he is so isolated and to bring family and friends to him might make him super happy.
@LXE3: An activity where he has the opportunity to catch up with friends could be great.
It sounds like you guys have enough 'stuff'. The opportunity to get away with your blessing, kids free, guilt free is absolutely priceless.
How about a drone? I gave one to my hubby and he loves it. Has to be a good one tho.
My 50th present was a decent projector, surround sound, and screen (which we use for 'movie night'). I chose & installed it myself. As such it wasn't a surprise, but I also got a few smaller things. So maybe just give him a budget to get something he wants, and do a restaurant etc as the surprise….
Got some decent projector specs please? I'm really trying to convince the other half I need (a new) one.
It was (ahem) a few years back so I guess I'm in a similar situation. I'd try to get a true 4k projector now, ie ideally one that doesn't do pixel shifting to achieve pseudo 4K with lower resolution chips (https://www.cnet.com/news/affordable-4k-projectors-are-here-…), with a decent amount of brightness. Need to take into account the room and screen size as well. If space is restricted, then might need to get a short throw job. Basically, would need more info to recommend something properly but as a baseline:
2000 ansi lumens minimum (3000 plus better)
35db noise level or less (below 30db better)
True 4K ie native 3840 x 2160
Contrast: 10,000:1 or better
Decent lamp life eg 5,000 hours or more
Optional but possibly nice to have:
If restrictions on mounting the projector - Vertical/horizontal lens shift & keystone adjustment
3D support
12V trigger for screen
Decent zoom
Good screen
Thank you. I'm trying to get a short throw to replace the TV. So really looking closely at the Optoma gt5600 and Epson ls100 as they seem to have the best brightness & contrast in bright settings. ALR screen will be a killer though.
Appreciate the detailed answer. :)
What watch is it exactly? You could get a better one? Maybe
It’s a really nice Omega, so I don’t think he needs another. He doesn’t wear it often.
IS IT A SPEEDMASTER?? Sorry little excited haha
A joy flight in a biplane. That’s what my wife gave me for my 60th. It was brilliant.
Is he musically inclined. Wife bought me a Ukelele and I love it. I’m musically challenged, but it’s fun to pick up and play a few chords. Heaps of how lessons on YouTube. Check out Bondi UKelele and get a concert size one. $300. Sure it may sound novel, but I reckon it’s a winner. I’m just a few yrs older but a kid at heart.
Does he have any interest in bicycles, like an electric mountain bike ?
Let me google that for you…. although maybe I can't be bothered
A good BBQ smoker? Assuming he's not vegan
Came here to say this. I got given one for Christmas and I absolutely love it :)
If you already gave this then OP needs to find other meaningful gift!!!
user name checks out
2 hot 25yo.
Seriously though, its his 50th. Give him a big party with all the family, you want to remember the big ones fondly. For present, have you considered getting him something meaningful? Doesn't have to be lovey dovey, does he have a car hes always wanted? Why not get him a couple of hours driving the shit out of it. Or ask one of your kids if they wanna go do kakoda with dad ect.id much rather go with a love one then a friend or strangers.
Kids are 9 and under.
Define nice watch. Omega? Breitling? Bremont?
I’m sure he won’t say no to another. If he has one with a bracelet get a dress watch (with a leather band) or vice versa.
He has one
He has one
.. of each brand? If he loves watch, I'm sure he wouldn't say no to another nice one.. different brand perhaps.
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Day spa - massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, spa, sauna etc
First thought two 25 year olds and thought better not say that till reading the divorce joke