Yep.
My best friend’s alcoholic jerk of a husband loudly and proudly announces to me that they don’t buy each other gifts.
On an especially important milestone birthday, I angrily cornered him and let him know that he WOULD be getting her something. He bought her a bouquet of $10 supermarket flowers and she was so proud, giddy and tearful about it as it was the first gift he had gotten her in over 20 years. He let her think it was his idea. I let him.
And, hubby and I also give others gifts and will sponsor families over holidays in lieu of giving to each other. That is something we love to do. My friend’s husband is especially cruel to her and when he goes off about gift giving to her, it is crushing to see - it is HIS idea, not hers. And he DOESN’T give to others.
And how the heck do you walk in a police station with a murder weapon, covered in the victim’s blood, screaming a confession and then plead not guilty?
I have a gift story for you.
I used to iron my husband’s shirts and made a comment that one was a pleasure to press because of the great material.
About 2 weeks later he came home from work with a bag and told me that he had a surprise for me. Needless to say,I was delighted.
He had bought himself 2 more of those easy-to-iron shirts.
.
Too sad. Good of you to hold his feet to the fire, maybe he'll pop for another $10 someday "just because it's Thursday" or some romantic foolishness like that. Would do wonders for the low-expectations marriage.