How important is it to get your significant other a gift for their birthday/holidays?

Do you expect it? Do you always give a gift?

Does this change depending on a newly developed relationship, to a matured relationship?

I was always a present giver, even if it was just some cute or amusing little thing. Just showing that you're 'on board' for celebrating something that's important toyour friend/date/spouse is the idea. It says 'If it is a big day for you, then it is also a big day for me' to them.

Obviously if you are broke, they should understand that you cannto afford to get them a new 5-disc DVD player and a Mercedes for their birthday and if they don't that says something about conditionality of their friendship.

Wifey and I always try to pick out some special thing for the other, as well as fun stuff.

If you just met someone, maybe you'd not buy presents if you're just becomming pals. If you're dating, then I'd get a present, even if b'day was 1 week into dating.

In either case, (new vs mature relationships), a gift is important. Even if you can't afford much at the time, giving something shows you care.

Agreed even if its just a really cute card and something really small....it shows you care

Birthdays of a S.O. should always be remembered and acknowledged, IMO. Almost to be, etched in our mind. If not for your sake, then for the sake of your S.O., who is your friend.
Especially, if the relationship is serious. I almost remember the birthday of all of my true friends, and even a couple of ex's. They all made differences in my life.

Now for holidays.... that's almost a token gift. Holiday gift giving is almost a tradition and its meaning is often lost.
In many ways, I hold the birthday as the most important holiday in a couple's relationship.

As far as a matured relationship, I can use my wife's birthday as an example. Her birthday marks the day that the most important woman in my life was born. This day is, indeed, a day for celebration and festivity. The gifts I give to her not only mark this anniversary, but are my ways to manifest my appreciation for all she's done and the part she's played in my life. Granted, gift-giving should not be the only way to show love/appreciation of a person, but they do help if they mean something.

My husband and I make each other's birthdays special, with gifts and homemade cakes, etc. However, we do not exchange gifts at Christmas.

I don't neccessarily expect it, but it is a nice thing and definately makes me happy.

A lot, as Frog said, depends on the financial situation.

Another thing is to look at the perspective of how significant the SO is.

I am a chronic forgetter of birthdays and neglector of gift giving.

Idont really expect (or deserve) any gifts on my b-day or anniversary, or fathersday and whatnot..

It's kinda accepted that if I want something I will buy it, and when my wife wants something I will buy it for her, birthday or no.

For birthdays and anniversaries I usally just take the dame out, stuff food in her face and bring her back home for some bed-room fun before we both pass out, surrounded by half devoured bars of dark chocolate.

Hows THAT for romance?
Ladies.. you must be miiighty jealous now.
Too bad for you I'm taken...

RWZ

Princess, do you have something you'd like to tell us????

Originally posted by Baboon
Princess, do you have something you'd like to tell us????

Um..No why would you think that?

Originally posted by Princess


Um..No why would you think that?

PHEW! :)

I just thought that based on the timing of this thread, that maybe your new man didn't acknowledge your birthday. That would have been VERY VERY BAD!

I always have trouble getting people stuff....Anyone- friends or my mom or some random jerk I'm dating [hehe], its a bitch. It's not that I dont want to get anyone anything, but its just what to get them... questions that run through my mind are "should i make it or buy it?" "should it be big or small or convenient or lavish or colorfull or simple?" and the big question "will they like it? am i a dumbass for giving them this? crikey I suck"

I practically go through an aneurysm everytime I make or get a gift for someone. I think I'll just start doing what RWZ is doing and just stuff em with food, minus bed-room fun. .. well, maybe not all the time.

I dont expet gifts. I'm happy with the thought that someone remembered [my birthday.. or something]

birthdays are a must, ya just gotta be the king or queen that day. :) cake, candles, maybe champagne.

but anniversary, and valentine's day, we just make it a very special day, and I definitely want a card on those days.
(but a gift is unnecessary)

and then xmas i spend a third of my christmas money on him, ;)and then split the rest of my money amongst all the other presents i have to get.