The Perfect Gift for the Picky Spouse

 

There is an age-old question that has haunted married people since the invention of mistletoe:
What on earth do I get my wife/husband for Christmas?

If you’ve been married for any length of time, you know the struggle is real. Early on, gifts are easy—romantic, dramatic, possibly unnecessary. But after a few years? Things get complicated.

Please—not another wallet (I like to pick my own, thank you very much).
And maybe skip the “sexy nightie” that will be worn exactly once, just long enough for your spouse to prove they appreciated the effort.

My wife and I, like many long-married couples, tend to buy what we need when we need it. Which means that when Christmas or a birthday rolls around, the gift ideas well has usually run dry. Honestly, it’s hard enough figuring out what to get her, let alone telling her what to get me.

Thankfully, I married a very smart and very practical woman.

Around our fifth year of marriage (she could probably tell you the exact year, date, and maybe even the weather), my wife gave me what turned out to be the greatest gift I’ve ever received. One so good that thirty years later, I still cherish a piece of it.

And here’s the best part: this gift is not gender-specific. It works just as well for husbands or wives.

So what was this amazing, unforgettable gift?

A coupon book.

Yes. A coupon book.

But not one of those glossy, store-bought “romance” coupon books that make everyone uncomfortable. This one was homemade, crafted with the finest materials available at the time: slips of paper, a hole punch, and a piece of yarn tying it all together. Nothing fancy. No glitter. No ribbon.

But the coupons themselves? Absolutely priceless.

Here are a few examples of what might go into a coupon book like this:

1.         A fifteen-minute back rub
2.         Pick a movie (they choose, you watch—and you are not allowed to complain)
3.         A home-cooked special dinner
4.         Washing their car
5.         A fifteen-minute foot rub
6.         Some form of intimacy (you can include several of these, each creatively labeled)

The ideal number of coupons is twelve—one for each month. You can repeat favorites if needed to get to twelve (trust me, no one will complain about duplicates).

Here’s the genius part: you can limit it to one coupon per month. That way, Christmas truly keeps on giving all year long. The recipient gets to choose which coupon to use and when to cash it in. Anticipation is included at no extra charge.

And how meaningful is a gift like this?

Well, as I mentioned earlier, thirty years later, I still have one (very special) coupon that I’m holding on to. I won’t say which one—but trust me, it’s not the car wash.

Now, I’m not saying that giving socks is a bad idea. Socks are practical. Socks are warm. Socks are fine.

But I promise you this: thirty years from now, socks won’t make you smile the way a thoughtful, playful, homemade coupon book will.

And that, my friends, is the perfect gift for the picky spouse.

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