Rodney

Yeah, like others said: go window shopping with her a few times, find out what she likes but won't buy for herself (and why). That's given me a lot of good ideas for the wife.

Another thing that others have more or less said is to agree on something expensive that you both want, and give it to each other as a joint Christmas present. We've bought a couple of paintings for the house that way. There are a lot of things that couples would like for their houses but would never buy because they seem too much a luxury; but if both of them take the 2-300 they each might spend on each other at Christmas and pool it, some of these too-expensive items come into reach.

And then, when you do that, still go out for a nice dinner or get her some flowers "just because.'

Oh yeah -- food's good, too. If she really loves some food item that she rarely buys for herself -- a particular kind of cake that's way expensive, a particular delicacy that's way expensive -- get it for her. It's not a present that will last but _she will remember it always,_ believe me, especially if you present it to her well.