Re: Gift giving…
I don’t follow the idea that my gift has to be of equal value b/c I know people who really wealthy and I couldn’t afford to give the types of gift they give. On the flip side, I won’t pick up a inexpensive gift just b/c the person I’m giving it to gave me something that I consider inexpensive. For example…when I got married, a co-worker who has a hourly assistant position came and gave me a $40 Target gift card. On the flip side, we have a good friend who is ridiculously wealthy and gave a $800 gift card to Neiman Marcus. When we had to buy gifts card for them later on…they BOTH got $150 from us b/c for us, that’s what we felt was reasonable. So give based on your income level/lifestyle…and what you feel is reasonable. If we’re given items as gifts, we don’t even think about how much it may have cost.
If your husband loves to cook and it sounds like you do too…then why not take some cooking classes from a professional chef? Either pick a type of food you two have always wanted to learn…or maybe classes where the teach how to make fancy desserts or whatever. It will a new experience both of you can share and you can apply the knowledge in the future when cooking at home.
No…unless your husband is an idiot or a jerk…this never ends badly lol. Being married a year…you have an idea as to what your husband likes wink wink. Go buy lingerie…something different than the usual/something that he won’t be expecting. After dinner when you guys are home…excuse yourself, go change into that lingerie, go stand in front of your husband, smile big and ask him what he thinks of your new outfit. Again…assuming your husband is not an idiot or a jerk…you shouldn’t have to do anything further. He’ll get the message. 