Any ideas on what I should get for a present?

My birthday is coming up this week and while I don't make a big deal about it, my girlfriend asked me what I want. I spent about 250 on her for her birthday so she said she'd do the same for mine.

The thing is I really don't want anything that badly. I thought of a couple things.

- Flat panel LCD monitor
- Nintendo DS + couple games
- New leather arm chair
- PSP

There are downsides to all of those things though. My monitor is fine and I don't have a real need for a new one, especially not at 250 bucks. I don't like spending money myself or people spending money on me for stuff I don't really desire that much.

For the DS, I'm not really a big fan of handheld systems, and I know I'd beat the 2 games I got with it, put the DS in my drawer and never touch it again.

The chair... I wouldn't want to blindly buy a chair without knowing if it is comfortable or not and there are no real chair stores around here or anything.

PSP... same as DS, though if a gun was to my head I'd take the DS over the PSP because it has better games.

Any suggestions?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

If you have a lot of computer experience then you will find that there is actually quite a lot that can be done with the PSP. It is certainly much more versatile than the DS.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Yea I know about that, but I'm all about the games. That stuff can be nice sometimes, but it isn't a selling point.

But maybe it can do things I don't know about. What are some of the best things you can do with it?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Thread moved to Advice Column. =)

If you don't really take well to handheld gaming systems, I wouldn't go for that. I would go for the LCD monitor. You can find a really good one for $150 or $175, and your girlfriend won't have to spend as much on you. Or she can take the remaining money and think of something herself.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

You could maybe consider something like a set of speakers or new video card too to pair with your current LCD, assuming that you might want/need that kind of upgrade. Those things came to mind because they generally lurk around that price range in the gaming entertainment world.

I was speaking idiomatically.

You should let her buy you some new clothes. 250$ is a decent amount of money for a shopping spree, and if you're on these forums chances are your wardrobe could use some sprucing up. =p

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I would go for the monitor. There are some pretty nice ones out there that are at a good price. My second bet would be the PSP. Anything electronic is better than clothes.....

FELIPE NO

Except that if you get clothes as a present, it means you don't have to do the clothes shopping yourself.

Clothes shopping is infinitely worse than getting clothes as a present.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Yeah, I guess so. I don't actually mind shopping for clothes though. Maybe that's because I rarely do it.... hmmm... makes me wonder about a few things.

I guess if you don't like clothes shopping, that getting clothes might be a better idea.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I have no sense of fashion nor do I really care about it. I wear what I find comfortable. Usually I wear a white t-shirt and shorts every day unless it is under 40 degrees. Then I'll wear a white t and sweats. I really don't buy new clothes that often. Only for special occasions like if I need a new suit, pants, etc.


The thing about the monitor is I'm going to need to buy a new video card probably. The video card right now I have is pretty crappy. I pulled it from an old computer because my previous card crapped out on me. So that is probably out of the equation.

I might just get a DS after all. They are impossible to find now though...

What are nice things the PSP can do?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by DragoonKain

I have no sense of fashion nor do I really care about it. I wear what I find comfortable. Usually I wear a white t-shirt and shorts every day unless it is under 40 degrees. Then I'll wear a white t and sweats.

DragoonKain is the real life version of Carl from Aqua Teen. With a woman.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by DragoonKain

I have no sense of fashion nor do I really care about it. I wear what I find comfortable. Usually I wear a white t-shirt and shorts every day unless it is under 40 degrees. Then I'll wear a white t and sweats. I really don't buy new clothes that often. Only for special occasions like if I need a new suit, pants, etc.

This, friends, is exactly why my suggestion is a good one.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

First of all, don't wear sweats. You're just gonna end up looking like a slop nine times out of ten. If you want to go for a casual look, a nice pair of jeans should more than suffice. That may run you upwards of $100, so with the rest of that cash you should outfit yourself with a few dressy-casual shirts and maybe a nice pair of shoes to finish off the outfit.

If you actually walk around everywhere in sweats and a white tee, just these few changes should make a huge difference in the way people see you. A little style goes a long way.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I don't really care that much about how people see me. It isn't exactly looking like a slob. I don't wear paint-stained pants and shirts with holes. I take good care of my clothes and have a lot of clothes, but I usually wear my casual clothes when I go out. I never was a fan of jeans at all. Not comfortable at all to me.

If people want to judge me on how I dress that is their business. I don't do that to people myself, but I don't control the world. I can only be who I am.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I'm not saying that I make it a habit to judge others on the quality of their clothing, but I'm sure I subconsciously do give most everyone I meet a quick once over. I'm not the only one who does this, either.

FELIPE NO

I'm with nadienne. Let your girlfriend dress you, cause you clearly aren't capable of it. =D

EDIT: Seriously though, out of your list the only thing that you really seem to need is the chair. Can't you go out with your girlfriend to the big city (since you say there are no "chair stores" around where you live, I'm assuming you're not in a city) and buy a chair together?

Otherwise, how about an Xbox 360? Although maybe you already have one.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Everyone has their different tastes. I personally never understood why it was social etiquette where wearing suites is nicer than wearing something like a sweat suit. I guess it is all a matter of opinion.

That is one of the things I like about my girlfriend. We both think alike on social etiquettes. She prefers me to dress down instead of dressing up. I like the casual look on women a lot too.

One thing I'll never do is change who I am to fit in though. I'll be who I am even if I'm the only person in the world who is a certain way.

Double Post:
I think it's going to end up being an ipod.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Girls wear sweats. They generally come in colors that aren't black, grey or white and have matching hoodies, sometimes matching tshirts. It's what you wear when it's laundry day and you have to run errands. I can tell you what I think when I see a guy outside in sweats. "I can't believe he's wearing that in public."

If that's how you want to be seen, more power to you. But... that's not a good thing. Let your girlfriend dress you. Even if it's just jeans and a tshirt, that's an improvement.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by DragoonKain

Double Post:
I think it's going to end up being an ipod.

Dead to me.

But if you don't have an MP3 player and can't think of anything else, I guess it's a pretty good gift. =D

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Jeff135

If you have a lot of computer experience then you will find that there is actually quite a lot that can be done with the PSP. It is certainly much more versatile than the DS.

Don't listen to this man. The games on the PSP are 90% crap. Only a few good things. The DS has some really good stuff on it.

Anyway, I really feel that if you honestly feel that 1) she's showing enough appreciation by insisting on this money, and 2) you don't really honestly want anything, tell her this. Insist. "No, I don't need it, save it for another time."

As for the clothes, hey, if it makes her happy. And the iPod, I like them, but they are running more and more expensive as everything goes down in price in the market...you know, it doesn't really matter. You two seem really tight, so it's not a crisis.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I ended up getting a DS Onyx with FFIII and New Super Mario Bros.

Thanks for the input fellas.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by nadienne

You should let her buy you some new clothes. 250$ is a decent amount of money for a shopping spree, and if you're on these forums chances are your wardrobe could use some sprucing up. =p

I liked this idea better. <3
I just happened to do that for my bf yesterday. =P

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