My Boyfriend Hasn't Bought me a B-Day Gift in 4 Years!!!! What do I do?

I totally get where you are coming from, and I agree with you: unless he is totally in survival mode (and spending $300 on himself doesn't sound like it to me), he should be doing *something* in the realm of gift-giving.

Yes, a card is great, and cooking for you is great, and if he was a super-poor college student who was wearing 3-year-old clothes and eating Top Ramen 4 nights a week, that would be enough. Bt at this point, he shouldn't have any problem finding $20-30 AT LEAST in his budget to buy you at least a small gift.

BUT... honestly, you probably should have mentioned this to him long ago, or, if you didn't feel you could do that, you could have maybe mentioned it to his best buddy, so that his bro could have gotten him straightened out and he wouldn't have had to look bad in front of you. What I'm getting at is that many women make the mistake of failing to set expectations, and then getting upset when a guy fails to live up to those expectations that you've never expressed before. Should he have known this on his own? YES, we both agree that he should, but the reality is that everyone is different, and maybe gift-giving was never a priority in his family and he really just doesn't understand. It's also possible that he is just selfish and self-centered in this area, and is fully aware of what he's doing. If THAT is the case, then it might be something to consider as far as ending the relationship.

The problem that right now, you really don't know which it is, because you (apparently) never discussed it before. That means you are judging him on an expectation you've never set with him, and that's not really fair.

If you had, say, talked about this last year, and he spend his money on himself and not you THIS year, then you'd know for sure that he was just being selfish, and then taking some action would be totally justified. Right now, it isn't.

Remember: I *AGREE* with you that a "normal person" would know he needs to buy his girlfriend a gift, no matter what, but I don't know if he's "normal" in this instance. Until we do know, it's too early to take action. Rather, it's time for discussion and setting expectations.

Just talk to him about it, seems like an inconsiderate thing really.

Maybe he can't afford it?

Is he rich ? Does he have a job ? Money ?

drop a hint sarcastically. when your b day is coming up say "I still remember that b day gift you got me last year...oh wait, nevermind."

How old is he? I'm just... it sounds almost like a sugar momma thing. Are you two living together?

I would feel very used and unloved if I was in your position! I really think every person deserves to be giving a token on love and kindness at least on one day out of the entire year on their birthday! And him spending tons of money on himself the one day of the year that should be about you is very spiteful and inconsiderate. It sounds like this kind of thing has been building up and it could only grow worse from there, If I were you I would break up with him, they're at plenty of men who could love you one day out I the year and not just take your money and spend it on himself.

There are lot to things going on here and I want to break it down for you, and first I want you to look at the list below from Gary Chapman's "The 5 Love Languages?"

There are 5 main qualities that make someone feel the most loved, and here they are.

1. Quality Time
2. Gifts
3. Physical Touch
4. Words of Affirmation
5. Acts of Service.

Is the most important thing for you to feel really loved gifts? I'm guessing it is.

What do you think your boyfriend's most important thing is to him? What makes him happiest? I'm guessing it is probably NOT gifts, and you are putting so much time, effort and way too much money on these things for him

Often times, people do what what makes them feel loved, so your boyfriend's most important thing might be acts of service. That's what he does for you so that may be what makes him feel most loved.

When you buy him a $5000 watch, it doesn't make him feel more love, in fact it probably makes him feel indebted to you, like he owes you something. That's a big gift that he might not really care about. He would rather have you make him dinner or tell him that he's handsome.

You are doing to him what you want him to do for you, and it's working in the opposite way and is leaving you feeling bitter, hurt, used and confused. He didn't ask you to do so much for him did he? You told him to forget Christmas, so he did. He listened to what you said.

You have to stop doing and doing and doing! Are you taking care of him because he doesn't have any money?

There are ways you can talk with him that won't make him get defensive (for the most part). He probably feels emasculated because you are being more like his mommy, and not his lover.

I would love to help you and I will offer you a free phone consultation. Please go to my website and send me an email so I can give you some live advice and help you much better.

Please contact me, I know I can help you and your relationship!

Love,
Dina Z Colada

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