Woman Waits A Full Year To Get Back At Husband For Selfish Christmas Gift, Makes Him Furious
Interview With AuthorThere is no denying that it can sometimes be hard to pick out the correct gift for someone. Between budgets, taste, and needs, sometimes it’s better to err on the side of safety. But some folks are such horrible gifters that what they spend money on tends to feel more like an insult.
One woman got revenge on her husband after he “gifted” her something that only he wanted and needed. She planned and waited for 52 weeks, the embodiment of “revenge is a dish best served cold,” before teaching him a lesson next winter. We got in touch with Popular-Jaguar-3803 who wrote the story to find out more.
Shopping for gifts doesn’t come naturally to everyone
Image credits: daveoratox (not the actual photo)
But one woman decided to teach her husband a lesson after he got her a particularly selfish gift
Image credits: RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Popular-Jaguar-3803
OP, many years later, seems to see the story in a more humorous light now

Image credits: Nicole Michalou (not the actual photo)
Bored Panda got in touch with Popular-Jaguar-3803 who wrote the story and she was kind enough to answer some of our questions. Since the story happened a while ago and it appears that family members still reference it, we were curious to hear if this particular event had become a sort of familial inside joke.
“For some of us, it was a joke. My husband also forgot that I gave him hydraulic jacks as well. All he remembered was the toilet paper,” she shared with Bored Panda. This sounds like a classic case of selective memory, where a person only focuses on particular events that confirm their biases while ignoring others.
However, this particular gift must have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. “He was always terrible at gifts or anything. All he thought about was what he would want. And he wanted that ShopVac. It really wasn’t easy to use in the house. I could have swept the whole house floors twice with time to spare, and then the vacuum would have done the whole house once,” she shared with Bored Panda.
Picking gifts might be hard, but buying things for yourself is just unacceptable

Image credits: Nicole Michalou (not the actual photo)
“We had been married for 18 years by then, and I always made presents about what the other person would want. I think that some people are lousy at giving gifts because they are clueless and/or self-centered. He was actually both. He just never put any thought into what I would enjoy or like.”
This is an important part, as being bad at selecting gifts is forgivable. After all, some people are hard to choose for, there might be logistical issues or a person simply struggles to come up with something unique. However, when the recipient is your wife, not some random third cousin whom you have met twice, these arguments fall away.
It seems that Popular-Jaguar-3803 seems to know this and even took proactive steps to contain any difficulties it could cause otherwise. “I also would buy gifts for our kids and put his name on them. Let them think that he put an effort into it,” she shared. It’s unfortunate that she had to put in all this extra effort, but better to at least allow the children to enjoy Christmas.
It would appear that OP has been suffering from this issue for a long time

Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko (not the actual photo)
She also shared more examples of her husband truly not getting it. “One year, we planned to go Christmas Shopping together for the kids. He demanded that we go to Sears first. We went, and he headed for the tools department and bought a tool set he had been wanting. After that, he demanded to go home as he was done. I hid so much from the kids as I didn’t want them to turn out like him.”
“And by the way, it isn’t about how much was spent, it is the thought. My youngest son buys me heart necklaces with his birthstone on them. I know he spent about $15, and I wear the heck out of them. I love them so much and are my favorite pieces of jewelry, even over my diamond necklaces. He is 16 now,” she added. Readers, take note of what a thoughtful gift actually looks like.
Lastly, seeing as her story got a lot of comments and upvotes, we wanted to hear if she had any final thoughts on the matter. “As for my story being popular, I guess it is nice. But if I can prevent someone from being thoughtless, the story was worth it.” So perhaps do your best to not be like this husband whenever you are buying gifts.
Readers shared their thoughts on OP’s revenge
Poll Question
Thanks! Check out the results:
I wouldn't have let hubby use the ShopVac. I'd sell it and use the money to get my hair done or a mani/pedi. If he complained I'd say it was my present and I could do whatever I wanted to with it.
I think that's why he "tested" it in the garage before wrapping it. Probably "lost" the receipt, too.
Load More Replies...Friend's husband would buy her clothes, but never the right sizes. One time she returned them, and realized she could trace his path through the ladies section. He took a sweater from this rack, jeans from that one, a tee shirt here, and pajamas there. Literally he walked through and grabbed something from each rack without checking sizes. Probably patted himself on the back for getting his shopping done in 2 minutes, too. ("I don't know why it takes her so long. It's easy.")
My wife buys me clothes, I buy her power tools. She got an angle grinder and a rotary hammer drill this year. And yes, she does use them. They were the first 2 items on her list. Diamond necklace was the third.
Oh for heaven sakes... you can't do anything with a diamond necklace ... except show off maybe. At least tools are functional... your wife rocks... give her a hug for me... a like minded woman.
Load More Replies...I don't agree with the "Never buy a woman anything with a cord" suggestion, though. Last year I got a sandwich toaster which I have never used myself because part of the gift was that my husband would make me a toasted sandwich whenever I fancied one. This year he gave me a new laptop which I needed and love. It's about knowing the individual and thinking about what they would actually like to receive.
Yeah, sewing machine also, particularly if she already sews and needs an upgraded machine. Curling irons, electric blankets, space heaters, fancy foot soaker, special massage wand or chair, laptop/desktop computer, printer, scentsy warmer .... SO MANY things with a cord that isn't for chores.
Load More Replies...I have absolutely been the person who has given people gifts that are basically "I like it, so they must like it". However, that's a stage I grew out of as a teenager. OP's husband was super immature and selfish. The post mentions that no-one gave vacuums anymore, but I hope it also resulted in him becoming a more thoughtful gift giver.
After 10 years together I have finally surrendered and now I just tell my husband what I want. He is happy to buy me a gift, but he is not good in choosing one. This was my first Christmas I was actually satisfied with my present 😁
My dad has always given my mom really good gifts. One year for Valentine's Day, he took a block of wood, cut it into a circle with a heart in it,painted it red and white. It's still hanging in their bedroom.
I always ask for cleaning things. My mom would get so upset every year "this isn't a fun/good gift!" But, to each his own. I enjoy my house being clean, and I love anything that helps me get that done faster/easier. From my steam mop, or vacuum, to my robot vacuum. But I always feel guilty spending that much money on something for myself...so those things make me happy,
The point is to get what the person likes. Im a gamer, and when Ive had boyfriends who game they have often bought me headphones or other gear. But if I read a story from a woman who doesnt game and her husband bought "the family" a new set-up, Id be sympathetic to her completley.
Load More Replies...Husband got me a swingset for Mother's Day. 'It keeps the kids in the yard'. I got him a vacuum for Father's Day. 'It keeps his house clean'.
Definitely agree with the " don't buy anything with a cord". My husband bought me an electric knife for Christmas one year and was lucky HE wasn't sliced with it. I use a really sharp knife all the time.
I don't agree it depends on the person and their preferences. My husband got me a Tyme Iron (you can straighten or curl your hair with it) and I absolutely love it and use it daily. I got him a heated foot massager that he loves which also plugs in.
Load More Replies...I wouldn't have let hubby use the ShopVac. I'd sell it and use the money to get my hair done or a mani/pedi. If he complained I'd say it was my present and I could do whatever I wanted to with it.
I think that's why he "tested" it in the garage before wrapping it. Probably "lost" the receipt, too.
Load More Replies...Friend's husband would buy her clothes, but never the right sizes. One time she returned them, and realized she could trace his path through the ladies section. He took a sweater from this rack, jeans from that one, a tee shirt here, and pajamas there. Literally he walked through and grabbed something from each rack without checking sizes. Probably patted himself on the back for getting his shopping done in 2 minutes, too. ("I don't know why it takes her so long. It's easy.")
My wife buys me clothes, I buy her power tools. She got an angle grinder and a rotary hammer drill this year. And yes, she does use them. They were the first 2 items on her list. Diamond necklace was the third.
Oh for heaven sakes... you can't do anything with a diamond necklace ... except show off maybe. At least tools are functional... your wife rocks... give her a hug for me... a like minded woman.
Load More Replies...I don't agree with the "Never buy a woman anything with a cord" suggestion, though. Last year I got a sandwich toaster which I have never used myself because part of the gift was that my husband would make me a toasted sandwich whenever I fancied one. This year he gave me a new laptop which I needed and love. It's about knowing the individual and thinking about what they would actually like to receive.
Yeah, sewing machine also, particularly if she already sews and needs an upgraded machine. Curling irons, electric blankets, space heaters, fancy foot soaker, special massage wand or chair, laptop/desktop computer, printer, scentsy warmer .... SO MANY things with a cord that isn't for chores.
Load More Replies...I have absolutely been the person who has given people gifts that are basically "I like it, so they must like it". However, that's a stage I grew out of as a teenager. OP's husband was super immature and selfish. The post mentions that no-one gave vacuums anymore, but I hope it also resulted in him becoming a more thoughtful gift giver.
After 10 years together I have finally surrendered and now I just tell my husband what I want. He is happy to buy me a gift, but he is not good in choosing one. This was my first Christmas I was actually satisfied with my present 😁
My dad has always given my mom really good gifts. One year for Valentine's Day, he took a block of wood, cut it into a circle with a heart in it,painted it red and white. It's still hanging in their bedroom.
I always ask for cleaning things. My mom would get so upset every year "this isn't a fun/good gift!" But, to each his own. I enjoy my house being clean, and I love anything that helps me get that done faster/easier. From my steam mop, or vacuum, to my robot vacuum. But I always feel guilty spending that much money on something for myself...so those things make me happy,
The point is to get what the person likes. Im a gamer, and when Ive had boyfriends who game they have often bought me headphones or other gear. But if I read a story from a woman who doesnt game and her husband bought "the family" a new set-up, Id be sympathetic to her completley.
Load More Replies...Husband got me a swingset for Mother's Day. 'It keeps the kids in the yard'. I got him a vacuum for Father's Day. 'It keeps his house clean'.
Definitely agree with the " don't buy anything with a cord". My husband bought me an electric knife for Christmas one year and was lucky HE wasn't sliced with it. I use a really sharp knife all the time.
I don't agree it depends on the person and their preferences. My husband got me a Tyme Iron (you can straighten or curl your hair with it) and I absolutely love it and use it daily. I got him a heated foot massager that he loves which also plugs in.
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