My first thought on this is to take the PS3 back (for now) and help with the bills. Cook a nice Christmas dinner with some of the money and spend time together watching a movie and having Christmas Nookie. I think if you give it to him and he hasn’t bought you anything at all, he will feel like an ass and possibly a little resentful that you splurged when there are bills to be paid.
My second thought is to hold on to it for his birthday and do the same thing as above re the nookie.
She said she had to scrimp and save to get it, so maybe she did things like go without something she would normally get (the good coffee, new shoes when she needed them) and instead put the money toward the PS3 on layaway…and then just kept paying it down.
By that I meant he makes more money than I do…I absolutely contribute to all the bills, every month. Layaway is a wonderful thing and I had it in there since October. So it took me almost three full months to pay it off…I do hair, I’m not a multi-millionaire. I paid it down with money set aside from each paycheck, as well as almost all my tip money went aside for it so I could get it out in time. I was still able to contribute to household stuff as usual without arousing suspicion. Not that all of that matters any - but just figured I’d clarify.
The point was that since I was FINALLY working (I had been in hair school all last year and was NOT working) I could do something nice for him this year. After all, he supported us when i was NOT working, so it was the very least I could do - he deserves something nice, finally, this Xmas.
Long story short, screw it all - he’s getting the stupid thing whether he likes it or not. It was silly to stress out about it and I see that now. 
Good for you. And go and read The Gift Of the Magi, a short story by O. Henry about christmas gift giving and love. Your position made me think of it, and it is a story I love.
Have a great Christmas.
Si
Make it from “Santa” to both of you. Wrap it , sneak it under the tree tonight after you both go to bed.
Because the guy would still feel like sh*t. It’s not about the OP expecting anything to get anything, it’s about how crappy it is to be the guy who can give nothing, no matter how much you may want to. Getting something awesome just underscores your empty-handedness.
I’ve been that guy back when I was in school and my then-girlfriend lived rent-free with her parents, while I was barely scraping by. I knew wholeheartedly that she genuinely didn’t care that I couldn’t give her anything, but I cared. I would have preferred we both not exchange gifts rather than it be a one-way gift giving.
She got me something awesome, and it made me feel guilty every time I used it.
Good idea!
Our household had many gifts over the years that were everybody’s gift. Anything expensive like this game system would have been an everybody’s gift. It also encourages sharing and turns.
Bump.
So how did everything turn out?
Hey all!
I am happy to report the gift-giving went off without a hitch, and, even though I know he will never admit it, he is VERY excited about his new PS3. Me? Eh - way less excited, but I did get a nifty, huge, spa-stuff type basket full of lotions, scrubs, oils, slippers and a big squishy robe that I haven’t stopped wearing yet. 
And apparently, my “real” gift should be hitting the roost this week sometime. Whatever - it was worth it to see the look on his face Xmas Eve. He went from shock to exasperation to resignation to sheer childlike excitement in like 30 seconds. Kinda something like this: :eek::dubious::mad::rolleyes:
And that’s all I wanted for Xmas. Oh, that and the Xmas Nook-Nook. Ha!
Thanks for your words of support guys, I really appreciate it. And FINALLY, I get a few days off to rest my weary feets in my new spa-thingy. Hope everyone had a great day! Next up, New Year’s Eve!!
Glad that everything works out fine! Enjoy the holidays!
Glad everything worked out, but confused now as to what the drama was about in the first place.
Aw, that’s a nice ending to the story. I’m glad you splurged on a great gift that he really liked. And it was nice of him to get you a thoughful gift too.