Surprise gifts from DH/SO

Dh got me a surprise cat once. Didn't mind that. Got me a surprise organ once. Sent it back. So it's pretty risky.

Neither would be refused by me. After 27 years DH knows what I like. But we're not surprise people.

No, no surprises. If you want to surprise me clean the bathrooms, which he does some times. Luckily my husband and I have always been on the same page about money.

 If these were truly surprises I would not be happy. If we had discussed them beforehand and I was just surprised by the timing, I would be fine.
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I am torn. DH sucks at gifts. So while it would be nice to be surprised with something. He has only really nailed it maybe 3 times in the 16 years we have been together. Two of those times where diamond earrings, the first were super tiny for our first christmas and then slightly bigger for our 10 year anniversary. The rest of the time not so much. Now I have been hinting at needing a new sewing machine - especially if we move overseas, I'm doing to need a dual voltage - if he were to do the research and get me one or a gift card for one. I would be over the moon. There isn't much else I can think of that I would want to be surprised with. I love my car and I'm not getting a new one anytime soon. We are not in a position to get a pet right now.

Surprise me by repainting the front door when it needs to be done, or by cleaning the bathrooms, or with some fresh flowers or a little treat from the local bakery.

Please do not surprise me with a major purchase made without my input or a living creature that I now need to care for.

I think it comes down to if there had been any discussion beforehand. A new car without any input from me, not even an inkling of what I want? I'd be peeved and it'd be his car. Granted, I'm not picky about cars but I do have cars I'd prefer over others. A puppy? I'd hope those two had talked about getting one and what she wanted. DH wants a basset hound really bad. I know he wants one. I know he really wants a red and white one vs a tri-color one. If a chance popped up and we could afford it, I'd surprise him with it. Any other puppy? No. He knows I'd love to have an airedale so if he surprised me with one, I'd be ok with it.

So that puts me in the camp of I'm ok with surprises as long as we had talked about it before and he knows what it is I want vs just going out and buying a car or getting any puppy/kitten.

Dh knows what I like car wise and has replaced my lease car as a surprise and I was thrilled. If he got a puppy I'd think he'd lost his mind - no way are either of us interested in having a pet.

For our 25th wedding anniversary he booked a trip to St Vincent as a surprise but we had been discussing a holiday quite a bit so he was on pretty safe ground  

I would not want a car or a puppy as a surprise.

Surprises are fun, but just little ones...not expensive or life-changing surprise gifts.

My husband bought my BMW for me without me knowing. He knows me. He knows what I like/don't. I love my car and he did a great job picking it out.

I think it depends on the big surprise. I would not want someone to purchase the car for me, because I would very much prefer to select my own car. I suppose if I had had a dream car for many years and my spouse up and purchased it for me - that might be okay. But just one day surprising me with a new car, no I wouldn't want that.

An animal that requires care is also a joint decision. Don't surprise me with that.

I would not be happy if dh came home with either a car or a pet for me if we had not talked about either before. as for cars - dh and I have very different ideas for cars - he likes "performance" and engineering (he drives an audi standard transmission), I like practical but comfortable (Honda crv)

as for a pet - we aren't home enough.

big surprises in general - don't think dh would think of something like that - his mind doesn't work that way -