COJ advice re: birthday gift for the wife-ola

Cube.... I am with you here.  how about a nice golden chain (nothing overly expensive) to celebrate the freedom of being released from the bondage of student loan debt? Just a thought...  

My philosophy is to always give a gift that you might be able to use yourself.  I've done that in the past, i.e. a fishing rod, a canoe, high heels, etc.  Since you both are actually paying off the loan, in effect you are also giving yourself a gift, so I like it!  Take her out to dinner and spring the good news over a glass of merlot.

 x2 - it's a fine idea!

Cube is wise.

also add in a #7 just for fun.

I'm gonna chime in here as a woman.

Don't ever give a woman a gift that is not just for her unless it's been specifically asked for or agreed upon. Like, don't buy a new vaccuum and say happy birthday unless you want a black eye.

This is something that would get paid anyway- yes it is nice that it gets paid off early, but unless you've talked about it before, in my eyes as a wife, this is not a good present.

When asked if she wants anything, and nothing comes to mind, usually (in my case) that means there isn't anything specific that I want. I would like for you to go out, and buy me a thoughtful present- something you would like to give me because you know I would love it. It doesn't have to be expensive- just thoughtful.

Is there a particular purse brand she loves (like vera bradley?) get her one of those. Is there an author that she loves? Is there a tv show she loves (dvd set)?

Do you see where I'm going with this? Yes, you can do the loan payoff, but what she probably would love more than anything, is something that you pick out for her, because you know her and know her likes and dislikes.

Oh man, I've been purse shopping with my wife and you don't even wanna go here.  Sure, she'll get all gushy and say "It's beautiful" but secretly inside she'll be "What was he thinking?"

Well, if you know what brand she likes, you can pick one out, and then specifically tell her that they had lots to choose from and that you took a stab in the dark and here's the gift receipt, please exchange it if there is another one you like better.

It's worked for us, anyway. My dh has very good taste, and does a good job of picking out clothes and purses (and even shoes) but he really pays attention to the stores where I shop and what types of things I like. He just follows the trend and voila!

I think it depends on your wife.  How excited would she be to have the loan paid off early?  I wouldn't be excited, but if I gave that to my husband as a gift, he would love it.

If she would be excited, go for it.  Maybe put the check in a new wallet or something.  She might not find it right away. 

Otherwise, find her another gift. 

The other thing I thought of was breaking the gift into 2 parts - 1/2 for birthday and 1/2 for Mother's Day.  As for the purse, I bought her a brand new Kate Spade spring purse 2 weeks ago.

Great food for thought guys - Thanks.  I'll keep thinking.  This afternoon I think I'll stroll over to the Hermes store and see if there is a nice scarf she would like.

If you have the money to pay it off early, why not do it? why is that a gift to/for her?
 (unless you keep your finances separate, I hadn't thought of that)

But yeah. No. I like Cube and Akustix ideas, if you gotta go with e check, please get something else too.

Spa days are nice.

Yeah on the TV/books etc - tickets to a show she would like to see?  SHE would like to see.  You are in the NYC area, there are a zillion cool  little things to do in the theatre/art/
dance etc area.  If you have 2 G to spend, how about a limo in and a show/dinner?

so here's what I just did... (you must read this whole reply)... I just wrote out a reply (and then deleted it) and said I disagree with paying off her loan and giving it to her as a present... because I pictured myself in her situation and if my boyfriend wanted to pay off my credit card as a birthday present, I would find that condescending... but the reason I would find that condescending is because I can pay it off myself, I have the finances to do so, I'm just lazy (and stupid, and it's a small amount, so BT peeps don't harp on me for having debt that I could pay off!)   Him chiming in and paying it off would seem to me that he doesn't have faith in me that I will do it myself... or that I can't handle my finances...

KEEP READING!!!!,

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!... I then quickly remembered when I was 21yo and I was buying my first brand new car.... and I needed and extra $200.00 for the downpayment.  I was going to have to wait another couple of months in order to get that, but my then boyfriend gave me a $200.00 check for my birthday to help with the down payment.  I was ecstatic(sp?), and went to the dealer that day and bought my new car.

so I guess I don't have any advice because I don't know your wife, nor really know you, nor do I know your finances... and a boyfriend paying off your debt is a little different than a husband... because you have debt together where my debt is my debt... so no advice, sorry

BUT AGAIN... a diamond is always a nice gift... just saying