<human>: Give me a shortened version of the text

Let me preface this by saying we're a relatively serious relationship, we talk every day, etc., etc..

We're spending Christmas together this year and I've been working on his present for the past month or so. I'm carving him something sentimental out of wood and getting him a shirt of his favorite video game (also has sort of an inside joke on it.) It's all a surprise and I can't wait to give the carving and shirt to him because they're both really thoughtful and sentimental gifts unique for him, in my opinion.

He told me today that he wants to take me to the mall this weekend and buy me something I want. I know most girls would probably love this, but I really don't want him to just hand me $20 and tell me to buy whatever. There's no real thought in that...he might as well give me a gift card.

I'm not expecting some romantic, thoughtful gift, but I've tried dropping hints for the past month that I really don't want anything expensive for Christmas because I know he's tight on money, and I'd really appreciate something sentimental much more.  But this whole mall idea makes me feel like he doesn't really care all that much.

But I can't tell him any of this without sounding like a whiny bitch, and if you think I am, feel free to tell me, because I'm not sure if I'm justified to be upset about this.  What do I do?  Do I just pick something nice out at the mall and not say anything to him?
<bot>: boyfriend wants me to buy me whatever I want at the mall whereas I'd rather have a more thoughtful gift, but I don't want to hurt him by sounding like a whiny bitch