Let’s face it ladies, sometimes we hit road blocks when it comes to buying a present for the men in our lives. The holidays are the worst for me. Birthdays give me time to focus on one guy at a time, whereas this time of year poses this time constraint of finding something thoughtful, creative and budget friendly for my boyfriend, two dads and friends. Ladies are you with me?
I’ve provided a gift giving guide that will get those creative juices flowing just in time for the holidays. Time to tap into the male psyche — we have to consider both parties involved: the giver and the receiver.
The Lady. The woman wants to her gift to be well-received (we women are always thinking about ourselves). We want to be sentimental, but not cheesy. We want our men to put the gift to good use, but don’t want it to be so “every-day” that it doesn’t seem special. We want it to be whimsical and cool so that they can show it off to their buddies, proudly. We want other women to say “Wow, GREAT IDEA. I’m going to do that for my man.” Most importantly we want it to trump the last perfectly, awesome gift we gave him.
We women, have ridiculous standards. Let’s not forget this gift isn’t for us, it’s for him.
The Man. He wants his gift to be something he actually wants. The man wants a treat, something out of the norm, yet something he’s been eying for some time. Maybe he’s dropped hints to his lady, or maybe he was sharing something he intended to buy, but finances didn’t allow for it. He wants to feel appreciated (who doesn’t), but never lose the role of “the man in the relationship.” He wants to gloat indirectly to his wingmen. In other words, he wants the gift to do the talking.
How to let the gift do the talking
1. Do your research. Has he dropped hints while you both are out and about? Maybe he’s missing a piece to something he already has…. a camera, sports equipment, a techy gadget. Is there something that needs to be replaced of his? A wallet, phone, iPod, shoes, watch…
2. Be practical. A lot of times we get carried away. This shouldn’t be stressful, it should be fun. Ask yourself, “Does he really want this?” or “Will he actually use this?” We are so close to this person that sometimes we forget the essence of who they are and what they enjoy.
3. Don’t spend money, just to spend money. In relationships, we often try to outdo ourselves and each other when it comes to gifts. Stay within your budget. Don’t intimidate your man with dollars; show them how much you care. We aren’t millionaires (yet) so why do we try to spend like one?
The Gift. Here are some ideas that I would consider getting the men in my life.
This Roll Up Travel Charger from Restoration Hardware is the perfect gift for the working vagabond in your life. It’s sleek, professional and super practical. No more tangled cords and lose chargers. Hallelujah!
My boyfriend spends more time Instagramming the he or I would ever like to admit. He is an excellent hobby photographer so I thought these great Instagram tile prints by ImageSnap.com would be a great thoughtful gift for him, and an excellent way to spruce up our apartment with his talent.
WeWood is an excellent way to give back to any guy and the environment. These watches are made from various recycled wood and contain zero harmful/toxic materials. With every purchase the WeWood partners with American Forests and Trees for the Future to plant a tree. WeWood has been featured in a ton of style mags such as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue Italia, People and Elle.
Were I’ve gotten other good, goods: coolmaterial.com, CXXVI.net, redenvelope.com,urbanoutfitters.com, obeyclothing.com, needsupply.com.
