10 Amazing Gift Ideas For Your Guy Or Gal
It seems there’s always a holiday on the horizon and we’re faced with yet another occasion to purchase our loved one a gift. Before you know it, we’re on the hunt for a meaningful present, customized trinket, or new subscription to express our feelings. Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, Christmas, or another one of the important days bombarding us throughout the year, we can quickly be at a loss for ideas.
Here, we’ve got gift ideas for travelers, outdoorsy couples, and those who prefer to relax with a bottle of wine and watch something at home. There are also things for sweethearts with a sweet tooth and culinary connoisseurs. This list is, by no means, all-inclusive. Enjoy it as a starting point, whether your relationship is long-term or brand new.
1. Personalized items
We love discovering a product that fits our mate. Jewelry, home goods, and the like are even better if an option to customize it with a name or message is available. Just be mindful of cheap items that may seem like a good idea but quickly end up in the trash.
2. Photo displays
Nothing is better than watching someone you love become emotional because you’ve given them a framed photo, collage, or album of special memories. In this digital age, we have lots of pictures on our devices, but we rarely have them printed. People still love to see important moments sitting on their desk or hanging on the wall. You might include hanging such prints for them. Another way to raise the bar is with a professional photo shoot. Use those pictures to create your gift.
3. Clever clothing
Receiving unique socks, shirts, or pajamas you’ve never seen is a blast. Look for items based on what your partner will actually wear and enjoy. Be sure to know the correct size and don’t buy something that you want to see them in but they’ll never wear. This mistake is sometimes made with personal wear such as lingerie. If you know where your lover likes to shop but aren’t absolutely sure what they want, get a gift card and wrap it in a surprising way.
4. Candy and chocolate
It goes without saying, but most of us love goodies. Find out your partner’s favorite and get the good stuff, which is probably not the cheap cardboard heart filled with crappy chocolates from Walmart. Gourmet gummies, berries, and retro candies they loved as a kid are thoughtful gifts and may again stir emotion if they haven’t eaten them in a long time.
5. New adventures
Has your special someone hinted at a new interest? We are curious creatures and are always exploring the world around us. What we enjoyed when we were younger often changes over the years. It’s not unusual to have a sudden passion for cooking, calligraphy, or cowbell playing. If a new hobby or activity has been alluded to, consider providing access to a class, starter set, or outing to get the ball rolling. Life is an adventure and it’s meant to be shared!
6. Flowers and plants
You can’t go wrong with a beautiful bouquet of their favorite flowers. Have them delivered to their work for maximum impact. Be sure your partner gets them in water with a floral preservative quickly, as they will last only a few days. Another option is buy a plant they love and offer that in a unique or hand-made pot or planter. If you enjoy landscaping, perhaps you can surprise them with one or more additions already in the ground. A great gift includes the work required to enjoy it, unless you know the recipient would rather do it themselves.
7. Kitchen gadgets
This can be tricky because we’re not suggesting that a new toaster is a romantic present, unless you really like toasted food. When it comes to items for the kitchen, try to find something that you both can enjoy together. Examples are a new espresso machine or soda system. Think of it as an item that you know you’d both like but might not ordinarily purchase.
8. Perfumes and colognes
A great scent on your lover is exhilarating. Get the product they love most if they are running low. While tried and true scents are great, casually see if they are interested in something different. New scents are being released regularly. You could purchase several sample sizes and let them have fun trying each. Many people don’t know that perfumes and colognes can expire. Over time, scents can turn. Shopping for replacements and fresh scents is a no brainer.
9. Alcohol and a party
Sure, a bottle of a favorite red or a six-pack of a beloved beer is a nice gift. You can go one better, however, and learn more about the alcohol they love to drink. How about a wine subscription based on preferences or a sampler case of beers from around the world? If they like vodka, spring for a premium product they might not typically buy like Grey Goose. If they’ve ever said anything about brewing at home or other accessories, now is the time. Paying attention to your partner’s tastes and giving something more than the expected can make for a very rewarding “thank you.”
Bonus: add a surprise party to the mix to enjoy the beverages and mix it up with friends and family. You’ll be a hero.
10. Date or a getaway
We don’t always take the breaks we need and a weekend getaway can be incredibly refreshing. Plan a romantic date or trip that gets you both out of town for a few days. Toss in a new bag or luggage set as part of the gift. It doesn’t sound exciting, but luggage can be thrilling when a getaway is already planned for it. Better yet, bags and a surprise trip on a Friday after you’ve cleared the weekend schedule is a homerun. Top it off with a special dinner out or one that you’ve cooked yourself.
Hopefully, your creative juices are now flowing with lots of fresh ideas for the next gift to your significant other. The concept is simple: make a little effort to understand what they really want and find a way to give it.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be outdoing each other as you provide thoughtful presents given with lots of love. You’ll also discover that you’ll never be at a loss for gift ideas, regardless of the occasion!
