Men are well-known to be difficult to shop for even for the greatest of shoppers. Yet we love them and just as we love for them to shower us with gifts, we (on occasion) give them gifts in return.
How long do you normally take to plan and purchase the perfect gift for your sweetheart?
Eli and I celebrated our anniversary over the Labour Day weekend but brainstorming for gifts started about 4-5 months ago. For someone who shops at every opportunity and constantly inspired by the “Oh! That is so Eli, I have to get him those” thoughts, you would think it is easy to decide what to get him. Unfortunately not.
The regular things I see while shopping are never special enough to give him on a “real” occasion. I could get him a shirt for a “happy weekend!” But I cannot get him the same for birthday, Christmas or anniversary. These three are what I consider “big holidays”.
I think about what to get him constantly.
Here’s how to shop, find and buy the perfect gift for your man, just some practical self-tested tips:
- Review what he has – is there anything that could be replaced? Or that he needs more of? (Tip: these are usually items that are not for the “big holidays” unless they are big budget items)
- Review what he has been talking to you about of late. Especially when it comes to the things he enjoys. Has he been talking about something that would make this or that perfect?
- If you saw something in the store and not sure if he would use/like it, ASK HIM. Try, “Do you use ‘this’?” or, “If I got you ‘this’, would you use it?” Don’t get offended if he says no, just forget about it and save yourself any heartache.
- If and when you are out shopping together, try to take a moment away from looking out for your own goodies, but pay a little attention to whether he is looking at something too. For example, shoe shopping, while waiting for the sales assistant to bring out your shoe size, take a peep at your man. Perhaps he is trying out a pair of shoes himself!
- In reference to the point above: You DO NOT have to buy him that pair of shoes (or whatever it was he was looking at), but you can talk to him and figure out something in relation to that item he was looking at.
Armed with those ideas on what he may need/want and will have a very high chance of using, trawl the mall and the Internet. What is the latest in that particular “department” and how practical does that fit your lifestyle and your budget? Don’t make hasty purchase decisions – something I am so prone to doing.
Coming up:
PREPARING THE GIFT I: Shopping
PREPARING THE GIFT II: Home-made card
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