Christmas presents for significant others

adpiucf · #1 12-13-2006, 05:54 PM

My boyfriend really needs some "Friday night date" clothes so I bought him a pair of jeans and a sweater at ExpressMen.

I think depending on your budget...
$35-75 dating under 6 months
$55-100 dating over 6 months

Then again, it could be more or less, depending upon your financial situation. Or you could take a trip together, pay for concert tickets, a theme park visit, etc., rather than something material.

For the man who has everything, I say go for an accessory having to do with his hobbies: a state of the art bike pump for the cycling enthusiast or a gift certificate to REI for the guy who loves camping; a gift certificate for a massage or a hair cut at an upscale salon, gifts that remind him of his favorite sports team or alma mater, etc. Homemade gifts and dinners are always appreciated; just make sure any homemade gifts aren't overly cutesy to offend their masculinity.

KSig RC · #2 12-13-2006, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Homemade gifts and dinners are always appreciated; just make sure any homemade gifts aren't overly cutesy to offend their masculinity.

Like, say, a scarf.

Seriously - say "no" to knitted scarves, unless he's a "scarf guy" . . . chances are he'd rather have a backrub and some doing it.

Bottom line: if you wouldn't buy it for him (like food), it's probably not right to make it for him, unless you wouldn't buy it because of the expense.

valkyrie · #3 12-13-2006, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Like, say, a scarf.

Seriously - say "no" to knitted scarves, unless he's a "scarf guy" . . . chances are he'd rather have a backrub and some doing it.

Bottom line: if you wouldn't buy it for him (like food), it's probably not right to make it for him, unless you wouldn't buy it because of the expense.

I was wondering about this -- I sometimes hear about women making scrapbook-y type things or collages for their guys and have to admit I'm pretty WTF about that. Do guys LIKE this stuff? I don't even like this stuff and I'm female -- I'd break out in hives if anybody got near me with anything related to scrapbooks. Then I'd go have a beer -- hey, that would be a good gift. You could do the Twelve Beers of Christmas.

ufdale · #4 12-13-2006, 06:15 PM

My boyfriend is a photographer as a part time thing and he always makes me a great photo album of all of our photos photoshopped. The photos aren't photoshopped for blemishes, (lol it's not "look honey I made you pretty"), he makes some of the photos black and white and he messes with the colors. He spends months working on it (an hour or two a night). It's really really interesting and neat to look at. It's probably my favorite gift.
lol Valkyrie it's not cutesy either.

valkyrie · #5 12-13-2006, 06:17 PM

LOL that doesn't sound tacky or cutesy -- it sounds really nice.

ufdale · #6 12-13-2006, 06:21 PM

haha the bf just read what I wrote when I got up to get a drink and he called me a suck up!!!

KSig RC · #7 12-13-2006, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufdale

My boyfriend is a photographer as a part time thing and he always makes me a great photo album of all of our photos photoshopped. The photos aren't photoshopped for blemishes, (lol it's not "look honey I made you pretty"), he makes some of the photos black and white and he messes with the colors. He spends months working on it (an hour or two a night). It's really really interesting and neat to look at. It's probably my favorite gift.
lol Valkyrie it's not cutesy either.

This is as far different from knitting the average dude a scarf as is humanly possible - and it sounds like a pretty solid gift, too, but surely you can see the difference?

ufdale · #8 12-13-2006, 06:57 PM

It's not similar to knitting, but it's very similar to a scrapbook. Especially since it's cronological and it covers vacations and birthday and whatnot.

valkyrie · #9 12-13-2006, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufdale

It's not similar to knitting, but it's very similar to a scrapbook. Especially since it's cronological and it covers vacations and birthday and whatnot.

No way. A photo album made by a professional photographer is WAY different from a scrapbook.

ISUKappa · #10 12-13-2006, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufdale

It's not similar to knitting, but it's very similar to a scrapbook. Especially since it's cronological and it covers vacations and birthday and whatnot.

Naw, scrapbooking involves paper cutouts and cutesy stickers. I would put this more on par with a photo album, but cooler.

This year, the husband is getting an air compressor and clothes. Nothing says I love you like power tools. Though, the 12 beers of Christmas is a damn good idea.

Rudey · #11 12-17-2006, 03:26 PM

I can't decide if you should dump him because he needs Friday night date clothes or he should end things because you bought him clothing from ExpressMen.

And I have easily determined that overpiced designer jewelry (like meandrojewelry.com) takes a lot less time and a lot less thought. Thanks to all the previous girls I dated for making gift buying so much easier for the next girl.

-Rudey

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

My boyfriend really needs some "Friday night date" clothes so I bought him a pair of jeans and a sweater at ExpressMen.

I think depending on your budget...
$35-75 dating under 6 months
$55-100 dating over 6 months

Then again, it could be more or less, depending upon your financial situation. Or you could take a trip together, pay for concert tickets, a theme park visit, etc., rather than something material.

For the man who has everything, I say go for an accessory having to do with his hobbies: a state of the art bike pump for the cycling enthusiast or a gift certificate to REI for the guy who loves camping; a gift certificate for a massage or a hair cut at an upscale salon, gifts that remind him of his favorite sports team or alma mater, etc. Homemade gifts and dinners are always appreciated; just make sure any homemade gifts aren't overly cutesy to offend their masculinity.

LeslieAGD · #12 12-18-2006, 11:08 AM

My husband and I have been together for over three years and we usually spend about $100-150 on each other each year.
This year I got him two DVD box set collections, a hockey t-shirt, and some office supplies.

ThetaLove · #13 12-26-2006, 08:58 PM

Thanks for all the advice!

I finally decided to get him 2 DVD's that he wanted, an LSU stocking filled with candy, little presents, etc. and an LSU mat that is really nice. He liked them all!