With the holiday season coming up, it is time to start thinking about the perfect gift for your boyfriend. It isn’t always easy though, dads and boyfriends are probably the most difficult to shop for. Why? Because they are men, men that you love, and you just want to get them something special.

As a rule of thumb we’d like you to remember that the notion of the perfect Christmas gift is very different to men and women. While you would love to get a romantic, handmade gift like a scrapbook, he’s probably hoping for Call of Duty: Black Ops. Most boys and men enjoy gifts that are practical and useful, something they would buy for themselves. To get you on the right track, we’ll present you a couple of winners and some common mistakes that you’ll want to avoid.

Don’t buy!

pampering products

You might love to get lovely scented soap or a new fragrance, but he probably doesn’t care too much. Furthermore he may even be offended and take it as a hint to put more effort into his grooming. It’s also the kind of gift you would rather give to a distant relative as it’s not very personal.

Clothes

We have all tried this: buying our men clothes we would love to see them in, but that he doesn’t normally wear. That also means we know his response to this kind of gift… Unless he has really expressed an interest in a particular item he wants, stay away from clothes.

Romantic gifts

How cute, a framed picture of you two in sepia tone! At least, for you it is. It’s not that men don’t care about declarations of love, but they’re just not that much into cheesy, fluffy gifts. Also, don’t write him a song or a poem. That’s his task.

Gift certificates

Gift cards are just too boring and easy. Of course he will get something he likes, but you might as well give him the dollars. Doesn’t show him you care.

Buy!

An experience

This could be a ticket to go see his favorite speaker, rock band or sports team. This way you show him that you  know what he loves. For the more adventurous boyfriend or husband you could pick something like sky diving or bungee jumping that he won’t easily forget. By the way, always purchase at least two tickets for the event so he can take you or a friend with him.

Gadgets

Somewhat impersonal and a bit of a classic, but it always works. Men just love their toys. Whether it’s a game console, iPod, new computer game or smartphone, he will love it. Just make sure to do some research first, you don’t want to get the wrong one. Oh and don’t shoot us when he spends all his time playing with your gift.

A watch

Watches are kind of a safe bet, but they are a great way to upgrade his style in a subtle way.  Make sure to get the looks right, maybe you could ‘accidently’  pass by a few stores together to get an idea of what he likes. Btw designer sunglasses are great too, makes him feel like James Bond.

A book

Buying books on some of his favorite subjects is an excellent way to shows him you care about his interests, plus it’s something he can enjoy for a while. Mind however, books are only recommended if he actually has an interest in reading.

Something fun

Boys will be boys. If you want to get your boyfriend something fun, you can find some great suggestions over at Amazon or here. Or why not get him a personal autograph from his preferred celebrity?

So there you have it, your boyfriend will be up in the clouds and you’re in for some serious pampering girl! Remember, it’s not about the money. Focus on what’s important to him by listening to stuff he can’t stop talking about and you really can’t go wrong.

Good luck,
Alison