Buying Gifts for Girlfriends: A Guide

So it’s that time. You have to get a gift for your girl.

Let’s take the generic path. Get annoyed, brood , conjure up fantasies about how much she will love, or hate, whatever you’re about to buy her. The usual gifts for girlfriends being: Chocolates. Tiffany’s Bracelet. Card. Flowers. Etc., etc., etc.

The more you spend… the more she will like? WRONG. The crazier your gift is, the more surprised and thrilled she’ll be? MAYBE. If you can’t quite figure out what gifting approach to take, browse some of the more known methods below – they might help you decide on the right approach.

The crazy / high risk of turning out terrible gift.

A well-known favorite of entrepreneurs and other guys who don’t think they fit the conventional mold, this entails renting out that parking lot overlooking the city, and setting up an Italian dinner with candles. It also entails getting “lost” in the woods in your 4x4, and “accidentally” having several six packs and a blanket in the bed of your truck. (Best in southern states). Skydiving also qualifies, along with haunted houses and other adrenaline provoking activities that most girls are afraid of.

The budget/cross your fingers approach.

A textbook play from guys that are tight on cash, and are second-guessing their level of commitment to their girl come gifting time. Horrible ideas that fit in this approach are pieces of bark with a heart and your initials carved into it, or the same on a tree somewhere on her street. Also terrible is anything you try to hand-make, like a picture frame out of popsicle sticks. Mixed CD’s might be your best bet. Just don’t upload your own MP3 crooning spots between songs – this rarely is impressive and can haunt you forever.

The baller/sometimes insincere approach.

Basically, if you have a lot of money, and don’t mind spending. She knows this already, so while a limousine, reservations at the finest restaurants, and an expensive necklace are very nice, it also might say, I like you as much as my car, i.e., another possession. Beware - too much financial security can breed insincerity. Your best bet here is a combination – get something nice, and do something crazy/budget that takes time. This says, “you are more than a stock in my portfolio that I need to keep stable”.

The fun approach.

If you’re a dude that knows how to have a good time, you are money! Take her out dancing, to a concert, or get some friends together to celebrate her birthday, or the other occasion (note – rowdy parties at your pad on V-day fall outside this spectrum). There is appropriate, and not appropriate. Use common sense. Using a fun approach, you even might be able to make terrible ideas like trying to act out a scene in a movie work for you. Booyahh! This becomes a great option for last minute valentine gifts.

The “we’re done” approach.

The only people who do this are idiots, inconsiderate, or people with simply no zest for life. Do something so half-baked that it’s obvious that you don’t care. We advise heavily against this one – it does nobody good, including yourself. Just don’t go here.

Our advice? Don’t freak out. Buying gifts for girlfriends should be fun. Buy what she thinks might be cool, not what you think is cool (like 2 all-day paintball passes). And if any of the above ideas have you saying, “OK”, then run with em. Remember, time well spent is better than money poorly spent, and it is the thought that is recognized, and ultimately counts.

A great place to get Romantic Gifts is Red Envelope. Also consider Tiffany’s, of course. Actually, do your shopping more on instinct –it’s less of a drag that way.

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