Christmas Presents for Guys - What to Buy Your Man
» By Shipwreck - Nov 25th, 2007
‘Twas just one month til Christmas,
and all through the house,
not a creature is stirring,
except for your brain ticking over what on earth you’re going to buy the man/men in your life for Christmas!!
Buying Christmas gifts for guys can be a chore, so Shipwreck’s here to give you some great ideas on buying your guy the perfect present.
Here’s the key - THINK PRACTICAL!
Ask Him First
Guys are very practical, so if they tell you what they want, and you buy it for them, they’ll be ecstatic. Why does your Dad always ask for socks for Christmas? - because he needs them!
What Interests Him?
Most guys have hobbies (other than the most important hobby of all - spending time with his girl), so think of something practical that they may need for that hobby.
Don’t Buy Presents That ‘Hint’
Coaxing a guy into something is not easy, so hinting him by buying your guy a Christmas present that hints at something you’re interested in can be a big mistake. Come back to what guys NEED, not what you THINK they SHOULD DO. Of course, if you’re hinting at something that you know 100% that you’ll both enjoy - go for it!
Males Count Differently to Females
I touched on this a few weeks ago in my post Scoring Points With The Opposite Sex. Guys count based on quantity, whereas girls count based on quality. If you buy your man lots of little presents or one MASSIVE present, you’ll be in his good books. It’s not to say that ladies are any less easy to please, but it’s a known fact that guys measure based on size/count. Even if it’s a silly present you’re buying, make sure it’s a big one. There’s nothing a guy likes more than unwrapping a present the size of a footy stadium!
If You’re Completely Stuck
A fluoro green shirt will win a man’s heart many times over (just kidding - I actually almost caught that shirt on fire on Saturday night trying to create some mood lighting at a birthday party!). And how cool is my ‘Shipwreck Santa’!
Here’s a couple of ideas that will get you thinking on the right track -
- Your local car shop - most guys love their cars, and are particularly affectionate to their particular brand of car. Buy him a key ring, good quality t-shirt, towel or anything else with that brand plastered over it.
- Smelly Stuff - guys can never have enough aftershave. Make sure you pick one that you like, and when he opens it show how much you love the smell. Remind him to wear it every time before he goes out (it’s a bit like training a dog…after a while he’ll learn to do it himself)
- Something he’ll show his mates - anything a guy can boast about to his friends is a winner. Pick something really cool or unusual that he will bring with him wherever he goes. You’ll be forever his if you do!
- Gadgets - http://www.latestbuy.com.au/ - this website has all sorts of cool gifts that guys would love. It’s got gadgets and other practical things (including a fluoro green Borat ‘mankini’!)
- Experiences - http://www.freemanx.com.au/ - send your man on a sky dive, ferrari ride, or even a swim with the dolphins.
Things to Avoid
- Clothes - be very selective if you are buying clothes. Don’t just assume “Oh he’ll like this”. If he doesn’t, you’ve burnt your opportunity to impress him big-time. If possible, take him clothes shopping with you - it’s about the only time that guys really enjoy shopping…when they’re spending your money!
- Gifts that you share - sorry ladies, but men can be selfish. They want things that they can add to their collection of ‘favourite things’. If it involves sharing, some of the excitement is dissipated.
- Gifts that eventually disappear - you want a long-lasting effect from the gift you buy, so make sure it lasts. Buying beer may get a big smile and kiss, but on Boxing Day it will most likely be gone. Buying car washing liquid is similar…3 months down the track it is gone. The best gifts are ones that he’ll use/keep/remember forever.
So there you have it. This Christmas when you’re looking at buying presents for guys, make sure you think PRACTICAL. He’ll love you for it!
Ladies - if you’ve ever bought a gift for a guy and got a wonderful/terrible response, tell us!
Men - if you’ve got something you loved/hated, we want to know!
Leave your much appreciated ‘2 cents worth’ on ideas for buying gifts for guys below!
Category: buying gifts for guys, how to please your partner, relationship advice, scoring points
What about things related to cooking, such as cook books? That’s practical!… or a box of kitchen gadgets, gourmet food, bottle of wine etc, lots of guys like to be chefs dont they or am I mistaken?
How the hell do you get a guy to wear aftershave? My partner avoids it like the plague! I comment on how nice aftershave smells on other guys but he doesn’t get the hint.
Susanah - great question. Some guys just don’t get the hint. The best thing to try is a reward system…basically you have to treat your man like a dog (seriously!). Men often miss underlying hints and emotions and therefore need something to pin important/relevant things to. If you ask him to wear aftershave in return for whatever you see as a fair swap, he will take a practical stance on this (see my previous post) and then more than likely agree to it (if he sees it as a fair swap). If this is done enough and he sees the joy it brings you, he will hopefully eventually get the hint that he should do it himself. Hope this helps! Good luck!
Buttercup - another great question. Whilst cook books are practical, you need to do one of the first things I mentioned first - ASK. I love cooking, but rarely do I have time. Whilst receiving a cook book for Christmas from my partner, mother or female friend would indeed be a lovely present, my chances of putting it to use in the short-medium term are not that great, and therefore may not value that gift as highly. Hope this helps!
Thank you for your comments ladies.
Shipwreck xx