Getting your girlfriend a gift she’ll love isn’t difficult; the trick is to simply use what you already know about her! For many men, coming up with gift ideas for girlfriend is difficult because they don’t step far enough outside of the bias of the things they enjoy. To give your girlfriend something great, it may require a bit of careful consideration and creative thinking, but seeing her reaction when she opens a gift she loves will make it well worth the effort of a little thoughtfulness.
How to Think Up a Great Gift for Your Girlfriend
The first step in coming up with a great present for your girlfriend is to consider her personality and interests. Although a gaming system or a movie might be a good gift, if your girlfriend isn’t a huge gamer or a movie buff, these gifts may be appreciated, but likely won’t create the wow factor that something tailored to her interests would.
Some good questions to ask yourself when pondering what to give your girlfriend might be:
- -What does she do in her spare time?
- -Does she ever say she wishes she could have/do anything in particular?
- -Is she girly? Athletic? Artsy? A fashionista? A baking nut/cooking enthusiast? A romantic? Introverted? (Etc.)
The answers to these questions will give you a starting point for coming up with gift ideas for girlfriend. For example, if your girlfriend likes to go jogging or heads to the gym in her spare time, consider finding out her shoe size (sneakily, of course!) if you know her running shoes are wearing out. If she loves to go shopping in her free time, you could pick out something special from her favorite store (keeping her style in mind). Make sure to double check what size she wears, and consider whether she likes to get brand names or whether she’s a bang for the buck kind of woman. If your girlfriend is one of those who seems to never have much free time, think about what things keep her busy and consider something that would help free up her time (perhaps something as simple as a homemade coupon book that includes some things you can do to help her out would be a great present for her) or something that would allow her to pamper herself.
If you can recall any items your girlfriend has said she wanted, or something she wishes she could do but hasn’t (i.e. get her nails done, take dance lessons, etc.), these are great clues when considering gift ideas for girlfriend. If she once mentioned really wanting to take yoga classes, for example, don’t be shy—look up some nearby places that offer some lessons, check the reviews, and sign her up! She’ll be delighted she finally gets to do what she loves, and trust me, you’ll get brownie points for remembering.
Gift Ideas for Girlfriend – Dos and Don’ts
Taking into account your girlfriend’s personality and what she loves to do is a huge indicator of the direction you should take when thinking of a present to give to her, but there are some other important things to keep in mind as well—such as a few areas to avoid when thinking of gift ideas for girlfriend.
- 1. Don’t give her anything that involves work. A new vacuum cleaner might be far superior to the one she has, but giving her something associated with household chores won’t make her feel special, and it may even offend some women. Unless cooking is her number one hobby, be sure to avoid kitchen supplies as well!
- 2. She may watch the game with you, but unless she’s a die-hard fan, steer clear of sports-related gifts. Even if she claims to like the Steelers (or whichever team you love) too, resist the urge to buy her that shirt/jersey you think she’d look hot in; keep in mind that the present is supposed to be for her, not you!
- 3. Even well-intended gifts sometimes go wrong—avoid this by asking yourself if the gift targets a bad habit or would make her feel like you want her to change. For example, even if she says she wants to lose weight or quit smoking, giving her a practical gift to help her out in these areas will probably come off the wrong way.
Instead, some better gift ideas for girlfriend should address one or more of these areas:
- 1. It has something to do with her interests or personality. Not only will she be bound to love the gift, she’ll also love seeing the proof that you know her so well!
- 2. The gift would make her feel special or pampered. A massage, spa package, her favorite flowers, a pretty dress (in her size!), or jewelry are all things she probably wouldn’t ordinarily buy for herself. Thus, such things would make her feel extra special if she receives them from you.
- 3. It is something she mentioned wanting to do or have. She’ll love the fact that you remembered just as much as the present itself.
Lastly, a key thing to keep in mind when thinking up gift ideas for girlfriend is how long you have been in a relationship (and also how serious the relationship is). If you’ve been together for a few weeks or months, it may be wise to hold off on extremely romantic gifts (if the two of you aren’t head-over-heels in love) and lingerie. With lingerie, it’s important to keep in mind how long you’ve been with her, as you most likely don’t want her to think you’re with her for the wrong reasons. However, if you know her well, and know she’d be delighted by pretty lingerie, then by all means go for it! Just remember once again to double check the size she wears, as getting this wrong might cause offense.
Best of luck on your gift ideas for girlfriend, and happy shopping!