Buy Your Girlfriend the Perfect Gift

Trying to think of the perfect gift can be a daunting prospect. With so many options, it's hard to know what would make the perfect gift for your girlfriend. It's important to remember that the most important part of buying a gift for anyone is to make them feel like you really know them. With a little consideration, you can be sure to see a happy face when she opens the box.

Steps

Coming Up With an Idea

  1. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until the last minute. By planning ahead, you can decide on a romantic gesture or present that fits the occasion, and you'll have the time to execute it. It also gives you time to order online if you need to.
  2. Brainstorm ideas. Take some time to brainstorm three lists: a list of things she likes, a list of things you like about her, and a list of things you have in common, which can include inside jokes or memories. Use these lists as inspiration for gift ideas.
    • For instance, if you know she loves cooking, you could get her an apron printed with some of your favorite pictures together.
  3. Consider a practical gift. Many people appreciate practical gifts. Be careful with this option, though; you don’t want to give something too boring or mundane. A good question to ask yourself is, “Is this something she will eventually wind up buying for herself if I don’t?” If the answer is yes, don’t buy it. A good gift should be something she loves and/or can use, but she would not buy for herself.[1]
    • For instance, maybe she keeps eyeing a fancy kitchen gadget, but she never has the extra cash to shell out for it, which would make it the perfect gift.
  4. Use recent conversations. It's possible she's intentionally dropped a hint about something she may want. Alternatively, maybe you two have talked about something she's really into lately, which can help guide your gift. Using what she says as a source of gift-giving inspiration will ensure you get her something she genuinely likes, and show her that you listen to what she says.
    • For instance, maybe she's said, "Taylor Swift's music always makes me happy. I really want to get her new CD."
  5. Look at her Pinterest. If she has one, this is a fantastic resource for figuring out what she wants without asking her directly.[2] Another source could be her Amazon wishlist, if it's public. Just make sure you're not buying her something that she already owns.
  6. Consider her love language. "Love language" is a term used by Gary Chapman to describe what people need to feel loved. If you can figure out your girlfriend's love language, you can get her something she truly wants and make her feel loved. One way you can figure out her love language is to ask her to take a quiz at 5lovelanguages.com. Don't worry, she'll probably find it romantic that you want to know her love language.[3]
    • The first love language is words of affirmation. That means that person feels the most loved when she hears words of appreciation or affection.[4]
    • The second love language is acts of service, which means that person feels the most loved when you do actions for her, such as taking over a chore.[4]
    • The third love language is receiving gifts, which is as it sounds; this person feels loved when you shower her with gifts.[4]
    • For people who value quality time, just spending time with you is the most important thing.[4]
    • For people whose love language is physical touch, being close to you is important, from holding hands to having intimate moments.[4]
  7. Ask her what she wants. Use good judgment here; some girls will appreciate your consideration in asking, while others may find it strange. If you do ask her for help, avoid just asking, “What do you want?” Instead, ask her for a list of things or types of things she's had her eye on. This way she won't know exactly what she's getting.[5]

Making Her Gift

  1. Make her something. This option is great if you don’t have much money, and often, your girlfriend will value it more if it you made it. Making a gift takes more time and effort than just buying something online, but it doesn't need to take days. Plus, you know it will be unique. Don't worry, you don't have to be Van Gogh to make a beautiful gift she'll love.
  2. Make a scrapbook or frame a photo. Since most photos are on the computer or phone these days, actually giving her physical photos can be nice. You can either put photos in a simple scrapbook or frame several photos of you two together.[6]
  3. Put together her favorite drink. Whether she loves tea or hot cocoa, try putting together a little kit of her favorite beverage. For instance, for hot cocoa, you could make a homemade cocoa mix with little packets of marshmallows and several small bottles of Bailey's on the side.[7] If she likes tea, try making an arrangement of all her favorites, plus some fancy honey. Include a fancy mug to top it off.
  4. Create some homemade bath bombs. If your girl loves to soak in the tub, making bath bombs will be perfect for her. Pick an essential oil she'll love to scent them, and she'll be in bliss.
    • To make a bath bomb, simply mix 2 cups of cornstarch with 1 cup of citric acid, and 1 3/4 a cup of baking soda by shaking it through a sieve.[8]
    • Fill up small spray bottles with water. If you want to color you bath fizzies, add 6 drops of food coloring.[8]
    • Measure out 1 cup of powered mixture. Use the spray bottles to add small amounts of water to the powder. Mix it up after each spray. The mixture is ready when it holds together when squeezed.[8]
    • Add in the essential oil. For an essential oil with a heavy fragrance (such as peppermint), add 5 drops; use 6 if it's lighter (such as lemon). Stir the fragrance in. Put the mixture in small baking molds, preferably ones that hold about 1/4 cup, enough for one bath. If smaller, use two bath bombs per bath. Repeat for the rest of the dry mixture.[8]

Doing Something Nice for Her as a Gift

  1. Clean the house. Maybe you don't want a clean house to be the whole gift, but if you live with your girlfriend, showing you care by cleaning the house is a nice gesture. Make sure you think about all the regular chores, from cleaning the bathroom to doing the laundry.[6]
  2. Make her food. You could make her brownies (mixes make brownies very easy), and you customize them by adding chocolate chips, caramels, candy, or raspberry preserves, anything she'd like. Don't forget to take her allergies and likes and dislikes into consideration. Alternatively, if you want to step it up, try making a whole meal. Pick a simple recipe or play to your strengths.[9]
  3. Shine up her car. If she's like most people, she doesn't always have the time to keep her car in order. Find a way to "borrow" her car. Take it out, and clean it up, inside and out. Just be sure not to throw anything away--that could lead to trouble!

Finding a Unique Gift

  1. Look at handcrafted websites. Handcrafted websites offer a variety of gifts that are unique. You can find something tailored to what your girl loves or even have a gift customized to her. Check out websites such as Etsy, Custom Made, and Shana Logic.[10]
  2. Try craft or art fairs. Like websites with arts and crafts, you can find one-of-a-kind gifts at local art shows and craft fairs. While sometimes the prices can be high, you're paying for a truly special gift and supporting your local economy at the same time.
  3. Find something in line with her passions. For instance, if your girlfriend loves drawing, art supplies are definitely an appropriate choice. However, so is a book about art, or a painting by her favorite artist (if you can afford it). Have the gift line up with things she loves.
  4. Take it a step up. For instance, if she loves books, giving her a book is an obvious choice. However, you can go one step further. Instead of just getting her any book, try to get a copy of her favorite book signed by the author. That will make it truly unique and special.[6]

Giving Her an Experience

  1. Try picking something you can do together. Instead of giving her something she'll set on her shelf, try giving her something you can go out and do. Whether it's something you both love or something you don't like as much but she does, it will make an unforgettable gift.[5]
    • For instance, try getting tickets to a musical or play. Alternatively, you could buy tickets for a local symphony.[5]
  2. Consider giving her a more long-term experience. For instance, try getting her into a painting class if she's always loved painting. Alternatively, you both could try a beer-brewing class together if she loves beer, which could turn into a life-long passion. Just make sure it's something she's passionate about, which you should know from paying attention to what she says and does.
  3. Try a small trip. Even a short jaunt to a cabin nearby can be romantic under the right conditions. It doesn't have to be super expensive, as long as you think about what you your girlfriend likes. For instance, if she isn't super outdoorsy, take her for small getaway in a nearby city or quaint small town.[6]
    • For an even smaller getaway, try staying one night at a fancy hotel in town.[11]
    • Another option is a "staycation." Basically, you both take a day off from work and make fun plans in the city you live in. For instance, you could make her a picnic and go to a park or go to a concert at the botanical gardens.[11]

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

  1. Consider the occasion. While it might be nice to give a girl a sweet, handmade card to celebrate your 1-month anniversary, a huge romantic gesture will probably freak her out and put too much pressure on the relationship. Likewise, a handmade card will probably not cut it for a 1-year anniversary. However, you have to consider what your girlfriend wants, too; some girls like to make a big deal out of events like birthdays and Valentine's Day, while others prefer to keep things more casual.
  2. Avoid gifts that are more for you than her. A skimpy outfit or tickets to a sporting event she doesn’t really care about will not earn you any points. Make sure you think about your girlfriend, not yourself, when selecting a gift.
  3. Don't fall back on clichés. Popular culture is full of depictions of men giving women teddy bears, heart necklaces, and roses. While some girls may appreciate feeling like they are in a romantic comedy, most will prefer a gift that shows you really know them, and don’t think of them as a two-dimensional stereotype.
    • If you are out of time and ideas, at least consider buying a stuffed version of her favorite animal instead of a generic teddy bear, a bouquet of her favorite flowers instead of roses, or a necklace that somehow reminds you of her instead of just a typical heart pendant.[12]
  4. Be wary of clothing and jewelry. While these can seem like great ideas, you should think twice about giving clothing or jewelry unless you are very confident that you know your girlfriend’s tastes. It is always a good idea to include a receipt with wearable gifts, so that your girlfriend has the option of exchanging your gift for something that suits her better.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/practical-yet-clever-gifts-that-are-anything-but-lame#.cbN6361Xw
  2. ↑ http://www.collegemagazine.com/10-gifts-your-girlfriend-actually-wants/2
  3. ↑ http://www.5lovelanguages.com/
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/communication-and-conflict/learn-to-speak-your-spouses-love-language/understanding-the-five-love-languages
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://www.beyondtalk.net/girl-boy-friend-gift
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 http://aplus.com/a/creative-gifts-that-women-girlfriend-want
  7. ↑ http://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/awesome-diy-gifts-you-can-make-in-under-an-hour#.digvvZ9qVk
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 http://www.marthastewart.com/280275/how-to-make-bath-fizzies
  9. ↑ http://zenhabits.net/30-frugal-gift-ideas-to-show-you-appreciate-someone/
  10. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/03/best-websites-for-unique-gifts_n_4372626.html
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 http://thoughtcatalog.com/christine-stockton/2014/11/gifts-you-should-buy-your-girlfriend-this-holiday/
  12. ↑ http://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/surprise-your-girlfriend
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