What Should I Get Him/Her?

[Cognitive_Canine]

I ask for gift advice because I tend to go on tangents with things I think are great ideas and I need someone to tell me otherwise.....

 

However, I've had my bf's picked out since mid october. I know what his birthday present is going to be too....

[sophie274]

I find it hard to come up with gift ideas for my boyfriend. He has a few select hobbies, but I can't really afford to buy anything for those.

 

He's not into any kind of fashion, doesn't want a watch, doesn't wear cologne. As far as music/DVDs, I know his taste but don't share it, so would have trouble picking out something appropriate - and also those gifts strike me as not so personal. I am very picky about the presents that I buy. I really enjoy buying great presents, and often do, so I don't want to settle for just anything that would be ok. I want to get something that he LOVES. So, it can be a bit difficult ...

 

This is also a problem buying for my family. My mother has extraordinarily expensive and picky taste, and my father has a few VERY expensive hobbies.

 

So, I think it can be a challenge. Even if you know someone very well, it can be hard to find something that they will love that fits into your budget.

[sophie274]

Interesting...I think my situation w/my bf is quite similar. He spends a lot of time studying because his program is not demanding. And when he is not studying, he is with me or out at bars with friends. And when he's not doing that he is playing soccer (but he already has all he needs for that) or coming up with business ideas (no idea what I would get that is related to that).

 

Warren Buffet's autobiography! LOL. Got that for my dad this year! It's not super sexy, but if you're really reaching ...

[lady00]

Warren Buffet's autobiography! LOL. Got that for my dad this year! It's not super sexy, but if you're really reaching ...

 

Oh, I already got him something actually. But it was not easy to come up with. It's mainly functional and I know he'll get use out of it.

[sophie274]

Oh, I already got him something actually. But it was not easy to come up with. It's mainly functional and I know he'll get use out of it.

 

I hope you will save my fantastic gift idea for his birthday then ! (kidding)

 

Just wait until you have been in a relationship for awhile! Honestly every one of my boyfriend's birthdays and Xmases I feel like I am scraping the bottom of the barrel. I always find something good in the end, but I seriously agonize over what to get. He has recently expressed an interest in making his wardrobe over, and not dressing so casually, so I guess that gives me a license to just buy him clothes from now on!

[ghost69]

okay look, i understand it can be a challenge to buy for an SO. but not knowing what your SO is into doesn't help ENAers narrow it down for you on these posts. get it now?

 

 

'what are they into?'

 

'i have no idea.'

 

who are you dating, air? you have to interact with an SO, you have to know their personality. you want us to help, give us something. just saying, 'well, he's human and we dated for 8 months' doesn't help much.

[SapphireNoir10]

My mum and dad have been married twenty years and my mums GREAT at thinking of really thoughtful things and presents and then my dad would be the kinda guy to post here and say 'what the heck do I get my wife?' not cos he doesnt care its just he doesnt know what she'd feel WOW about.

 

Myself, I think you pick up on things in conversation, like you might remember something they said they wanted or something related to a hobby they mention. I've been with my bf 4 months and I knew lotsa things to get him because we talk a lot.

 

However. Everyones different I guess. Some of my friends have a tough time even if their boyfriends have hobbies or interests they like to ask around to get peoples POV's on whats a good general present or get insight on what others have found.

 

Like Lady said she knows about general interests her boyfriend has but couldnt think of any specific.

 

Its just to do with everyone and every relationship being different. Doesnt seem THAt weird to me to want to get insight.

[ghost69]

but if your dad posted looking for something to get her i would ask, 'what is she into?' and he would know. that is ALL this thread is about. not that the person doesn't care or isn't creative or anything like that. it's why oh why do you NOT know your SO? too vague of posts on this subject. give us something to help these types of posts out.

 

'what do i get my SO?'

 

'what is she into?'

 

'i dunno, but she's female.'

[hockeyboy]

but if your dad posted looking for something to get her i would ask, 'what is she into?' and he would know. that is ALL this thread is about. not that the person doesn't care or isn't creative or anything like that. it's why oh why do you NOT know your SO? too vague of posts on this subject. give us something to help these types of posts out.

 

'what do i get my SO?'

 

'what is she into?'

 

'i dunno, but she's female.'

 

Exactly. I think everyone agrees here more then we think. The problem is not with people looking for advice on what to buy their SO, but rather with people not knowing anything about their SO.

 

I'll quote myself:

 

I don't think anyone took issue with the thought of some people being tough to buy for...but rather took issue that some people don't seem to know what their S/O is into.

 

For example, I like hockey and am into it in many aspects. If the girl I'm dating knows this but still is not sure what to get me because she doesn't know much about hockey, then that's one thing...but if she didn't know I was into hockey, that would be a major issue.

 

Somehow people seem to be thinking Ghost and I don't think it's okay to ask for advice about gifts...when that's not the problem at all.

[ghost69]

some more perspective to help others relate to what i'm trying to convey:

 

thread starts:

 

'my gf is such a pain. help please.'

 

'what does she do that is so bad?'

 

'i dunno.'

 

then here comes my advice:

 

'i dunno. good luck.'

[blue69]

Feel better yet?

[ghost69]

Feel better yet?

 

about what?

[lady00]

Firiel pretty much summed it up for me.

[Siriana]

I'm with lady00 on this one.

 

I am with my bf for 2 years and to tell you the truth..he's one of those persons who really don't enjoy receiving gifts (like giving them though).

He always says don't spend the money on me.

So I have no idea what to get him.

He's is not into sports, his only hobby is doing stuff with is own arms (he made me a table and a tv stand), he doesn't really read (except cook books) and he is not crazy about the music (if i wanna go to the concert we go), he is not into computer gadgets...

 

So sometimes when we go to the mall around his birthday he ends up liking something (this year 2 cook books of fish dishes and I bought him that).

Or if he doesn't like anything and I ask him what he wants and he says nothing I just buy him a nice shirt.

He is not crazy about buying clothes and is cheap when it comes to that so this is a present that is most useful to him.

 

Me, well i am a person who hates surprises.

i like to order my presents.

never expensive.

so my bf has no worries.

I hate presents that are not useful and I hate when someone spends money on something I don't like. It's a pure waste. And i have demanding and weird taste soooo.....

This year for Christmas he ordered me a book I asked for, and as a bonus he got me a cute little perfume (just to surprise me - he likes surprising me - and to tell you the truth the perfume gives me a headache, if only he asked which one to get me.....)

 

So yes, some of us..we are weird. J/k

it's more about having interests that are not correlated with "what to buy question?"

interests that don't ask for material stuff.

 

I want some stuff I can't afford myself -and neither is he able to spend money on them....so he has no idea what that stuff is - it would make him sad he can't buy it since he's very generous toward me and would buy me whatever i want - that's the reason i never say a word.

That's the reason why I never look at jewellery windows with him or expensive real leather bags.

[ghost69]

well, in my opinion, i would be bored in your situations.