This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Old Spice and Gillette at Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine.
I’m making a list and checking it twice. There are several names on my list. Some of them I know exactly what I’m getting them. For others it may take a little more time. It seems like I know exactly what to buy my daughter’s and my friends. But even after all these years of marriage, or knowing my father my whole life sometimes it can be difficult to know just what to get men as a gift. I want it to be practical enough that they will use AND enjoy it. I want them to be surprised by it but not so much that they don’t know how to respond. I want it to be meaningful and memorable.
Gift Giving Tips
Need a little help deciding on the perfect gift for the special guy in your life? It can be difficult whether it’s your father, boyfriend, husband, brother or friend. Keep these tips in mind and use our free printable cheat sheet to help you with your gift giving brainstorming session keeping these tips in mind.
How long have you been in this relationship? The length of a relationship can make a difference when giving a gift. Remember some gifts have significant meaning behind them, meaning that while you may say these thoughts and experience them a Christmas gift may not be the best time to express these emotions – especially if it is a surprise and other family members are involved.
What is the gift giving setting? Are the two of you snuggled up enjoying eggnog or another seasonal beverage? Is it a great big party with 100 of your closest friends? Or is it the BIG family holiday with parents and extended family. Gifts that have a special meaning may be best shared together, but for gift giving in a group you may want to save the more romantic gestures for time spent alone.
Think outside the box. Just because you are going to wrap it and place it underneath the tree doesn’t mean it has to be a gift in a box. Think outside of the box and find experiences like concert tickets, sporting events, or activities he normally doesn’t treat himself to. Be sure to get two tickets, that way you can share the joy with him. Everything is more fun with a special someone beside you.
Consider his interests, activities and hobbies. Does the special man in your life have a favorite band? Sports Team? Does he enjoy golfing or participate on a sports team? Maybe he enjoys beer, movies or wines. Know what he is interested in and you are very close to knowing what to get him. Listen when he makes off hand remarks like, “I really should get a new . . . ” or “I wish I had . . . ” and file that away for future present purchasing.
Get creative and share your talents. Do you have a talent your significant other admires? Put it to good use to create a one of a kind gift. Paint a picture of a place you both enjoy together. Create a playlist of favorite songs for his smart phone.
Make your gift memorable. This doesn’t have to mean it is memorable because you spent a lot of money on it. Use memories from your relationship to spark new ideas and experiences and turn those into gifts. One of the few times in my life I saw my father cry was a custom-made family calendar for the year. I took pictures throughout my childhood, current family photos and then photos of the kids and created a photo calendar. In each month I noted birthdays, anniversaries and other special events. I didn’t spend a lot of money, but I did spend a lot of time and he cherished not only the time, but the memories of the past with the plans for the future.
What do they need? I know what you are thinking. Oh my gosh, I got socks for Christmas too. But sometimes people don’t “treat” themselves to what they need. Maybe you great guy is a jogger and really does need reflective clothing, so he can run until it’s late at night. When you think about it THAT way, it’s what they need and what they will love.
Stalk his social media. Yes, it sounds awful, but it can be done with class. Frequently we share on social media what we really hope or wish for but forget to let those right in front of us know it too. That “interest” tool on Facebook both for events and on his profile, can be very helpful in discovering things you didn’t know. If all else fails, ask his friends – but only the ones that are really good at keeping a secret.
Package it up perfectly. Whether your special someone is a tear into the paper and rip it off in seconds or an unfold every corner part of the paper, perfection of a perfect gift is the wrapping. Can you complement the gift with fun wrapping? Or can you hide it away? One year I got a beautiful ring in a teeny tiny box. That’s pretty much a dead giveaway when you see the box. So, he did a box, in a box, in a box, in a box, and added a heavy weight. How could I guess it was a ring with all that misdirection?
Avoid gag gifts. While it may seem humorous at the time, there’s a difference between showing an interest in what their habits and interests are and sort of making fun of them with gag gifts.
Putting these Tips into Practice
For example, is there a man in your life who is a fan of the Justice League? Then the Gillette Justice League Gift Pack featuring Batman for $14.88 will have your guy feeling like a real hero. And you can’t go wrong with the classic Old Spice Swagger Gift of Confidence Gift Pack for $9.88. I remember my dad wearing this scent the whole time I was growing up. It’s fun to see the gift pack to put in his stocking or underneath the tree this year.
Both sets include body wash, deodorant and other personal care items. I even heard the Old Spice guy Terry Crews mention the gift sets on the radio recently while listening to Christmas carols. Either one makes a great gift from my daughters to their dad, and the Justice League pack would be a huge hit with their brother. One thing I do know is that Walmart is helping with holiday shopping by offering rollback prices and great gift sets! Now I just need to print my “cheat sheet” out and start brainstorming for all the other great gift ideas.
Need help making your list of great gift ideas for the special man in your life? Use this free gift giving cheat sheet printable to help you create the perfect shopping list for the special man in your life.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Old Spice and Gillette at Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine.
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