Buying gifts for friends can be tricky, especially if it’s a guy buying something for another guy! If you normally rely on your partner to buy gifts for you, or your efforts meet with a disappointing response, it’s time to take a look at how you can improve your abilities in this area. Like most tasks that you don’t enjoy and tend to procrastinate over, finding better ways to complete the job will make it seem less arduous. There’ll always be a time when you need to choose an appropriate gift for a friend or colleague, and if you master the art of making better choices, you won’t find the process such a chore in the future.
What do guys like?
There’s no failsafe gift that every man would appreciate; it’s very much a case of thinking about where the recipient’s interests lay, what sorts of things they already have, and whether they might have dropped any hints during a conversation. Interests are the best place to start because you’re more likely to know what someone does in their spare time, what football team they support, and whether they have any hobbies. One area that’s becoming increasingly accessible is home brewing, and the growing popularity of craft beers has rejuvenated interest in brewing homemade beer. Even someone who’s never attempted it before can make very drinkable ales using quality brewing kits, so if your friend likes a beer, it could be an ideal gift and not something they may have thought of themselves. Have a look at this website for more information on home brewing and the best kits to buy.
Avoid the hobbies and pastimes pitfalls
There are a couple of pitfalls you need to avoid when choosing a gift based on someone’s interests, one of which is buying something just because it’s related to what they do in their spare time, with no thought as to whether it will be of interest or value. For example, buying a golfer a novelty shaped tin full of cheap golf tees isn’t going to make the best impression. Golfers are very particular about the types of tee they like to use and the quality of the product. It would be better to take note of what tees or balls they favor and buy a pack of those instead. The other problem is when someone is an aficionado and knows way more about a topic than you do. Say your friend is a Star Wars fanatic; you could easily buy something that looked perfect to you, but they may already have it, or it could be the wrong character, or not fit into their collection for some reason.
Websites for guys’ gifts
There are websites and catalogs available now that offer gifts aimed specifically at men, and they might be a good source of inspiration. You could argue that the selection of ideas plays to gender stereotypes, but as many men genuinely share an interest in the types of products featured, they can be a handy way of sourcing something a bit different when you’re completely stumped for ideas. Typical gifts include sports-related items, products related to cars and other vehicles, hunting, shooting, and fishing equipment and novelties, and funny items that could be good for a friend with a particular sense of humor.
Experiences instead of objects
One reason it can be hard to select the right gift for a man is that men are often less interested in possessions than they are experiences. Most men like to get out and about, either playing sports, pursuing a hobby, or visiting places they’re interested in. If you have a friend who avidly follows baseball, buying tickets to a game, or passes for a tour of their favorite team’s ground could be excellent options. The experiences industry has grown enormously in recent years, as people begin to switch from acquiring possessions to taking part in activities and adventures that they will remember for the rest of their lives. This means there is a tremendous selection of experience gift packages covering most interests and price brackets. It’s not all about sports or being a daredevil, either, although there are plenty of those to go around. For men who enjoy a spot of culture, there are vineyard experiences, fine dining experiences and a variety of cultural events on offer.
Bespoke experiences
If you can’t find the right experience that you think your friend would enjoy, you can always make up your own version. You could design and print an itinerary, purchase any tickets you’ll need, and arrange the transport and accommodation for the trip, and present it all to the recipient on the special day. It’s also worth discussing the options with other people who are planning to buy the same person a gift because if you club together, you might be able to afford a more expensive experience.
Surprises
Many people claim they don’t like surprises, but if you can think of a pleasant way to inject an element of surprise into their gift, it can work very well. Reunions with old friends or family members that they haven’t seen in a while can be much appreciated, but do check that there are no unsettled feuds going on before you invite friends and relatives to a get-together. Telling your friend you’re off for a golfing weekend for their birthday is a splendid gift for a keen golfer, but if you then take them to a highly regarded course that they wouldn’t normally be able to play on, that can be a very special surprise.
When you need to choose a gift for another guy, don’t think of it as an unpleasant task that has to be performed. Look at it as an opportunity to let someone important to you know you hold them in high regard, even if you don’t ever say so. An added bonus of taking gift-buying duties seriously is that you stand a much better chance of receiving better gifts yourself when it’s their turn!
