I want to learn how to give my boyfriend birthday gifts he'll love
My boyfriend is so hard to get gifts for! He's not materialistic and doesn't want a lot of things so I struggle to come up with gifts for him. Any ideas?
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Here's an idea for a special outing that your boyfriend may appreciate for his birthday: a romantic picnic day. Bring him along with you on the picnic day and suggest you two do a little shopping together. You can also request that he bring something before you even meet, like a bottle of wine (especially if it's an evening picnic) or some cheese. Go to a nice market with him where you can pick up all the little things together, gather them, and then go head out to the park together. A part of the experience is collecting and gathering and doing some nice shopping.
You've also got to get the basics down and have a nice comfortable blanket to lay on to create a complete picnic experience. You can bring a deck of cards or something else that you guys can have fun with, and make sure you have sunblock and shades. Bring any things that would help you feel like you can be totally relaxed when you're there. And then, when you get there, just connect, have a conversation, relax, and focus on each other.
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You've also got to get the basics down and have a nice comfortable blanket to lay on to create a complete picnic experience. You can bring a deck of cards or something else that you guys can have fun with, and make sure you have sunblock and shades. Bring any things that would help you feel like you can be totally relaxed when you're there. And then, when you get there, just connect, have a conversation, relax, and focus on each other.
You'd be surprised by how much men like personalized gifts, something that relates to a passion of theirs. So a great gift to give a man you're seeing yourself in a relationship with is ask yourself, "What is he really passionate about?" and then what would be something he would like that would help him enjoy that hobby or passion even more. Maybe he loves playing tennis, so get him a new tennis racquet or a tennis lesson. Maybe he loves to travel or he's traveling somewhere. You might get him a book about the place he is going to travel to next. So any gift that relates to his passion is a great way to do it.
Another old school thing that guys like is good quality alcohol, if he's a drinker. A good bottle of wine, good bottle of scotch or whiskey, are very popular with men. But again, personalize it, maybe you know what he drinks or what he likes. And I would say maybe the best gift of all is something that connects the both of you to each other, something that you enjoy together. That's a really good gift for a couple. Because it's then something that you could do together. Maybe you love game nights. You could give your boyfriend Cards Against Humanity, or Super Scrabble, or some fun game that you think that he would like, because not only are you giving him something he wants, you're also giving him something that he'll be able to experience with you.
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Another old school thing that guys like is good quality alcohol, if he's a drinker. A good bottle of wine, good bottle of scotch or whiskey, are very popular with men. But again, personalize it, maybe you know what he drinks or what he likes. And I would say maybe the best gift of all is something that connects the both of you to each other, something that you enjoy together. That's a really good gift for a couple. Because it's then something that you could do together. Maybe you love game nights. You could give your boyfriend Cards Against Humanity, or Super Scrabble, or some fun game that you think that he would like, because not only are you giving him something he wants, you're also giving him something that he'll be able to experience with you.
To make your boyfriend feel special when he isn't into material things, get personal. Think of something that he would really enjoy and love that shows you took time to think about him. You can use a coupon book, a special outing, or make him a special meal. And if your boyfriend has been craving intimacy, that's always a nice gift, too.
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Experience gifts are great for guys who already have everything. It gives you a chance to have some fun and make wonderful memories together :) My boyfriend loves doing escape rooms, so for his last birthday I planned a day trip to LA where we did 5 escape rooms back to back. We live in San Diego so there are tons of great escape rooms up there that he has never done before. He had so much fun! In the past I've also got him concert and show tickets, taken him to an amusement park, and made reservations at a nice restaurant
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Your mileage may vary with this tip, but my boyfriend is actually chill with me asking him what he wants! He actually likes it better because he gets exactly what he is excited about haha. Plus we get to talk about the things he likes! If the vibes are right you can ask your boyfriend what he’d enjoy :)
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I love this idea! My boyfriend's birthday was in November and I hand-wrote and illustrated a little book of poems that were all about inside jokes and memories we shared. I was a little unsure about doing it because I thought it'd be too much of an undertaking, but I think it came together really well and didn't feel too over the top (we've only been dating about 10 months). I found a blank book on Amazon for just like $4 dollars and it only took me one late night to write all the poems and illustrate the book. He really appreciated the gift!
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I agree that a gift made by you is a great option for a boyfriend who doesn't like stuff! I am not the best singer, but for one of my boyfriend's birthdays I sang covers of all the songs on my boyfriend's favorite album and he says he listens to them all the time, especially when he misses me. He even set one of them as my ringtone haha. Another year I made a personalized calendar with a bunch of pictures of us and his dog for his birthday. He decided not to look through the whole thing when he got it, and now every month it's a fun surprise when he sees what pictures I picked out for that month!
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I booked a couples massage for my boyfriend’s birthday and it put him in a great mood for a cozy night in together afterward :)
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My boyfriend is also not materialistic, but he loooves food! So I made a reservation at a Michelin star restaurant and took him there for a multi-course meal. He could not stop talking about how good the food was, he enjoyed every bite! He has requested that I take him back for our next special occasion haha
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This doesn't always work but if there's something he uses a lot that's getting worn down you could buy him a new one! My bf will wear and use stuff until it's literally falling apart because he doesn't pay attention to when something needs to be replaced so he always really appreciates it when I get him a gift that replaces something he uses a lot
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Reader Tips from How to Present a Romantic Gift
For the wrapping paper, consider printing out photos of you two from your favorite trips or dates and use that as the wrapping paper. It's a small thing, but it'll really highlight the effort you put in and you'll win tons of brownie points!
Want a really fun and unique idea? Write a silly little song or limerick about how much you love your partner and then present the gift at the end. Your partner will never forget it!
Reader Tips from The Best 5 Senses Gift Ideas for Your Husband or Boyfriend
Does your man have a stressful gig or is he wrapping up a tough semester at school? Guys like to pretend they hate blankets and comfort sometimes, but a weighted blanket is an incredible gift. It's a great way to engage the sense of touch, and it can really improve his sleep.
For taste, I'd highly recommend getting him a monthly subscription box for his favorite tasty treat. It could be a cigar club or a monthly box of high-end steaks. I think there's a popular whisky subscription out there, too.
