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While I enjoy birthdays and gift-giving holidays such as Christmas, I have also come to dread them. Specifically, I dread having to come up with gift ideas for my husband. Not only do I have to buy him a gift, but until my sons are old enough to make presents or buy some on their own, I am responsible for those gifts as well. To make matters worse, my husband is the kind of guy who says “don’t get me anything” or “I don’t need anything.” His perfect gift would be if I tell him I saved a bunch of money by NOT buying him a gift. However, it is important that we show our sons the art of gift giving and receiving, and therefore, I have informed my husband he WILL be receiving gifts (AND has to help by giving ideas!).
In an effort to help other moms with this difficult task, I have created a list of cool gift ideas based on the kind of guy in your life. Many of these gifts are ones that are great for those of us on a budget and those of us who have exhausted the conventional gift ideas.
The Martyr Dad
This is the dad who says “I don’t need a gift…your love is enough” or “I don’t want anything….just save the money since the kids need things.” He is the most difficult kind to shop for because he usually doesn’t give you any gift ideas. This may be because he truly doesn’t want you to spend the money on him, or in my case, he just doesn’t care. Practical gifts are the way to go for this dad.
Gift ideas:
-Homemade desserts for a week or a month
-Clothes for work
-A business calendar for work
-Gift cards to restaurants
-Lotto tickets or scratch-offs
-Offer to mow the lawn or take out the trash (i.e. “jobs” that are his)
-A night out with the guys
-Choose a gift YOU like and hope he will give the gift to you
The Hobbyist Dad
This dad has a hobby or an obsession that makes it slightly easier to buy gifts. Many of these dads are sports enthusiasts. A great example of this is my dad, who is a golf nut. Every gift he has ever received has been golf-related in some way. The problem with this dad is that after awhile, he has everything! You run out of gifts related to their hobby and end up buying them things like silly calendars and mugs that have his hobby as their theme. Time or opportunities to enjoy their hobby is the key for this dad’s gift.
Gift ideas:
-Tickets to a game instead of sports paraphernalia
-Granting him time to watch the game and indulge in his hobby in peace and quiet
-Adding television channels to your cable line-up that feature his hobby
-Subscription to a hobby-related magazine
-Gift of the month clubs
The Easy-to-Please Dad
This is the most versatile dad as he is the one who loves just about every gift he receives. Whether it’s a store-bought plaid tie with Snoopy on it and a pair of slippers, or a handmade craft made out of an empty Kleenex box, he acts like it’s the best gift he has ever received. The problem with this dad is that you never really know if they actually liked the gift or not. This dad usually keeps that tie in the back of his closest, but doesn’t actually put it on until his kids ask why he never wears it to work. It’s important to get this dad something practical or that you know he will like, not just any old gift he will act thrilled about.
Gift Ideas:
-Homemade gifts such as coupons for activities or awards
-Ties, sock, and other clothing items
-Handkerchiefs
-Gadgets and gizmos
-Board games for family game nights
-Any gift really, but the rule is if you wouldn’t want the gift, don’t give it to him either
(i.e. like that stupid hat you wouldn’t want to be seen wearing in public!)
The key with any of these guys are to figure out what they truly enjoy. Pay closer attention to what he is saying and you’d be surprised how many clues are peppered into his conversations. Dads often feel that they are low man on the totem pole, putting themselves and their needs last. But you will impress them by showing them you paid attention or searched to figure out what it is that makes them feel good (even if it seems like an impossible task). If all else fails, sex and food are great gift ideas for 99% of men! (And if you combine the two, you probably won’t ever have to get him another gift!)
What kind of man is your husband when it comes to gift-giving? Do you struggle to find a gift, or is it easier than finding a gift for yourself?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
OMG My hubby is the same way. It's so frustrating! It doesn't matter what the holiday/celebration is, he says 'don't get me anything', 'I don't want anything'. Whatever. My standard response is 'you're getting something whether you want it or not because I WANT to.' LOL
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These are great suggestions!! I ended up getting the man a hockey jersey and tickets to an upcoming game…hopefully he will want to take me and not a friend! LOL!
~WM
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My husband is a "bah humbug, I don't like Christmas" kind of guy. And he's a computer programmer by trade and by hobby, so I can't afford expensive computer parts! So, we are getting him a coffee maker this year.
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I struggle trying to get gifts for men. They seem to be so hard to shop for because they never tell me what they need or want.
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Great guide! My hubby definitely wants gifts, and he wants the ones that are the most expensive. We're not exactly wealthy, so I'm sure he's disappointed everywhere. I wish he were the hubby that said, "Ah don't worry about me this year…" that'd be heaven. Then I wouldn't be under so much pressure to make sure I get him something over the top and completely awesome!
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My hus is the guy who says..I don't like buying my own presents..don't get me anything..but if we were to actually not get him anything..he would be disappointed (I think)..
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These are some great ideas! I always do lotto tickets for his stalking stuffer!
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My hubby is the same as yours, the martyr! It's soooo hard buying for him. This year he went and picked his own gift. I'll wrap it! But I also did the same this year with my gift! Oh well, at least we'll get what we want.
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Good List Again! I honestly do not want anything this year, but my wife made me make a list. ( I told her that the Baby is enough for me!)
Shane
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This is a great post and very good suggestions
Thanks!
My husband is between Man One and Man Two.
Oh and you could add "selfmade mix-tape/CD with his favorite songs"…
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A guys night out is a killer idea. An evening away from diapers…I want one too! Ah ha ha
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