It can be hard shopping for a guy. It should be simple finding the perfect gift for them, right? Wrong. Thankfully, these 15 guys are here to give us a little insight on their favorite gifts.
The Thoughtful Girlfriend
“Some guys like gifts, some guys don’t. I don’t like gifts, but that’s also because I’ve dated spoiled rich girls who expected them and that experience sort of ruined it for me. But there are other ways to show appreciation. My current girlfriend does this one thing that always makes me smile. I am a heavy sleeper and I have a hard time getting up early in the morning. She’s a morning person so she’s always up ahead of me so now she likes to get up while I’m still sleeping and makes coffee for me. She doesn’t even drink coffee and at first didn’t even know what proportions to use. It makes me smile every time because getting my morning coffee is the first thing I do every day. It’s a small gesture but it’s one I really appreciate because I always wake up very sleepy. She usually wakes me up getting back in bed and now that I know what she’s doing, it gives me a great opportunity to show my appreciation in another way.” Source
The Army
“Honestly, the coolest gift I ever got from a girlfriend was a dollar store set of army men. Early in our relationship, I told her that I didn’t really care about gifts much. I made an offhand joke about how I’d rather play with army men with her than get a new iPod…. Cut to my birthday, almost a year later. We had our fights, or struggles, but when I saw that box of army men, seeing how she remembered an offhand comment from such a long time ago…it was the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received, to this day.” Source
The Bowl of Candy Corn
“Several years back, I walked in and spotted a bowl of candy corn on the counter at a girlfriend’s place. I exclaimed ‘I love candy corn!’ as I grabbed a handful. About a month later or so, she gave me a tub of candy corn among other items for my birthday. Still one of my all time favorite gifts just because it showed how observant she was. Shame that one didn’t work out.” Source
The Box of Baked Goods
“I don’t know if anyone has posted this yet, but homemade baked goods. I moved into a new apartment for an internship halfway across the country and my girlfriend overnighted me some scones she’d just baked. It was the best thing. It isn’t expensive, it shows you care, and that will always be appreciated.” Source
The Taco Nights
“Tacos. When my significant other texts me to tell me that she’ll have tacos ready when I get home my day always gets better. Then you can enjoy them together. Who doesn’t f_cking love tacos?” Source
The Ego Booster
“Compliments. Men thrive off of compliments. They’ll never admit it though.” Source
The Lunch Delivery
“Bringing lunch to my job. Burger and fries, Chinese, Italian…she knows what I like. But the best part about it is I get to see her in full work attire. Since she leaves for work before I wake up I don’t usually get to see what she’s wearing and by the time I get home she’s already in her relaxing attire. Still looks nice but it’s something about seeing her in head to toe business attire that makes me want to… Yeah, that.” Source
The Things They’d Never Buy
“I’m not big on the whole generalizing an entire gender thing, but in my experience the ‘symbolic’ stuff matters a whole lot more to women. That’s why they like the flowers, it’s what it means rather than enjoying the flowers themselves. They can put ’em in a vase, and every time they look at them they know ‘someone out there cares about me enough to go out of their way and show it.’ Some guys like that kind of thing, but not to the same extent women do. Men say they’re simple, but in order to have the same effect I feel you have to get a little more personal with the gift so it’s a little more difficult. I’m a huge geek, my girlfriend knows if she wants a cheap way to make my day she can show up with one of the latest issues of one of the comic runs I’m keeping up with, or a pack of magic cards. She also knows I love buncha crunch, toblerones or any sour candy like warheads. I’ve seen a few guys in here suggesting ‘manly’ gifts like tool sets and other utilitarian things and I disagree so hard. Don’t get me f_cking socks or a thermos, I’m an adult, if I needed those things I’d have gotten them already. Get me things I’d have fun with but can’t convince myself it’s worth the money. Someone suggested Lego and that’s perfect. I can never justify spending money on a toy for myself when I have all this adult sh_t that needs taking care of, but I’d be lying if I wouldn’t be in heaven sitting down and putting together an X-Wing.” Source
The Perfect Toy
“If a woman bought me Lego I think I’d propose. I’d have to play with the Lego first though.” Source
The Bouquet of Flowers
“A girl I was dating once had a dozen roses sent to me at work on my birthday. I never thought I would like that. Turns out, it was awesome. It didn’t hurt that we worked for the same company, so she was pretty much telling the entire IT department that we were doin’ it.” Source
The “Broquete”
“I did a ‘Broquete’ type thing once for my fiancé. I got him a nice pair of jeans, a new belt, some cologne, the Vitamin E lotion he loves (he shaves his head and it makes it super soft), beef jerky, and a 12 pack of Monster. Another time I got him a Joker t-shirt because that’s his favorite villain. We both love board games and techy stuff, so getting him a new game or expansion set, or a new hard drive or graphics card is always a good idea. The one thing that about made him cry was when we first moved in together. I told him he could hang up all his posters he had collected. His ex-wife never let him even bring them in the house, and a few of them were ruined. After we put the first one on the wall, he ran over and gave me the biggest hug ever, and I totally saw the chin quivering. The current obsession is Dr. Who, so next time I want to get him a little something, I am going to track down a Sonic Screwdriver or something of the like. Basically, if you know what he likes and is interested in, find something that expands on that. If all else fails, get dolled up and give him a massage.” Source
The Best Gift is Food
“Ladies, I’m a grown-ass man. I buy my own alcohol, pay my own bills, fix my own problems, and find my own entertainment. Do something for me that I can’t do for myself. I can always buy myself rum (my drink of choice. Rum is to beer is as tea is to coffee: It is a drink for those with more refined tastes), but I will be incredibly happy with the food that you make. Food in my family has always meant love, whether it’s my dad’s curry or mom packing my lunch when I was a kid. If you walk into my apartment redolent of spices, or perfumed with the smells of baking, it is a greater gift for me than almost anything else you can possibly give.” Source
The Toy She Loves
“Well, my girlfriend gave me one of her favourite childhood toys, and it’s small enough to fit in my pocket. So I carry it with me everywhere.” Source
The Gift of Bacon
“A long-time soulmate of mine is by far the best gift giver I’ve ever met. Almost every gift I got from her could be considered similar to flowers. One sticks out though. She sent me a box filled with bacon chocolate and a 24oz Shakespeare oatmeal stout when I was having a terrible month.” Source
The Affectionate Things
“I think men are a little different in that they usually appreciate smalls acts of affection and shows of respect rather than material gifts to show affection or emotion. Not to say women don’t, but men think more practically. His favourite home cooked meal will go a lot further than a bottle of cologne in most cases.” Source