Good Gift For A Man?

[marla]

This is another hard one for me. What is a good gift to get for an adult man that doesn't cost a lot? if you're a man, what do you like to receive? I hope you all can create a lengthy list here because this one stumps me all the time. Thanks in advance for your help on these.

[Bruce Wayne]

My wife is an expert on gifts and she says the biggest thing to understand is what each individual is like. It's no good me suggesting ideas for my dad when your dad is likely to be very different. So you need to find out as much as you can about them.

It sounds obvious to buy a gift that your friend or loved one will like but many people buy gifts that they think that their friend/loved one will like. This often translates into what you think they should like, which might be very different from what they actually want.

If you don't know then there are a number of things you can do to find clues.
Listen to them for verbal clues as to gifts they may like

Observe what they do, movies they watch, sports they play etc.

Look at what they already have and think of complimentary gifts


If you look at the process in these terms then you should be able to find some great gift ideas. If you're stuck you can always try my wifes site for some hints - http://www.good-gift-guide.co.uk

[PrincessPerky]

How about a guy who buys everything he wants, what is left for us to do!

[Bruce Wayne]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

How about a guy who buys everything he wants, what is left for us to do!

Don't forget that you don't have to buy them a gift, just show that you love them. Perhaps you could spoil them in some way or do something that they enjoy but don't usually get to do.

[gakline]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wayne

Don't forget that you don't have to buy them a gift, just show that you love them. Perhaps you could spoil them in some way or do something that they enjoy but don't usually get to do.

Not buying a gift won't work for me. It will be looked down upon as cheap and unloving. Specially when everyone asks him what I got for him.

[Bruce Wayne]

Originally Posted by gakline

Not buying a gift won't work for me. It will be looked down upon as cheap and unloving. Specially when everyone asks him what I got for him.

I was just saying that your gift could be a dinner, massage, sexy night in etc. that is inexpensive but still worthwhile.

[gakline]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wayne

I was just saying that your gift could be a dinner, massage, sexy night in etc. that is inexpensive but still worthwhile.

While it's a fine idea, it doesn't work for all cultures.

[jodi]

I have two difficult-to-buy-for men in my life - my dad and brother (luckily DH is easy to shop for). I have had to get creative in the past. Some ideas:
Baked goods: I made my dad a dessert every month for a year. In my brother's case, I wrapped up a bag of chocolate chips and a can of cherry pie filling and promised him cookies and a cheesecake to be made at his request (his wife does not bake).
Hobby materials: Film, certificate for getting digital prints developed, videotapes, sporting equipment (fishing rods or lures, a new basketball, tennis or racquet balls, etc.)
Gift certificates: Restaurants, dinner and a movie combo (we have a restaurant around us that sells these at not a bad price), movie tickets, movie rental certificates taped to a box of microwave popcorn, car wash tickets, g.c. to play golf, paintball, to an arcade - whatever he would like.
Clothes, if they have a certain need and you know the size.

Good luck!

[flash]

Anything that they love but wouldn't buy, or think to buy, for themselves.

I am always surprised at the things that they love the most. After years of buying my husband "what he wanted", the too expensive BOSE system, etc., the things that he loves: a double-insulated Polar water bottle from Lands End that keeps drinks really cold while he works in the garden in the summer. A CoolMax runners shirt he was sure wouldn't make any difference in his work out, but did. A froggie neck warmer fleece thing that keeps his neck warm while he shovels snow (major scars and sensitivity from his cancer treatments). An inexpensive pair of waterproof pull on pants for shoveling snow.

Brother loves to body-build, and mega protein powder, GCs to GNC etc.

An organizer for all those remote controls.

[PrincessPerky]

My hard to buy for is a BIL, and my Dad, food works great for Dad, 'cept he lives in CA I in NC, kindof hard to know what will ship well, and mailing food someone else made is waaaay expensive.

BIL, well we lucked out finding him a shirt, we think he doesn't have it cause it is from a store he tends not shop at. We hope anyway.

[flash]

Not sure what a BIL is, but I AM all too familiar with the coast to coast giving. We moved to East Coast from California where all our family remain, in the center of all that produce. And most of my uncles are growers.

This is what I did two years ago for father AND father in law...they both love nuts and candy. So, sent them specialities from the East Coast. Like Williamsburg Peanuts, Cocoa Mills chocolates (Wall Street Journal says they are the best, who knew?), etc. They LOVED it.

[kashi]

I'm having trouble with the men in my life, too! I got my father a couple of bathroom reader books on sale - he loves to read those little factoids (even outside of the bathroom) and share them with everyone. I can't think of anything else though.

As for my significant other...he is a hard one. He likes to draw but hardly ever does it, so I buy him pencils and charcoal and such that doesn't get used. He practically has every movie ever made, so I could never buy him anything movie related. His family always gets him a huge stack of movie theater gift certificates, so that's out. He buys what he wants when he wants it, too.

As much as I would like to give him a "night in," that's not going to fly for me, either. He would understand, but I would feel horribly guilty, given that he always spends 4 times more on me than I do on him. I can't afford to spend that much on gifts, though. I always end up feeling bad, and I always tell him not to spend so much, but he doesn't listen! I'm not a fan of the gift-giving holidays anymore for that reason.

[gakline]

In the past, I've done
* Whole sets; like a small grill, grill tools, and a cook book.
* A nice watch (from the outlet store)
* Humidor with cigars (this year's gift and it was only $30!!! I got 2.)
* DVD burner
* MP3 player or stereo
* Camera
* Kelly Blue Book if they like buying cars.
* New sports equipment, or restringing a racquet.

[flash]

Originally Posted by kashi

As for my significant other...he is a hard one. He likes to draw but hardly ever does it, so I buy him pencils and charcoal and such that doesn't get used. He practically has every movie ever made, so I could never buy him anything movie related. His family always gets him a huge stack of movie theater gift certificates, so that's out. He buys what he wants when he wants it, too.

As much as I would like to give him a "night in," that's not going to fly for me, either. He would understand, but I would feel horribly guilty, given that he always spends 4 times more on me than I do on him. I can't afford to spend that much on gifts, though. I always end up feeling bad, and I always tell him not to spend so much, but he doesn't listen! I'm not a fan of the gift-giving holidays anymore for that reason.

My husband and I came from opposite sides of the income scale. Our first years together we bought a gift together for US. Anything from a bathroom scale for our first place or a vacation. If you agree to go in together on something, it doesn't have to be equal.

Last year I learned he likes to draw, too. 23 years, and we still find new things. Anyway, I got him a nice set of art/drawing supplies, and two pads of paper. I sit down and start doodling in front of the tv, and soon he is deeply into his drawing.

Other ideas: every guy seems to have garden/work gloves that are in shreds. And SOMETHING held together with duct tape. The "specialness" to them can just be knowing that you noticed.

Sounding like Dear Abby now. Well, anyway, this year, I'm actually giving my husband a freebie. A few Christmases ago my husband AND sister were diagnosed with cancer, 1% survival rate, and I went through a difficult ordeal as well. So every year we crack open a bottle of champagne and celebrate we made it another year. And every year he tries to recork the bottle with rubber bands. So, the free champagne resealer is PERFECT and romantic for one of his gifts.

[Russell]

I guess it really depends on what the man in question likes to do and your relationship to him. I'm a gearhead...buy me anything car related i.e. tools, books, gift-cards from sears/bookstore etc and I'm happy.

I'm also into computers but I have enough of those and parts to build 5 more computers so I wouldn't want any of those...

But like I said, it also depends on your your relationship. From my wife, the single most important thing I'd want is for her to "initiate" a cozy evening with me....................and totally rock my world!

I think I just spoke for every husband/boyfriend out there - you're welcome guys

[TBH]

This is SUCH a hard one. Luckily my spouse is easy.

BIL (brother-in-law):
Got him a t-shirt from his alma mater one year that he works out in. He liked that.

Another year: a sleeve to go on the sun visor of his car that holds CDs.

For his birthday: I sometimes get him a bag of sugar free hard candy, which I know he likes to keep in his car to suck on while he's stuck in traffic.


Father:
He loves to make popcorn--I've been looking for a good wooden popcorn bowl to replace the ancient one he's had for years.

He also likes to make a plate of cheese and crackers to serve to friends while they watch movies or sports. Last year I got him a set of wooden plates from Crate and Barrel and he loves that.

Pictures of his grandkid melt him, too. He really wants a photo album he can keep on the coffee table, but I'm still working on the one I started for him last year for Xmas!

If I had the money I'd buy him TiVo. He's always missing his favorite shows when he travels for business.

I've also bought him coffee-making equipment, shirts from Old Navy, gadgets from The Sharper Image (he loves portable bridge games).

Other ideas: Travel clocks, books of local hiking trails, CDs.

[german0955]

this is what I get for inexpensive gifts for males

Maglite flashlight

knives : swiss army or a pocket knife

cap or ball hat (favorite team)

coffee mug - sports team

gloves - work gloves, leather or winter gear

Starbucks gift card (or any gift card depending on what they like) Blockbuster, etc.

I like to give stuff the recipient will use and love. Some things are universal though. Most everyone drinks a hot beverage (stainless travel mug) and if they live in a cold climate they need winter gear (hat, gloves) I like Sierra Trading Post for these kind of deals.

[pyotr]

As a guy, here's some presents nobody ever gives me that i would like a lot:
1.subscriptions to interesting magazines such as: consumer reports, Sports Illustrated, Economist, Time/Newsweek/USNews&World Reports, WSJ, Kiplinger's mag or one of their newsletters, maybe even some of the frivolous mags which i'd be too ashamed to subscribe myself (i.e. Maxim, outdoors, hobby rags like sky & telescope, shutterbug, etc. name your interest - no porn for me though, I have small kids!)
2.nice hardback copies of some of my favorite books which are falling apart or have already fallen apart (Brother's Karamazov, War & Peace, Moby Dick, etc)
3.extended cable service to something I'd be too ashamed to subscribe to myself (i.e NBA season pass, etc.)
4.gift certificates to my favorite hobby speciality stores (i.e. for digital photography, B&H photo; for astronomy, Orion or Scopetronix; for fly fishing, Cabelas; for golf, golf galaxy or Dick's, etc.)
5.if a sports fanatic, how about tickets to a game (NBA, NFL, MLB, PGA tour event, MLS, tennis tour etc.)
6.how about concert tickets?
7.Amazon gift certificates are fine
8.I'm finicky about watches, pens, gadgets and electronics and computer equipment - unless you are as expert about these things as the gurus online, let me choose what equipment to buy - I hate getting stuck with a poorly made Emerson portable TV etc. If you are dead set on getting me such things, get me a gift certificate instead to an electronics/gadgetgift store.

[elcheapo]

cds dvd movies or music gift certificates