Recently, I started dating a very sweet and nice guy. We weren't very good friends before we started dating--we knew of each other for about a year but didn't start actually being friends until a couple months ago--so while we get along well, we're still getting to know each other.
His birthday is coming up later this month and it will be about two months at that point. I've never been in a relatively new relationship with someone whose birthday is coming up, so I'm not sure what would be the appropriate price range to look for his birthday gift.
He has a rather close group of friends who are already planning a get-together of people and I feel silly also asking them what to get for his birthday since they're planning everything else. I do want to put thought into the present but I'm not sure where to start looking and what I should limit the present's price to, if anything.
I don't want to get him something too expensive since it might put pressure on the relationship. Plus, we're both still in college so I'm not sure a super expensive gift would be too flashy (and would burden the bank account). At the same time, I don't want to get him something too inexpensive as that might come off as offensive. Also, I do want to set myself apart from his friends and get him something special.
What would be an appropriate gift price range for a new relationship? Does price even matter?
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Comments (12)
Make him something. My beau loves apple pie - I made him one from scratch for his birthday "cake". For Christmas (which came quickly after dating), I compiled 99 things about him that made me smile, wrote each one on a heart-shaped sticky-note, and put it in his room (too touchy feely for some, but it worked for us).
Maybe even consider taking HIM on a fun but inexpensive date? Go zip-lining for the day, or pack a lunch (apple pie, haha) and go for a hike someplace new. Guys love stuff like that.
May
I once gave a woman a $5 gift card to McDonald's. I bought a sandwich with it first, so it was more like $3.93.
if i've decided to forego other girls for you, i am the gift. and that's fucking priceless.
I like the first commenter's idea. Making something that's a personal favorite of his is a really nice idea, something personal like baking will be inexpensive and will speak far more than getting him something lavish and expensive. He might also really appreciate something simple like going to lunch (i'm guessing his friends are planning something late in the day?) with you so you can spend some time alone together, and it definitely doesn't have to be high end. Something like a cafe where you can sit outside (weather in most places right now definitely has to permit for that, right?) and have some privacy sounds really nice to me, and you can still make him cookies or a cake (maybe a personal cupcake?!) You have so many options at your disposal that really doesn't have to exceed maybe 20 or 30 bucks (price of your average meal and if you make a [cup]cake from scratch, i'm guessing you have 90% of the mats at home already) if you plan appropriately. Get creative and think to yourself, what would he like best?
But in all seriousness? Skip out on the $5 gift card idea...
Movie passes are usually a pretty safe gift idea. So are gift cards to some place he likes to shop / eat. I like to check people's facebook accounts for things that they like to help give me an idea for gifts.
I usually buy the guy cologne, so when he wears it, I can't sniff him
it sounds creepy when I word it that way but the gift is more for my benefit than his:D although he probably won't mind that I stand closer to cuddle while the scent lingers towards my senses
about $50-60 depending on the cologne brand.
Regardless of the length of the relationship, you want a gift to be personal; something he mentioned he wants, or that falls in with his interests, or that references an inside joke or memory between the two of you. And you always want to shop within your means (don't strain the bank account). A good SO will appreciate your responsibility more than your 'generosity.'
I can't buy my bf clothes, etc because he is very specific about these things. But he loves to cook and I can get him foodie/kitchen stuff until the end of time if I have no other ideas. You have to play to what you know about him and/or what you two have done together. :)
why does everything come back to how much something costs?
A gift given from the heart is priceless.... doesn't matter if its home made, from the dollar store or some high end place. What really matters is the motive behind the gift.
Agreeing with those who say getting or making something personal is the best idea. Try to come up with it on your own as it is more likely to be a surprise, but you could check your ideas with someone who knows him well.
As for @sonnigenmai@xanga's Xmas idea, depending on how long it had been, I would say that was too much of a time expense for a new relationship. :P
If you do end up buying something, the thought behind the present is most important, but I would go for the £20-30 mark (can't be bothered to convert haha :P).
this website is very good, you can go and see it
http://www.shoes4world.com
Thought what counts
£10 tops.
I was talking about this with a ex-work colleague once she agree with about £5 tops to start of with.
maybe take them out for a meal, cinema as well or a drink.
Gifts should always be personal - I will never ever give a gift card to someone close (fiancé, close family) because to me, it communicates I didn't have the time/I didn't care to put in the time to find you something you'd like. The only time it's acceptable is if you know that person is saving up towards something and you can't afford the entire thing. My parents once gave me a store gift card because I was waiting to buy a jacket that was a few hundred bucks.
I love extravagent gifts so for the first birthday I celebrated with my fiance (then boyfriend) I gave him an automatic watch (no batteries req'd) that set me back a few hundred.
However, the year we bought a house (it was pre-construction so we paid the deposit, then had a year to save as much as we could for a bigger down payment), we said no gifts over $20. I spent my $20 on ingredients and researched how to make cupcakes lol (I am totally useless in the kitchen!) 8 hours in the kitchen later, I was pretty impressed by the results:
http://x71.xanga.com/589e065643535283600956/s226186974.jpg
http://xf0.xanga.com/f03e022106732283600955/s226186973.jpg
He bought craft supplies and made me oragami roses but I can't seem to find pictures of them, and he made me leave them behind when we moved :(