When it comes to buying gifts for the girlfriend there are plenty of pitfalls. Whether you’ve been together one year or ten, there are some items that you should just not go for. Here are a few pointers Alex Wise, dating expert and CEO of loveawake on what to avoid that will make sure you keep the beautiful femme in your life, in your life.
1. Book Tokens
No, no, no, no, no. For reading any gift certificate type deal. They’re not only a pain to use, but they also scream impersonal. Buying a book token, even if she loves reading just shows that you’re lazy, haven’t been paying enough attention to know what book she’d actually like or that you don’t really know her at all. All of which is bad.
2. A Puppy
The whole ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ sentiment should be adhered to. Especially if you’re not entirely convinced the girl you’re buying for might not be for life. Obviously, when we’re talking about any living creature is the gist we’re going for. It’s just not cool. Wrapping a cute beastie up in a box is just asking for trouble.
3. Kitchen Appliances
Feminism is a good thing. A really, really good thing and buying your missus a food mixer sends all the wrong messages, even with the best of intentions.
4. Lingerie
Ok, this isn’t as much as a ‘don’t’ as other entries on this list. However, it is a tricky thing to get right. Firstly you have to avoid it being a gift for you as much as her if you catch my drift otherwise it’s just a bit naff. Equally, you’ve got to be confident of size, style, and color. Not as easy as you might think. Returning lingerie that your bedmate bought you because it doesn’t fit, or is something you’d never wear is just depressing. It’s an intimate gift, so don’t risk it if you’re unsure.
5. Perfume You Saw In A Commercial
Gifting to your partner a bottle of her favorite scent is a good thing to do. What is not a good thing to do is pick a scent your saw on TV. We all know how it is. Perfume ads are ridiculously sexy, full of gorgeous people and totally incomprehensible, we all want a piece of that. But be strong. Also picking one because you like the shape of the receptacle it is contained within is not a good enough reason either.
6. Off-The-Shelf Jewellery
Right. Can you afford something expensive or do you know a cute boutique which sells jewelry made by independent artists? If the answer to these questions is no, don’t by jewelry. Quirky, individual and budget prices are fine if you know where to find it and have the skills to pick something she’ll like. If you’re more traditional, and bling is your thing, you’ve got to stump up the moola. Anything else is just posturing.
This list is not comprehensive, there are other gifts to avoid, however, follow the above and you’ll be on the right track. She’ll be happy, you’ll be happy and as a couple, you’ll be all cute and lovely. Good work!
