Listen up, gentlemen: It's your absolute least favorite time of the year again. Time to count up your savings and see how much you can spend on your girlfriend without breaking the bank. If you're going to put all that time and effort money towards a gift for that special someone, you probably want to get her something that she'll actually like, and as much as you think you know what that is, you probably don't. But don't worry, as long as you make sure you don't get your girlfriend anything on this list, you should have no problems figuring out the perfect gift for your perfect girl!
1. Tacky Jewelry
Steer clear of anything with hearts, flowers, butterflies, infinity symbols, fake diamonds and gemstones -- if you have even the slightest hint that it could be considered tacky, you're probably right, and therefore your girlfriend doesn't want it. If you're shopping online, and the product description sounds anything like, "Two Hearts Forever One Sterling Silver Heart Pendant," or "Dancing Love Cubic Zirconia Necklace," close the window, walk away, call your mother and ask for help.
2. Gift Cards
Nothing says, "I really didn't put any thought into this gift," like a gift card. Don't do it. Seriously, just don't do it.
3. Clothes
Unless your girlfriend tells you exactly what she wants in exactly the right size from the exact store she wants it from, it really isn't worth wasting your time and money trying to figure out what she likes.
4. Anything Scent-Related
To you, giving your girlfriend perfume as a gift means, "Oh, this was expensive and has a designer name on it so it must be an acceptable gift." To your girlfriend, this means, "He thinks I smell bad, so he is giving me perfume as a gift." If this is a battle you're up to fighting, by all means, go for it. If not, I suggest you look elsewhere.
5. College Apparel
If she can buy it for herself at her college bookstore, you probably shouldn't buy it for her. As a last resort, this can be somewhat acceptable, but your girlfriend probably wants something a little more meaningful than a T-shirt for the holidays.
6. Makeup
First, you probably don't know how to buy makeup for a girl, period. Second, you're probably going to run into the same issue as you would if you bought her perfume, where you think it is an acceptable gift, but in her mind, she's thinking, "He thinks I'm ugly, so he bought me makeup as a gift." You and I both know that this is a much worse battle to get into, so I suggest you steer clear.
7. Tickets to a Sports Game
There are a few exceptions to this rule, so ask yourself these questions before buying the tickets: 1. Does she actually understand the sport you want to go to?
2. Is she is actually a fan of one of the teams playing in the game?
3. Is this something you guys will BOTH enjoy?
If you answer no to any of those questions, you better end up on the kiss cam to make this gift worth it!
8. Anything Related to Exercise
This is the same thing as the perfume and makeup issue. You probably have the best intentions, but we are going to take it as you thinking we're fat and that we need more exercise. Definitely not a battle you want to start, and I can personally guarantee you are not going to win if you do.
9. Movie Tickets
Yes, we know there's a new "Star Wars" movie coming out, and yes, we know it's supposed to be a really big deal, but that doesn't mean we care. At all. Movies are like any other date to us. This is our holiday present, not just an average Friday night. It should be a bigger deal than a trip to the movies.
10. Nothing
At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what your gift is. We just want to know that you're thinking of us, and as long as you show your girlfriend that, you should be in the clear, no matter what's inside the box.
(Actual results will vary)
