| With each passing year, I have become more | | | | Now, do knives comply with all the criteria? |
| apathetic about the gifts I give as well as those I | | | | Let's see. Are the meaningful? Well, for my dad who |
| receive. I had to stop and ask myself, why? As a | | | | loves to cook and always complains about his block |
| shopaholic by trade, one would think that this time of | | | | set knives being old, I'd have to say yes. For my |
| year would be my pinnacle, yet as the season rolls | | | | brother who loves taking his kids fishing, a multi-tool |
| around I get stressed. Inundated with sales, price | | | | knife or Swiss Army Knife would definitely be |
| slashing and impulse buys strategically placed, it | | | | meaningful. For my husband and grandfather who |
| becomes so easy to check out with a bundle of gifts | | | | both love the military, I suppose tactical knives like |
| that are easily forgotten by the giver and the | | | | those from Benchmade would be very fitting for |
| receiver. | | | | them. |
| To put a stop to this holiday battle, this season I've | | | | For practicality, I'd think that each case was covered |
| vowed to only give gifts that can qualify as | | | | here under the meaningful category. I could make |
| meaningful, practical and affordable. If it doesn't meet | | | | them even more meaningful by getting them all |
| all three categories, then it's not a contender. Now, | | | | engraved knives. Now this is where the third criterion |
| this will not be easy, but it will be fulfilling. | | | | comes into play. Are engravable knives affordable? |
| First on my list are the men in my life. Finding a gift | | | | Most engraving is charged by the line or letter, but |
| that is meaningful, affordable and practical is often | | | | since knives don't have a huge surface area, I would |
| times challenging, especially when shopping for a man. | | | | need to keep my message to a minimum, which |
| Whether you are a skilled shopper, knowing of the | | | | shouldn't add too much cost. I could engrave their |
| latest and greatest gadgets, or you know your man | | | | initials or their name or maybe a short quote that |
| better than the back of your hand, some men are | | | | speaks to their passion. |
| just easier to shop for than others. After thinking | | | | Either way, I'd say that if I can afford the knife, I |
| about the personalities, the activities, likes and dislikes | | | | can afford the engraving. If I stick to buying knives |
| of the men in my life, I realized that while varying in | | | | online, I can definitely benefit from greater savings |
| profession, age, physical activity, etc they all enjoy | | | | and choose from a variety of styles and price points. |
| the basics of manhood. Men at the core are warriors, | | | | All in all, I'm pretty impressed with my new strategy. |
| they are hunters and for obvious reasons still get | | | | I've identified meaningful, practical and affordable gifts |
| excited about tools that aid these endeavors. | | | | for half my list, all the while keeping each gift unique |
| Now in modern day life, few men have to hunt for | | | | to the receiver. Stay tuned for more helpful shopping |
| survival or battle for existence, but whether for | | | | tips and see how my recipients respond to their |
| game or to help with tasks around the house, most | | | | engraved knives. |
| men will find value in a quality knife. | | | | |