| Does finding the best gifts for men really matter? | | | | cannot emphasize this enough. What are his interests |
| How important are the gifts we give? Can people | | | | or hobbies? Is he an active outdoorsy kind of guy? |
| look through the neatly tied bows and crisp, | | | | Is he a car enthusiast or keen on art, fishing, golf or |
| patterned wrapping paper and see the real you and | | | | sports mad? Does he enjoy music or movies? There |
| attach a meaning to it all? Is it really that important | | | | are also many great gift ideas for the modest |
| to your career, romance or influence over others? | | | | traveler or adventurer. A weekend booking in a |
| ABSOLUTELY! | | | | mountain cabin or romantic getaway are all options |
| The art of finding the best gifts for modest men | | | | that can be explored depending on your budget and |
| might seem a relatively straightforward process, but | | | | his interests of course. |
| when it comes down to it, it is not. Offering | | | | Choosing unique gifts that thrill him such as |
| inappropriate gifts or gifts that may offend can ruin | | | | experience gifts might prove profitable for you in the |
| any emerging or already forged relationship. Recent | | | | long run. We all know it is easy to get anyone |
| research concludes that buying a wrong gift for a | | | | enthusiastic about anything if you pin it to an existing |
| man can put a relationship in jeopardy. This was | | | | passion. Unique gifts, personalized gifts, premium |
| based on the assumption that 'gifts act as markers | | | | seating tickets for his favorite team, a gift certificate |
| of interpersonal similarity for both acquaintances and | | | | to a lovely restaurant will mean a lot more and show |
| close relationship partners...' (Dunn et al 2008). In this | | | | the recipient that more thought has gone into the |
| experiment, men's evaluation of undesirable gifts | | | | selection process. I have done some research for |
| revealed that they saw the gift giver as less similar | | | | you and have a few great gift giving tips. I hope this |
| to them. Subsequently they thought their future | | | | helps. |
| together with such a person would be significantly | | | | Often, picking up a hint from the recipient, an idea |
| shorter. | | | | here or there is all you need to get the ball rolling. My |
| I guess the lesson for all of us is that bad gifts | | | | son is one of those people that will tell you as the |
| reflect badly on our relationship and us as those close | | | | year progresses the sorts of things he is into which |
| to us assume we know them well enough to find the | | | | makes life easier when birthdays and Christmas |
| perfect gift for every occasion. It also pays to | | | | comes along. All I need to do is select from the |
| remember that finding a soul mate or 'kindred spirit' is | | | | many hints dropped albeit knowingly! Therefore, |
| thought to be central to a successful relationship and | | | | listening to hints from a recipient is a great way to |
| satisfaction (ibid. 2008). Where we identify a similarity | | | | gauge interests and it is of great significance in finding |
| with a partner, friend or colleague, it is human nature | | | | the best gifts for men. Having said that, doing your |
| to associate this with greater relationship satisfaction. | | | | shopping online opens many possibilities all at the |
| We especially like to think our partners are similar to | | | | touch of a button. Gifts online come in a variety of |
| us. So this reveals the potential harm that receiving a | | | | categories to suit all tastes and better yet, searches |
| bad gift can do because it damages that sense of | | | | can narrow it down to suit your budget should you |
| similarity when we get a bad gift. Finding the best | | | | decide to set yourself price ranges in these times |
| gifts for men whether modest or not is therefore, | | | | where belt tightening has become the order of the |
| very important in my opinion. Do not lose heart. | | | | day. Cheap is the new cool this year. Start early and |
| Choosing the best gift for Christmas or any other | | | | you get plenty of time to look for inexpensive |
| occasion need not be an arduous task as we will be | | | | thoughtful gifts that match your recipients' taste, |
| looking at how to find the perfect present for your | | | | personality and your budget. |
| dad, husband, son, male friend or colleague, especially | | | | Whoever coined the term 'boys and their toys' is |
| if they are the modest type. | | | | surely a genius. My husband's best friend, a renowned |
| The typical epitome of the "modest guy" is one | | | | doctor and modest man I might add has a famous |
| whose life is marked by simplicity and has a humble | | | | rule, which rings true of most men if not all. He never |
| opinion of himself. To put it more bluntly he is | | | | buys his kids any toys that he cannot play with. |
| basically a simple man with simple tastes - not that it | | | | Funny that! As most of us have learnt, men are but |
| is a bad thing. It can be nearly impossible to buy gifts | | | | kids in larger muscular bodies. Therefore, when buying |
| for this type of man, as you are constantly second | | | | them gifts, even for the modest guy, keep this gem |
| guessing your choices. Will he like it? Will it be | | | | in mind. |
| appropriate? It may come as a surprise to most | | | | Everyone has a role model. As such, all men can be |
| women that men generally have simple tastes and | | | | categorized into the James Bond type who adore all |
| are sentimental contrary to popular belief. Although | | | | gizmos and his spirit of adventure. This is manifest in |
| they may prioritise necessity from time to time, they | | | | men who love and acquire and or work with |
| also have an emotional connection to certain things | | | | everything electronic, said doctor falls neatly into this |
| and occasions. Coming back to our modest men, | | | | category; Walker Texas Ranger, John Wayne or GI |
| these men are often not very materialistic which | | | | Joe wannabes who in real life may be our men in |
| often poses problems for anyone who tries finding | | | | uniform; policemen, army personnel or firemen; the |
| the perfect gift for them. | | | | MacGyver and the DIY Mr. Fix It crew who revel in |
| We can draw some similarities between the essence | | | | their power tools making and building things. All men |
| of gift giving and our modest blokes. The art of gift | | | | love toys of some sort and are enthusiastic about |
| giving can be traced back to ancient Roman festivals | | | | them. |
| where communities gave each other simple gifts such | | | | It does not have to be the latest or the most |
| as sacred evergreen branches during celebrations. | | | | expensive gadget as long as they get pleasure |
| With time and as all things do, there were changes to | | | | playing with it to relieve stress, re-live childhood |
| the types of gifts, which then included gifts of honey | | | | dreams or memories, avoid boredom and have time |
| and cakes symbolizing prosperity and sweetness | | | | out from the rigors of this world. Best Gifts for Men |
| expected in the coming year. | | | | offers a varied range of electronic and gadget gifts |
| Nowadays, gift-giving has become big business | | | | for men that modest men will certainly appreciate. |
| especially at Christmas with the advent of St Nick, | | | | For example, you can help him find his way home |
| cutthroat advertising by the media and its ability to | | | | using the latest affordable GPS system, he will never |
| sensationalize this once modest gesture into a | | | | get lost again with the latest hand-held gizmos. He |
| shopping frenzy from early November until Christmas | | | | can use it when he goes out tramping, to find where |
| Eve. Ironically, there are still some cultures where | | | | he parked the car at the stadium or mall. Gifting |
| there is no gift giving madness during Christmas or | | | | something practical cannot be resisted, as he needs it |
| any other occasions for that matter! It is standard | | | | and will use it at some point. |
| practice to be thankful to the powers that be for | | | | If he is into sports, outdoor activities and sporting |
| the added years when it comes to birthdays and a | | | | gift ideas for men are a great option. For a golf |
| special meal, mostly chicken, rice and soft drinks for | | | | enthusiast, buying gifts for this guy should be fun as |
| lunch to mark Christmas. At best the younger kids | | | | golf is a game where guys dress-up; they have fun |
| get new outfits to wear to church. | | | | and exercise all in one outing. The implication when |
| With this background in mind, is it any wonder that | | | | buying for this bloke is to settle for one or more of |
| some people prefer the simple things in life? Although | | | | the categories mentioned above. Personalized items |
| the men we are concerned about are modest, it | | | | such as golf apparel, bags, balls, authentic tour shoes, |
| certainly does not mean that you can grab the tired | | | | best fairway woods, small gym equipment, will |
| old socks, jumpers and cologne routine to mark | | | | definitely be a success, the list is endless. |
| every occasion. With options only a mouse click | | | | Do not get caught comparing what someone gave |
| away, we need to put an end to traditional mundane | | | | you before. Instead go for ingenuity where budget |
| gift ideas. Variety is the spice of life, it may be an old | | | | constraints make it impossible to splash out and for |
| saying but that should help us refocus and bring out | | | | the modest recipient. When giving something, it is the |
| our sense of creativity while searching for the best | | | | thought that counts. Likewise, putting some thought |
| gifts for men. As such, gift buying should be a | | | | at the beginning of the gift giving process to ensure |
| process that demands the creative expression of our | | | | that we get the satisfaction that comes from gifting |
| feelings for the recipient, depending on the | | | | the perfect present that will not sit at the bottom of |
| relationship of course, which should be a pleasurable | | | | a drawer or on a dusty cupboard shelf. Gifts should |
| experience rather than be seen as a chore or | | | | come from the heart and should be received in the |
| stressful time. Buying gifts only gets tricky when left | | | | manner in which they are given. The idea of gift |
| until the last minute. | | | | giving should be a tangible token that represents our |
| When you make the decision to buy a gift, you need | | | | love, friendship, support and generous nature instead |
| to keep in mind the occasion, the recipient's | | | | of the common frustrating dilemma we have become |
| personality and most importantly, your budget. I | | | | accustomed to. |