Plan ahead.
Don’t wait until the last minute. By planning ahead, you can decide on a romantic gesture or present that fits the occasion, and you'll have the time to execute it. It also gives you time to order online if you need to.
Brainstorm ideas.
Think about things she likes, things you like about her, and things you have in common. You can pull a lot of ideas from the connection you’ve built and what you know about your girlfriend. Use these lists as inspiration for gift ideas. For instance, if you know she loves cooking, you could get her an apron printed with some of your favorite pictures together.
Consider a practical gift.
She’ll appreciate something that she can use every day. Many people appreciate practical gifts. Be careful with this option, though; you don’t want to give something too boring or mundane. A good question to ask yourself is, “Is this something she will eventually wind up buying for herself if I don’t?” If the answer is yes, don’t buy it. A good gift should be something she loves and/or can use, but she would not buy for herself. For instance, maybe she keeps eyeing a fancy kitchen gadget, but she never has the extra cash to shell out for it, which would make it the perfect gift.
Use recent conversations.
It's possible she's intentionally dropped a hint about something she may want. Alternatively, maybe you two have talked about something she's really into lately, which can help guide your gift. Using what she says as a source of gift-giving inspiration will ensure you get her something she genuinely likes, and show her that you listen to what she says. For instance, maybe she's said, "Taylor Swift's music always makes me happy. I really want to get her new CD."
Look at her Pinterest.
You can get a lot of inspiration from her feed. If she has one, this is a fantastic resource for figuring out what she wants without asking her directly. Another source could be her Amazon wishlist, if it's public. Just make sure you're not buying her something that she already owns.
Ask her what she wants.
Ask her for a list of things or types of things she's had her eye on. Use good judgment here; some girls will appreciate your consideration in asking, while others may find it strange. If you do ask her for help, avoid just asking, “What do you want?” This way she won't know exactly what she's getting.
Make her something.
Your girlfriend will value a handmade gift even more. This option is great if you don’t have much money. Making a gift takes more time and effort than just buying something online, but it doesn't need to take days. Plus, you know it will be unique. Don't worry, you don't have to be Van Gogh to make a beautiful gift she'll love.
Make a scrapbook or frame a photo.
Photos let your reminisce on all your fun memories together. You can either put photos in a simple scrapbook or frame several photos of you two together. Since most photos are on the computer or phone these days, actually giving her physical photos can be nice.
Put together her favorite drink.
Whether she loves tea or hot cocoa, try making a little kit of her favorite beverage. For instance, for hot cocoa, you could make a homemade cocoa mix with little packets of marshmallows and several small bottles of Bailey's on the side. If she likes tea, try making an arrangement of all her favorites, plus some fancy honey. Include a fancy mug to top it off.
Create some homemade bath bombs.
If your girl loves to soak in the tub, making bath bombs will be perfect for her. Pick an essential oil she'll love to scent them, and she'll be in bliss. To make a bath bomb, simply mix 2 cups of cornstarch with 1 cup of citric acid, and 1 3/4 a cup of baking soda by shaking it through a sieve. Fill up small spray bottles with water. If you want to color your bath fizzies, add 6 drops of food coloring. Measure out 1 cup of powered mixture. Use the spray bottles to add small amounts of water to the powder. Mix it up after each spray. The mixture is ready when it holds together when squeezed. Add in the essential oil. For an essential oil with a heavy fragrance (such as peppermint), add 5 drops; use 6 if it's lighter (such as lemon). Stir the fragrance in. Put the mixture in small baking molds, preferably ones that hold about 1/4 cup, enough for one bath. If smaller, use two bath bombs per bath. Repeat for the rest of the dry mixture.
Clean the house.
Give her a break from chores so she can relax. Maybe you don't want a clean house to be the whole gift, but if you live with your girlfriend, showing you care by cleaning the house is a nice gesture. Make sure you think about all the regular chores, from cleaning the bathroom to doing the laundry.
Make her food.
Pick a simple recipe or play to your strengths. You could make her brownies (mixes make brownies very easy), and you customize them by adding chocolate chips, caramels, candy, or raspberry preserves, anything she'd like. Don't forget to take her allergies and likes and dislikes into consideration. Alternatively, if you want to step it up, try making a whole meal. Ina Garten Ina Garten, Television Personality & Cook Cooking is an act of love. "Cooking is one of the great gifts you can give to those you love. It says “you’re important enough to me to spend the time and effort to cook for you."
Shine up her car.
Take her car out, and clean it up, inside and out. If she's like most people, she doesn't always have the time to keep her car in order. Find a way to "borrow" her car. Just be sure not to throw anything away--that could lead to trouble!
Look at handcrafted websites.
You can find something tailored or customized to what your girl loves. Handcrafted websites offer a variety of gifts that are unique. Check out websites such as Etsy, Custom Made, and Shana Logic.
Try checking craft or art fairs.
Support local artists and find something custom for your girl. Like websites with arts and crafts, you can find one-of-a-kind gifts at local art shows and craft fairs. While sometimes the prices can be high, you're paying for a truly special gift and supporting your local economy at the same time.
Find something in line with her passions.
She’ll always appreciate getting something she already loves. For instance, if your girlfriend loves drawing, art supplies are definitely an appropriate choice. However, so is a book about art, or a painting by her favorite artist (if you can afford it). Have the gift line up with things she loves.
Get her unique gifts.
Make your gift stand out so it has more special value. For instance, if she loves books, giving her a book is an obvious choice. However, you can go one step further. Instead of just getting her any book, try to get a copy of her favorite book signed by the author. That will make it truly unique and special.
Try picking something you can do together.
A couple’s experience is a great bonding time for you. Instead of giving her something she'll set on her shelf, try giving her something you can go out and do. Whether it's something you both love or something you don't like as much but she does, it will make an unforgettable gift. For instance, try getting tickets to a musical or play. Alternatively, you could buy tickets for a local symphony. Another option would be to book a couple's massage or a weekend getaway, depending on how long you've been together.
Consider giving her a more long-term experience.
Long-term classes can be a good choice if she wants to learn something. For instance, try getting her into a painting class if she's always loved painting. Alternatively, you both could try a beer-brewing class together if she loves beer, which could turn into a life-long passion. Just make sure it's something she's passionate about, which you should know from paying attention to what she says and does.
Try a small trip.
Even a short jaunt to a cabin nearby can be romantic under the right conditions. It doesn't have to be super expensive, as long as you think about what you your girlfriend likes. For instance, if she isn't super outdoorsy, take her for small getaway in a nearby city or quaint small town. For an even smaller getaway, try staying one night at a fancy hotel in town. Another option is a "staycation." Basically, you both take a day off from work and make fun plans in the city you live in. For instance, you could make her a picnic and go to a park or go to a concert at the botanical gardens.
Consider the occasion.
Some girls want to keep celebrations more casual so there isn’t as much pressure. While it might be nice to give a girl a sweet, handmade card to celebrate your 1-month anniversary, a huge romantic gesture will probably freak her out and put too much pressure on the relationship. Likewise, a handmade card will probably not cut it for a 1-year anniversary. However, you have to consider what your girlfriend wants, too; some girls like to make a big deal out of events like birthdays and Valentine's Day, while others prefer to keep things more casual.
Avoid gifts that are more for you than her.
Make sure you think about your girlfriend, not yourself, when selecting a gift. A skimpy outfit or tickets to a sporting event she doesn’t really care about will not earn you any points.
Don't fall back on clichés.
Old-fashioned gifts may seem insincere. Popular culture is full of depictions of men giving women teddy bears, heart necklaces, and roses. While some girls may appreciate feeling like they are in a romantic comedy, most will prefer a gift that shows you really know them, and don’t think of them as a two-dimensional stereotype. If you are out of time and ideas, at least consider buying a stuffed version of her favorite animal instead of a generic teddy bear, a bouquet of her favorite flowers instead of roses, or a necklace that somehow reminds you of her instead of just a typical heart pendant.
Be wary of clothing and jewelry.
Always check your girlfriend’s tastes before you commit to clothing. While these can seem like great ideas, you should think twice about giving clothing or jewelry unless you are very confident that you know your girlfriend’s tastes. It is always a good idea to include a receipt with wearable gifts, so that your girlfriend has the option of exchanging your gift for something that suits her better.
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