Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Special Someone

Considering your options for holiday gift ideas for your special someone? It won’t be long until millions of people around the world begin their annual search for holiday gifts. In fact, I’ve already purchased several Christmas presents. I shop practically all year because I have a lot of people to buy for. My daughters, my sons-in-law, my nine grandchildren, and my friends are all fairly easy to shop for, so I don’t usually find myself stumped coming up with gift ideas for them. Selecting gifts for my husband presents more of a challenge, however, and I know that he sometimes has a hard time picking out Christmas presents for me, too. We often find ourselves walking that fine line between cost and value. Making a list helps, but we always like to include a couple of unexpected presents to each other, too. Finding the perfect present for the person you love the most is often a daunting task, whether that person is male or female. From my experience, however, men seem to have more trouble with this, so I’m focusing on the best gifts for women here. Okay, guys – the following holiday gift ideas for your special someone are intended to get you to thinking!

We take some of the guesswork out of buying holiday gifts by making a Christmas list. Each person in the family makes a long list, including a wide range of prices. We make the lists very detailed and include where the items are found and about how much they cost, if we know. I hate to say it, but I think most men need some real specifics when they’re shopping for gifts for girlfriend or wife. Most men don’t shop much in “regular” stores, so they don’t know their way around. Oh, they might know the local hardware stores and bait and tackle stores like the back of their hand, but chances are that these places usually aren’t your first choices for places to buy your Christmas presents.

My Christmas list that I make for my husband has the item I want, the brand (if applicable), the size (if applicable), the color (if applicable), and the estimated price of the item. I also state where the item can be found – the store, the location of the store, and the section of the store that houses the item I want. For example, I always have Yankee Candles on my Christmas list for hubby. I usually state the name and location of the store. I describe the size and type of candle I want, including the scents I prefer. That way, he has several choices, and I never know exactly which scents he’ll buy. I know that I’ll like them, though, no matter what he picks out.

We don’t just buy presents that are on the lists. We also add in a few surprises. I think this strategy sort of provides “the best of both worlds.” We know that we’ll get some items we really want, along with some surprise gifts. Even if we really don’t care for the specific surprises we receive, at least we got a few winners, too.

There are plenty of great gift ideas for women! Men often talk about how difficult it is to please us when it comes to gifts, but I disagree. I’m not hard to please, and neither are my adult daughters or my female pals. Basically, I think we all want gifts that reveal a thoughtful process. In other words, we want to be sure that our mates put some real thought into selecting our gifts and that they didn’t just rush out and grab the first thing they saw – no matter how long the lines were at the mall.

Many of the best gift ideas for women don’t involve a lot of money. In fact, they can be homemade items. If you’re good with your hands, and if you have the proper tools, use your woodworking skills to make something for her. It could be something as simple as a shelf, or something more involved, like a blanket chest or a bench for her patio or garden. If you’re a sculptor, create a piece just for her. If you’re a writer, compose a poem or short story about her. If you’re an avid photographer, take a snapshot of her favorite place or of one that holds some special significance for her. Have the photo enlarged and place it in an attractive frame.

I’m going to repeat this several times here, so you might get tired of reading it, but I really can’t stress the point enough: Women want to know that they’re special to their significant others. They want to be assured that thought and effort were put into their presents. This shows your recipient that you really care about her and that you did some planning. Why is planning evidence important? Because every step of the planning process meant that you were thinking of her at the time.

The best gifts for women depend on the recipients. Obviously, every woman won’t be happy with the same gifts. The offerings should somewhat match the individual’s interests, hobbies, personality, lifestyle, and personal tastes. For me, some of the worst gifts are those “pre-packaged” items you often see displayed prominently on shelves in department stores during the Christmas season. You probably know the ones I’m talking about. Oftentimes, there’s an unwrapped version on display, with numerous others of the same item already wrapped. When I see these, they scream, “If you’re a thoughtless jerk who won’t take the time to search for a great gift, you can buy me!”

The best gifts for women are special. By that, I don’t mean to imply that they have to be expensive. What I mean is that should be so thoughtful that they make her feel special. I can’t tell you what the best gift for the woman in your life is because I don’t know her – but you do, and you should use that knowledge when you’re shopping.

No matter what gift or gifts you select, sometimes the presentation can be impressive on its own. For example, I don’t like it when my spouse has my gifts wrapped in the store. I want him to wrap them himself, even if he’s not exactly proficient in the art of gift wrapping. For me, the sometimes crude attempts just add to the charm of the presentation. I’m like, “Wow! He actually took the time to pick out wrapping paper, buy tape and ribbon, and do the job himself!” If nothing else, at least put the gift in a gift bag and add some colorful tissue paper. Need some gift wrapping ideas? Just click the link!

Do you like giving really unique gifts? I do, and I also like receiving them. Unique gifts don’t have to be strange or unusual. Instead, they can be traditional gifts with unique twists. Take perfume, for example. That’s a pretty standard gift, and it can be rather boring and mundane. If, however, your special someone has a favorite aroma that’s no longer made, you might be able to search the internet and find an original vintage bottle of the stuff. Jewelry can be unique, too. I’ve always loved Native American jewelry, especially turquoise pieces. Years ago, my ex got together with a jeweler, and they designed a necklace just for me. It was beautiful, with different shapes of turquoise stones, tiger’s eye, coral, and quail feathers.

Unique gifts can even include clothing. Okay, buying something off the rack isn’t going to be very unique, but having something custom made for your significant other is. And what about vintage and retro clothing? Imagine if your special someone had a pair of jeans as a teenager that she absolutely loved, and you were able to find the exact same brand and style of jeans from a vintage clothing store. Of course, you’d want to find them in the size she wears now. Or maybe you could find a vintage tee with her favorite rock band’s logo. I’ll give you another example. My best friend collects pieces of pewter. One year, instead of buying her a new pewter item, I found an antique platter at an estate sale, and my pal loved it. Another example: My mom had a set of old china that she cherished, and she’d had it for decades. She wanted a certain piece to add, but she was unable to locate it. She didn’t know how to use a computer, by the way. I searched online and found it, and I gave it to her for Christmas. She was eleated!

Gift ideas for wife can include romantic gifts or practical gifts. You know your wife better than anyone else on the planet knows her, so you should be pretty confident in making the call concerning romantic vs. practical. Personally, I like a mix of the two, with an emphasis on practical. Be careful here, though. Not all women will appreciate a new vacuum cleaner or something similar. And part of her response might be based on how she interprets your attitude about the gift. If she thinks you’re trying to tell her that she needs to vacuum more often, the gift won’t be well received. If, on the other hand, you tell her that you hate seeing her drag that old heavy vacuum cleaner around, she’ll feel that you’re giving the gift with a thoughtful attitude.

If your spouse is a collector, you’re in luck. Almost every collector will appreciate a new addition to her collection. And unless her collection is extremely specific, almost any like item will fit in. You can get some good gift ideas for wife here by examining the items she already has. If, for example, she collects porcelain carousel horses with lots of detail, don’t go out and buy her a primitive wooden carousel horse. Instead, find one that’s in keeping with the type she prefers, based on your observations.

With gift ideas for wife, money is often an issue. In my case, for example, the money my husband and I earn all goes into the same “pot.” Unless there’s something I really want, I don’t want him to spend a lot of money on gifts that I might like. My Christmas list pretty much prevents that from happening. When he wants to surprise me, it’s usually with a nominally priced gift. I think this is a good strategy. If your wife is like me, she won’t be upset about your spending a small amount on a “maybe” gift, but she might not be too happy about your plopping down a large sum on something that’s not a pretty sure bet.

Gifts for girlfriend can be harder to choose than those for a wife – especially if you don’t live with the girlfriend, and even more so if the relationship is young. You might not know her well enough to give a really personal gift. In general, the longer and more serious a relationship is, the more personal a gift can be.

If your relationship is new, and unless you’re sure of specific items your girlfriend wants, it’s often best to stick to traditional gifts. These might include perfume, simple pieces of jewelry, engraved silver picture frames, or flowers. It’s pretty hard to go wrong with any of these choices.

If you’re strapped for cash, you can still come up with great gifts for girlfriend. Consider putting together a gift basket. Do this yourself instead of buying an already assembled gift basket. If you have the time, start early gathering the items, and remember to put some thought and consideration into everything you choose. Think about her lifestyle and daily activities. For example, if she’s a coffee drinker, include a bag of gourmet coffee and an insulated travel mug. If she’s a “chocoholic,” include some fancy chocolates. If she’s an avid reader, add the latest bestseller to the mix. If she loves fishing, toss in a couple of lures. You get the idea, right? For tips on making gift baskets for women, click the link.

The gift basket container can be just as important as the items it holds. Of course, you can always select an attractive basket, but a gift basket doesn’t have to include an actual basket. Practically anything that’s large enough to hold the items will work, and you might want to sort of match the container with the items. For example, if she visits the gym regularly and you’re including some new sweat bands or workout CDs, place all the items in a stylish new gym bag. For female anglers, use a tackle box or bait bucket. For artists and crafters, use a wooden paint caddy.

Most females appreciate romantic gifts, whether they’ll admit it or not. Take me, for example. I’m a very practical person. I’m down to earth, and I don’t like spending a lot on luxury items. Most of the time, I even consider fresh flowers as a useless waste of money and prefer live potted plants or hanging baskets for my deck or porch. That being said, there are times when I very much appreciate romance, even in the gift department.

Some of the best romantic gifts involve some quality one-on-one time. If you have a hefty budget, give your loved one a getaway for just the two of you. These are often especially appreciated during the doldrums of winter. An escape to a warm, sunny beach for two might be just what the doctor ordered to lift spirits during the letdown that often follows the holiday season. If a trip isn’t in your budget, plan a romantic evening out as a gift. Take your wife or girlfriend to a great restaurant, and make sure you take care of all the necessary details beforehand – hiring a sitter for the kids, making reservations, etc.

One of the most thoughtful and heartwarming gifts I ever received from my husband didn’t cost a dime. We were on a very tight budget at the time, and we really couldn’t afford Christmas presents for each other after buying for the kids. Hubby made me a coupon book, with “tickets” for various things like a 30-minute walk for two, a foot rub, a car washing, a housecleaning, and several night off from cooking, when he would take care of dinner for the family. I really appreciated the thought hubby put into this process. I could just picture him sitting at his desk, scribbling away at ideas.

This all comes back to thoughtfulness. The best gifts for women don’t have to be the most expensive. In fact, as I’ve alluded to, they can be absolutely free. Most women are more impressed with the thought and effort behind the gift than the monetary value of the offering. Believe me – the way to a woman’s heart is through her…heart!

Is your special someone more into practical gifts? Practical gifts for women can be items that make her more comfortable or that make her life easier in some way. Oftentimes, you need to know the recipient well in order for such a gift to be appreciated. Practical gifts need to be pretty specific to the person. Does she have some physical condition that causes pain? If so, a thoughtful yet practical gift might be a chair massager or even a heating pad. Gift certificates for therapeutic massages might also be a good bet. Even better would be to have a massage therapist come to your home. I got this as a birthday gift one year, and it was one of the best gifts I’ve ever received!

Think about what your significant other enjoys doing. If she’s a fan of cooking, the latest kitchen gadget would be a good idea, provided she doesn’t already have one in her kitchen arsenal. If she’s a runner, she might like a new pair of running shoes or a high quality pedometer. If she enjoys gardening, a new set of gardening tools, some bulbs, and some seed packets for spring will give her something to look forward to during the cold, dreary days of winter.

I’ll give you another example of one of the best practical gifts I ever received. I was really into horseback riding at the time and owned a couple of steeds, but I didn’t have a decent saddle. For my birthday, I got a brand new western saddle, and I loved it! That saddle and I put a lot of miles on my horses, and I used it for years. You see, gifts that are practical can be thoughtful at the same time. I got more use and enjoyment out of that saddle than I would have gotten from the most expensive diamond pendant in the world. See? Holiday gift ideas for your special someone isn’t exactly rocket science!