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Have you started your
Christmas shopping yet? Don’t worry if you haven’t - you might know someone
who’s super organised and got all theirs done and wrapped by August Bank Holiday
weekend, but most of us are still thinking we’ve got plenty of time left yet.
Even if you’ve made a start, it’s a fair bet that you’ll have a few tricky names
left on your
shopping list.
People tend to buy for the easiest names on their list first, then get left with a collection of people for whom you need to buy a gift but have no idea what to get. That leads to procrastination, and before you know it it’s Christmas Eve, and you’re on a mad dash to buy socks again because you’ve still not come up with any good ideas. If that sounds familiar, here are a few ideas to inspire you and help you avoid the last-minute pack of socks situation.
Are men hard to buy for?
Many men aren’t hard to buy for at all, but it’s true that the names at the
bottom of your shopping list are likely to include men. In some cases, it’s hard
because they have few interests outside of work and family, in others, it may be
because you don’t know enough about them and their hobbies. Or if it’s your
partner, you could know them so well that nothing seems good enough or
interesting enough to show how much you care. That’s why people fall back on
socks, or sweets, or beer, and feel dissatisfied that they couldn’t think of
anything better.
What do men like?
Men are just as diverse as women in their interests and personalities, but it’s
true to say that there are some interests that particularly appeal to the
majority of men. However, just because
most men enjoy watching sports doesn’t mean you should assume all men
do. Or even that his tastes include all major sports. He could be a fanatical
rugby fan and have no interest in football, for example, so buying him a
soccer-related present is going to fall a little flat.
If you know anything about the man in question, try to use what you know as
inspiration, but find out enough detail so you can make an informed choice. For
instance, you know your work colleague regularly goes fishing, which opens up a
good selection of possible gift items. To ensure you choose a gift he’ll love,
you also need to know what kind of fishing he favours. Coarse fishermen who are
after the biggest carp or catfish in a fishing lake would use different
equipment to a fly fisherman in a river, or a sea fisherman at the coast.
The more they know about their hobby, the harder it can be in a way, because
they’ll have highly specific demands not only regarding what they use, but who
it’s made by. Buying a scratch golfer a Nike bobble hat when he’s a Titleist man
misses the mark, even though he might be in need of a new winter hat. However,
if you can find out some specifics, either during your conversations or from his
nearest and dearest, you could be on to a winner.
Car and motorbike lovers
Some men have no interest in vehicles beyond their use as a means of transport,
but many have a passion for cars that fuels a good few Christmas gift ideas.
Instead of going for another car wash kit, have a look at some more interesting
alternatives. Say your friend has finally got his dream Jaguar X-Type parked in
his drive; rather than buying a generic motoring gift, look for items related to
that specific car.
Prestige and collectable models in particular usually have a range of
merchandise available, so have a look at the manufacturer’s website and see what
you can find. Or how about a comedy present, like a sign that says, “Only
Jaguars permitted to park here.” Do a search for Jaguar or X-Type themed gifts
online, and you’ll get thousands of hits to look through.
If you’re looking for something truly unique, how about a personalised number
plate? These don’t just appeal to petrol heads, so it could be a good option for
anyone who has their own car. They won’t be a cheap gift, but there’s a wide
selection of prices for plates, so you don’t need to spend hundreds or thousands
of pounds. Have a look at a specialist personalised number plate website to
see
more about how to buy, and the numbers you could get for your loved one.
Sports and hobbies
If you know your gift recipient supports a certain sports team, you can’t really
go wrong with a present that relates to their team. A Liverpool fan wouldn’t
care how many football shirts or scarves they had with the Liver bird on, and a
Ferrari fan would be happy to have a wardrobe full of prancing horse baseball
caps. If you’re not sure about team affiliation, make sure before you buy –
sports fans are often so devoted to their teams that being given a
present relating to the wrong team might even be offensive. If your friend is a
Manchester supporter, make sure you know whether that’s City or United, because
if you get it wrong, Christmas could be ruined!
There are plenty of other hobbies men are interested in that offer ideas for
possible presents. The same kinds of rules apply, in that the more you know
about their particular interest and level of expertise the easier it is to buy
the right gift. For instance, if your friend has an OO gauge model railway
set-up, he won’t be able to use an N gauge locomotive as his track will be too
big.
If you’re still finding it hard to choose a present you’re happy with, you could
try looking at some gifts for men websites and catalogues that might have useful
items; or failing that, you can always ask – most men would rather you asked,
and they got what they wanted than receive a surprise gift that they don’t
particularly like.