What makes buying a gift for a single guy so challenging? Perhaps it’s the mystique surrounding the single guy lifestyle…like it’s all about microwave dinners and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. If shopping for the single guy in your life leaves you stumped, read on. We proudly present the Gift Giving Guide for Single Guys.
What does he like?
Buying a gift for a single guy begins like buying a gift for anyone else: figure out what he likes. Everyone’s got hobbies and interests. Is he an amateur photographer? A car buff? You can never have too many gadgets and toys to go along with your favorite hobby. A hobby-related magazine subscription is a particularly fun idea—most single guys don’t pull out and send off those little subscription postcards in their favorite periodical.
On a related note…stay away from stereotypes.
Not all men like sports, cars, power tools, and Bay Watch. Remember, the idea of a gift is to get the recipient something he really wants. You’ve probably read that email forward that says you can always buy a man a cordless drill. For every 99 men that are nodding in agreement, there’s a lone voice crying "1-2-3, cordless drills are not for me, 4-5-6, there’s nothing in my house to fix." Select a gift that suits his personality, not one that just "seems" like something a single guy would want. Art, not fishing, might be his cup of tea.
The way to a man’s heart…
Is it really through the stomach? The general consensus would be a resounding yes. There’s always the "fill-in-the-food" of the month clubs (I’d go with steaks instead of jam). And who doesn’t love a gift card to their favorite restaurant?
Most single guys don’t get many home-cooked meals. Make up some casseroles, freeze them, and deliver them with instructions on how to cook them. There’s nothing like mom’s famous lasagna after a long day, especially if you shot 35 over par on the golf course.
What does he do for a living?
Men like useful gifts. While the single guy in your life probably splurges on all the latest technological gadgets, most of them don’t shell out on work-related items.
Is he Mr. High-Power Exec who’d like monogrammed cufflinks, a leather briefcase, or a designer laptop bag? How about an expensive pen?
Steer clear of the proverbial tie. Get creative instead—a gift card to a sporting goods store for a personal trainer, a top-of-the-line tool belt for a carpenter.
Ask.
Women tend to be the notorious hint-droppers (the throat-clearing "ahem" every time a commercial for three-stone diamond necklaces comes on). Men, on the other hand, will usually come right out and tell you what they want. It doesn’t get much easier than that. Do you know his roommate, best friend, or one of his relatives? You can ask them, too. Unless you enjoy playing the guessing game, this is one piece of gift giving advice that can’t be over-emphasized.
Get them a "service."
Not all gifts have to be something you can physically wrap up. Do you know of something your single guy hates to do? Clean his house? Change his oil? Get him a gift certificate for monthly oil changes and tire rotations. Pay in advance for a year’s worth of weekly maid service. Everyone has a task they particularly despise. This is particularly true of single guys who don’t have a spouse to split chores with. What could be better than the gift of relieving them of this dreaded task?
Phillip Fuller, owner of http://simplybestgifts.com , recognizes that what you give says a lot about who you are. Stop wracking your brain to find the perfect gift - we're devoted to providing the personal service you need. Visit today to find just the right gift for any occassion.
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