You may appreciate the men in your life, but it sure isn’t always easy to come up with great gift ideas for them! Whether it’s a father, brother, boyfriend or husband, men are not always easy. Perhaps he is uncommunicative about what he wants, or you are the one who wants to surprise him with something unexpected. If you ever find yourself only weeks away from an occasion and only have vague ideas for a gift, then this article will definitely help spark your imagination!

One of the keys to a great gift is personalization. Make it obvious that you thought about their hobbies, personality, or likes and dislikes. For example, let’s say the man in your life is a golfer. Sure, you could buy him a golfer’s hat or a set of golf balls, but make sure they’re personalized. For example, you could print something clever on the hat like “trained by Tiger Woods” (if he’s a big fan) or put his initials on the golf balls. Keep this suggestion in mind each time you receive a gift. Remember to ask yourself, what can I do to make this gift even more special? They will certainly appreciate it! Now here are some ideas for the men in your life. Pay close attention, and you’ll be sure to have a hit every time!

Gifts for Parents

Dad’s a great guy, but he doesn’t always make gift-giving easy! To keep things simple in this example, let’s classify dad as someone 45 or older, because kids rarely receive gifts from parents without help, so we’re probably targeting a slightly older audience. Usually we need to give gifts to dads during the winter holidays and for their birthdays. (We won’t worry about anniversaries because they usually include Mom as well, so those gifts should be for both of you.) Your dad may seem like the guy who has everything, so stick with giving him something practical or cute and sentimental. For practice, find out what he needs. Maybe he needs a new pair of pajamas, socks, a toolbox, or a new set of golf clubs. Just be careful that you only give an article that you understand. If you don’t know how to choose a set of golf clubs, avoid them, because he will most likely get the wrong brand or length. Instead, get him a new set of golf balls or a golf hat and save yourself the inevitable frustration. Or maybe you don’t want to receive a gift that is 100% practical. You can still get him those golf balls or a hat, but it adds a fun twist. For example, you could get a teddy bear holding a miniature golf club or even wearing the hat he just bought. In fact, a stuffed animal can be a great way to liven up a gift or a great way to show that you know the men in your life well. One year my sister gave my father a stuffed cat that bore an uncanny resemblance to his favorite pet. He was so delighted with the gift that she brought it to her office so he could have her friend with him at work and at home! Something that was so personalized and special definitely outclassed the wine opener set she had given him.

Gifts for husbands and boyfriends

We may know our loved ones well, but sometimes finding the right gift for them can be a frustrating experience. After all, we try so hard to find the perfect gift, and anything less than that can leave us feeling like a failure. So when looking for boyfriends and husbands, remember the key rule: keep things personal! Maybe you want to take him out to dinner at his favorite restaurant. There’s nothing wrong with this idea, but you can certainly make it a bit more exciting than just telling him what you’re up to. Get a restaurant gift card and have a cute stuffed animal hold the card for a much more fun presentation. If they have a favorite animal, get the stuffed representation for an even more thoughtful gift. For example, get him a stuffed dog, a stuffed cat, or a stuffed lion, if one of those is his favorite. Stuffed animals can also be a great way to liven up a Valentine’s gift. Perhaps you have planned a romantic evening together. A stuffed toy can be a great way to tell him in a cute and sexy way. For example, get a stuffed tiger and write on it the message “I’m waiting for you tiger” and have the stuffed animal hold a cute piece of your lingerie.

Remember, the key to a great gift for men is personalization. Get them something that shows you really understand and support their hobbies and personality, and then think about what you can do to make it even more special. Use your imagination and you will both be delighted with the result!