How to Choose the Right Gift for a Man

When it comes to buying gifts for men, I must say, I've always had a knack for it. Even when I was growing up, my father never received the standard, ho-hum gifts like a shirt, tie or a bottle of after shave from me. Not that these gifts aren't fine for some men, but they were items my father simply didn't need, or want, for that matter. If you have trouble shopping for those special men in your life, or, you're looking for some new ideas, then you'll need to find out
how to choose the right gift for a man.

It takes some thought to gift shop for anyone. But men can be even harder to shop for. If you're a woman, you have to remember that "sentiment" is high on your vocabulary list. However, "emotion" isn't an ordinary word to a man. A man usually likes gifts he can use. Don't take it personally, but he'll probably prefer a new pair of comfortable slippers to a framed picture of you. Men are usually practical creatures who appreciate gifts they can put to use rather than knick knacks or other items that sit on a shelf.

One of the biggest mistakes many people make when they try to choose the right gift for anyone, but especially a man, is to buy what they like. You really have to put your own tastes aside and think of what the man likes instead. I helped my pal Jean shop for her hubby one time since she always had a terrible time finding gifts for him. He is the proverbial "man who has everything." That, and Jean has a tendency to choose gifts she likes instead of thinking of her hubby's likes and dislikes. Jean's hubby loves to watch TV all sprawled out in his recliner. Anyone who spends any time with him at home knows this, but Jean didn't give it any thought. He also gets cold alot. So, I found a sheep wool recliner cover for him. Jean thought I was off my rocker, but she bought the item anyway, wrapped it up and gave it to him for Christmas. He loved it. Not only was the cover comfortable to sit on, but it helped protect the fabric of his chair (another practical feature), and, the fleece was warm and cozy.

The moral of the story is- pay attention to gifts the man can use. Men don't always mention gifts they want or need, so it's up to us to figure it out.

I mentioned having a father, but did I also mention that I have another special man in my life along with brothers and a son? I've had plenty of experience shopping for men, believe me! Another bit of wisdom I can pass on is to focus on a man's interest if you want to choose the right gift. Does he love football, baseball, fishing, gardening, hunting, painting, watching movies, listening to music, cars or motorcycles? I "hit a home run" one year by buying my son a watch for his birthday. A watch, you say, big deal! This was a specially-designed wristwatch that had his favorite basketball player and his autograph on the face. It didn't cost a fortune, either. My son loved it so much that he never wore it. Instead, he put it away with his special things.

Which leads me to my next tip: to choose the right gift for a man, think outside the box. Look at specialty stores for gifts he can use that are out of the ordinary. Let's take the example of the wristwatch. There are watches, then there are watches. You can buy a theme watch like I did, or you can buy a watch that has a radio built into it. There are also Military Pilot's wristwatches, fancy pocket watches and many others to choose from. If you can't find anything locally, search the Internet to find a unique gift for a man. I have found that men are usually pleased with a gift that can't just be bought off a shelf anywhere. They seem to like it that you have spent time and effort to find just the right gift especially for them.