You have a lot of fun with your best friend, but when you have to give him a birthday present or for another occasion, choosing the right one becomes very stressful. You want the gift to show him your affection, but you are afraid of buying something that he will not like. Worse still: you may be afraid that she gets the wrong idea about your intentions, especially if you are a girl. Do not worry, by choosing the right gift, making it clear that you have no double ends and avoiding the most common blunders, you will receive an enthusiastic response (without sentimental interests) from your friend.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Choosing the Right Gift
Step 1. Buy him a gift inspired by his interests
Assuming he's your best friend, you probably know his hobbies and passions quite well. With a gift that reflects these interests or, better yet, that helps him put them into practice, you are almost always on the safe side. These gifts are usually welcomed: you will give him something he likes and will actually use; at the same time, you will show that you have thought about it.
If you're not sure about her preferences, just drop by her house. Look at the objects and posters hanging on the walls. For example, if you see a stack of Nintendo magazines, it's likely a gamer, so a new game or related gadget would be ideal. Along the same lines, if you see a Metallica poster posted on the wall, he's probably a fan of the band, so a live DVD concert or band related gadget will do just fine
Step 2. Choose a gift that she will find original or funny
If you are worried about not being able to choose a gift to your liking, opt for a funny or ironic one. After all, if he doubts over with laughter, it will be difficult for him to analyze the reason for your choice. You can be inspired by a joke that only the two of you understand or simply choose for an object that everyone considers funny. The latter option is a little more impersonal, but you won't run the risk of making a bad impression. In any case, rely on common sense. Here are some ideas to consider:
- DVD of a comedy or comedian show.
- Gadgets, t-shirts with an ironic slogan, weird trinkets, board games and so on.
- Playful gifts; take a cue from what he hates (like his favorite team's rival's shirt), out-of-fashion bizarre things (like those ugly 70s-style sunglasses), illogical objects (like a sack of potatoes) and so on.
- An object that recalls its name. For example, if his name is Brian, consider the "Brian of Nazareth" movie poster.
Step 3. Buy him a functional gift
A sure way to keep him happy and keep away from embarrassing misunderstandings? Give him an absolutely practical object. That's right, it must come in handy, but it doesn't necessarily need to be affectionate or intimate. For example, if this friend of yours is a gym fanatic, you might want to purchase a pair of weightlifting gloves, sports shorts, or weights for exercising at home. These gifts show him that you pay attention to his passions, but usually do not give rise to misunderstandings, thus avoiding offending him or showing a sentimental interest.
- However, these gifts can have a drawback: in fact, they are sometimes cold. Choosing a simple and functional tool for a friend you have always known can hurt him if he is sensitive to this type of thing. Keep this possibility in mind.
- You also need to remember that certain functional gifts, unwittingly, can send rude messages. For example, a subscription to a healthy cooking magazine is certainly useful, but the recipient may think that, between the lines, you want to tell him to go on a diet.
Step 4. Give him something he can share with his friends
To show your affection without sending the wrong signals, you can make the gift involve not only the recipient, but also their circle of friends (which includes you, of course, although you don't necessarily have to choose an item that you would use personally). For example, if your friend plays in a band, you could order a custom t-shirt with the name of the band. Alternatively, gift them a music-inspired game, like Guitar Hero, so they can all play together.
- If your friend is engaged, use the same principle: buy a gift that can be used by the couple. For example, it is ideal to buy two concert tickets for your favorite band. You will offer him a night out with his girlfriend (with or without you, this is up to you).
- It is also a great way to relieve any tension that has recently arisen between you and other friends or between you and his girlfriend. If you buy something that you can all use together, you are basically offering an olive branch and saying "I want us all to get along".
Step 5. Buy a "masculine" gift
Choosing an object that appeals to his masculinity or the image of a gentleman he wants to have is usually quite safe. Pocket knives, watches, automotive accessories and so on make great gifts, ideal for both a teenager and an adult. Here are some other ideas:
- Ties
- Tools
- Belt Buckles
- Accessories for shaving
- Wallets. Hardly a guy changes it on a regular basis, so this gift will likely be very welcome.
Step 6. Save money by creating something yourself
The gift doesn't have to be expensive to make a good impression. Making it from scratch is an effective way to show that you care deeply for your friend. These items are often much less expensive than what you can buy in the store, but the time and care you put into them generally make them particularly special. Here are some cute DIY ideas to get inspired by, but don't be afraid to get creative and follow your inspirations.
- An art piece created by you (such as a painting, drawing or sculpture).
- A handcrafted item (such as a piece of furniture, a skateboard, a notebook table, etc.).
- A hand-woven dress or accessory (such as a knitted hat or pair of gloves).
- Homemade food (like cookies or brownies; better if they are long-life).
- A song written and performed by you (if you find the courage to do it!).
Step 7. If in doubt, give him a gift certificate
If you're worried about buying him something he won't like, let him buy what he wants! Gift cards and other coupons of this type are useful to show that you care about your friend, but avoid making mistakes in choosing. Many, among other things, prefer to receive these vouchers instead of the classic gifts. In fact, statistically speaking, the more generic the purpose of the gift card, the more chances there will be that the recipient will appreciate it. Above all, it is convenient to buy such a gift - you can do it on the internet or by going to the store before the birthday party, without wasting time.
Step 8. Don't be afraid to ask
Guys often hesitate to say clearly what they want to receive as a gift, especially for birthdays, Christmas, etc. Some feel embarrassed to ask for something, others don't really care what they get. Going to buy a gift in such a situation is daunting, so just insist that I go into detail (respectfully, of course). Usually, even those who never reveal what they secretly want are dreaming of something, so start digging!
Part 2 of 2: Avoid Romantic Connotations
Step 1. Stay away from the classic gifts that lovers exchange
Whatever your intention, certain objects have an all too obvious romantic connotation, so you absolutely must avoid them. In general, anything you would give your boyfriend on Valentine's Day is out of the question for your friend. By breaking this rule, the consequences can be nothing short of disastrous (especially if he's engaged), so watch out! Here are some examples of purely romantic gifts to avoid:
- Perfume or cologne
- Flowers
- Cufflinks or other such accessories
- Chocolates or other expensive sweets (especially those sold in refined and elegant boxes)
- Expensive accessories (like Rolex, fancy pens, etc.)
- Provocative clothing (ironic t-shirts are fine, silk boxers, dressing gowns, elegant jackets, and so on are too personal for a friend)
- Tickets to go to an event the two of you alone
Step 2. Write a funny or humorous phrase on the greeting card
Often, it is not the gift in and of itself that causes misunderstandings, it is the message that accompanies it. It's very easy to mistake a friend's tenderness and affection for a more serious feeling, so avoid this risk by writing anything but profound sentences. Someone may end up finding a sentimental connotation even in the most innocent of cards, but the risk decreases a lot if the message is not sentimental or particularly affectionate. Here are some ideas for writing in a pleasantly irreverent way:
- Write it as if it were an SMS (example: "T wish 1 happy birthday. 6 a great friend").
- Make fun of it (example: "Maybe you don't know, but it was really difficult to choose this card. In fact I would like you to return it to me after the party, so I can serve it to Alessandra next week. Ah, I forgot, happy birthday!").
- Include a silly acrostic inspired by his name (for example, if your friend is called David, write D. = Decided, TO = Nonconformist, V. = Winner, etc.).
- Draw silly or bizarre scribbles on the margins.
Step 3. When you give him the gift, try to be vaguely impersonal
It's not just what you choose, it's also how you approach yourself. Getting excited about your friend's reaction to the gift can trigger embarrassing questions even if it were a very simple item, like a phone cover. Instead, offering him the gift in a calm and relaxed way, as if you no longer give much importance to what he thinks, you will come out unscathed.
In this case, it is difficult to find a balance. Being too impersonal can be rude. For example, leaving him a package with no note on the table, and accidentally mentioning him the following week, will give the impression that you don't really care about your friend. You know him better than anyone, or almost anyone else, so try to predict his reaction based on his sensitivity
Step 4. When in doubt, buy the gift together with a group of people
Teaming up with other friends to split the cost of the gift is not only great for saving money and making a good impression, it's great for avoiding sending the wrong signal. It's definitely hard for you to consider a group gift romantic. After all, you may not even be the one to choose it. And there's more: you don't have to write the message of the note yourself, so you don't risk running into the classic traps of a longer and more personalized text.
Step 5. If you don't know what else to do, insert certain words here and there to emphasize the nature of your relationship
Do you worry so much about being misunderstood with your gift? Take advantage of the note to define the relationship in purely Platonic terms. Choose the right words to refer to your friendship: "friend", "brother" and so on. Avoid words and expressions that may seem romantic, such as "special friend". Do not end the message with "Forever yours".
Unfortunately, for some young people, even this is not enough. In such a case, you simply have to ignore your friend's infatuation (if he has a crush on you) until it passes. If the situation gets out of hand, then you have to opt for honesty. In other words, tell him directly that you don't want to ruin your friendship and that you don't like him from that point of view. Read this article to find out more
Advice
- Believe it or not, there are websites designed specifically for these types of gifts. Get inspired by pages like amazon.com, coolthings.com and so on to come up with the right idea. If you don't even know where to start, they are ideal.
- Give him a gift card for his favorite restaurant.
