We all know the feeling:  a special event (say, a birthday or anniversary) is approaching, and you’re having trouble thinking of a great gift idea for your loved one.  Sometimes we have those little flashes of insight that lead to brilliant gift selection, but most of the time we’re left scratching our heads trying to find  a gift that is both meaningful and appropriate for our budget.  I can’t promise to solve this problem for your forever, but I hope to give you some strategies you can use to find a good gift next time you’re stumped.

The first strategy is to plan ahead.  Now, this advice doesn’t come in handy if you’re down to the wire looking for a gift, but it’s something to keep in mind.  Planning ahead helps you in several ways.  One of the best strategies to be sure you’re always listening to your loved one.  If he or she mentions a particular want or need, make a mental note (and later a physical) note of it.  Gifts that come from off the cuff comments like this are especially meaningful, as it shows you are really listening and thinking of your partner’s needs.  Planning ahead can also help you get the best deal on your gift by allowing you time to find the best bargain.

“All fine and well,” you say, “but I’ve only got a day to figure this out and I can’t remember a single want or need being mentioned.”  Never fear, not all hope is lost.  Before you resort to purchasing a generic gift certificate,  try some of these other strategies:

• -Did your loved one make any large purchases (car, boat, house, etc.) that might need some accessories?  These can make great, thoughtful gifts.
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• -Some types of gifts can be considered “sure fire” provided you know your person well enough.  For example, many men will always be happy to receive new tools, no matter how many they already have.  Sneak into the garage, see what’s missing, and buy something he’ll love.  You can always get a gift receipt just in case he already has one. 
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• -Consider a homemade gift.  If you are “crafty” enough, you might be able to make a unique gift like a custom picture frame with a photo of a special moment you shared, or other similar creative gift idea. 

Gift idea sites can also help you in a pinch.  There are sites that specialize in gift ideas for men, gifts for teens, and any other niche you can think of.  A quick internet search can pull up a lot of these, and help give you some quick inspiration.  Visiting retailers you know your loved one likes to frequent and asking the salespeople their opinion on gift ideas is also a good strategy.

Hopefully this helps you get some ideas going for your gift shopping.  Gifts are never easy, but they don’t have to be too tricky either.  Just step back, put some thought into it, and you’ll have a great gift idea in no time.