Tips for Buying Gifts for Your New Girlfriend

So, you snagged yourself a new girlfriend, and it’s time to buy her a gift. Early in the relationship you may not know enough about her to really wow her with a gift. The trick is using what you do know. For instance, if she mentioned she loves Thai food, you’d do well taking her out to a Thai restaurant. Don’t take her out for sushi, because that’s what you like. The trick to keeping a girl interested is listening. So, if you want to turn your new girlfriend into a long-term relationship, listen closely to what she’s saying.

Don’t Overspend

It’s easy to fall into that trap of thinking women desire men with money. It’s a common misconception that all women want someone who can provide for them and expect lavish gifts. In fact, if you’ve just recently started dating someone, you don’t want to overspend on her birthday or around the holidays. You may freak her out. This is especially true if she’s independent and hard-working.

Instead of throwing $3000 at a diamond tennis bracelet, take it down a few notches. Try not to spend over $300, but even that may be too much. Base your budget on what you make. If you’re still managing a McDonalds, don’t worry about dropping just $50 on a gift. She knows where you work and if you follow the rest of these steps, she’ll be overjoyed no matter what you spend.

Investigate

Every girl is different. This means you can’t walk into your local mall and grab the first Hello Kitty watch on the shelf. Despite what advertisers suggest, she may not like Hello Kitty. She may not even like Coach, Guess, or any of the other top designers women are foretold to be gaga over. In order to find out what she does like, you’ll need to do some investigating.

A couple weeks beforehand, ask her to have you over for dinner. Pay attention to the things in her apartment. Look at her bookshelf. Is it filled with classics? Is it a horror-lined shelf? Is she a fan of Bukowski? Does she even read? Check out her CDs. Pay attention to the stuff you’ve been overlooking and chances are you’ll get a clear picture of the things she likes.

It’s not a bad idea to ask her friends. If you’re certain they can keep a secret, ask her friends what sorts of things she likes. They may tell you that she’s a traditional romantic. If this is the case, contact ProFlowers and have an arrangement sent to her home or work. Also at ProFlowers, you’ll find gourmet gifts and other treats. If she’s a rocker, splurge on some concert tickets. Her friends should be able to provide you with some valuable insight.

Presentation is Everything

Just like with overspending, having a string quartet start playing the moment she walks into a room isn’t really appropriate for a new relationship. Plus, it sets the bar very high for all other birthdays and holidays. Those sorts of things come later, when you’re planning an engagement or celebrating an anniversary.

With a new girlfriend, plan something simple, but romantic. Pick a location you know she loves. Be a gentleman, even if your girl is a gamer chick who is celebrating at the arcade. Hold the door for her. Pull out her chair.

When the moment comes to give her the gift, make sure it’s well-packaged. It should be in a box or a bag. If you’re not creative and can’t tie a bow or hide tape, ask your local department store to giftwrap the item for you. She’ll love the beautiful packaging and you’ll get the opportunity to see her face light up, knowing you made the effort on her special day.