Valentines Day Ideas for your Boyfriend or Girlfriend - Some Do's and Dont's

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. What is an appropriate Valentine’s Day gift? How does one make it different from a birthday or Christmas gift?

It’s best to give your partner both a material gift as well as tickets or reservations to an event. For the event, think of what fits what they like to do. Be careful, because sometimes a mate only does things for you, such as watching football. My suggestions:

• A concert or venue with the live music. If she likes classical music, go to the symphony. If he likes Reggae, find a restaurant or bar that is playing the genre one night.
• His or her favorite restaurant is a safe bet. If your mate is yearning to be adventurous, try a restaurant with more rare cuisine like Jamaican or Vietnamese food.
• Your Valentine can watch movies online now. Attend live theater instead. In most places the tickets won’t be much more than the movie theaters anyhow.
• If you must stay in, make sure the dinner is out of the routine.
  • Eat on the back porch
  • Buy long taper candles for the dining table
  • Purchase a rich dessert from a popular bakery.

Gifts for Her:

• Roses are typically the classic favorite, but flowers won’t stand alone. Make sure you have those tickets to the event or another material gift to go with it.
• A book on her favorite hobby or interest. It shows you know her when you buy her a large book on gardening, European travel, or whatever else she finds fun.
• Something homemade. This can be tricky, so make sure it’s from the heart. A mixtape, a collage of pictures of you two, etc. This gift also won’t stand alone.
• A prepaid massage or spa reservation. Show her that you appreciate how hard she works with something that will help her unwind.

Gifts NOT for Her:

• Underwear. Do NOT get her this. You’re really saying that you want a gift that will benefit you and will make her itch.
• Chocolates. Unless she really has a sweet tooth, this gift is overdone and seems like it took no effort.
• A haircut or nail appointment. Unlike the spa or massage, this is too routine to be special and also implies that she needs to work on her looks.
• Anything that is part of her routine. Cleaning, driving the kids around, or taking the dog for a walk isn’t about her. Return the mop, car seat, or high-tech dog leash now!
• Coupons for a fifteen minute backrub, an hour of raking leaves, or anything else. Your partner shouldn’t need a coupon to ask you to do those things.

Gifts for Him:

• High-tech gadgets. Men never stopped playing with toys, they just got more complex. Look for a machine that sorts coins, an mp3 player, or a GPS system for his bike.
• Fitness accessories. Active men will appreciate a jump rope, inflatable dumbbells for travel, or a nighttime running vest.
• Books on his favorite topic. Just like for her, find a book on basketball, the Civil War, or any other favorite interest.

Gifts NOT for Him:

• A movie that he saw for you. Just cause he said he liked The Proposal, doesn’t mean he wants to own it. Make sure it’s a DVD that he wants.
• A plant. Unless he’s into gardening, he’ll forget to water it.
• Anything that is a year-round expense. He constantly picks up batteries or razor blades at the drug store.

Have more ideas for our readers? Post your Do’s and Don’ts for Valentine’s Day events and gifts below.