Gift This // Not That :: Christmas Gift Ideas For Men
Before I even start this post, if you really want the sad but honest truth on gift ideas for men or a perfect gift guide for men.... go back in my archives and check out my Valentine's Day Gift Guide. Men are just real simple.
For Christmas this year, CB and I got each other tickets to a two day music festival in Dallas as our gifts to each other. With that said, we both wanted to have something for the other to open on Christmas, so we are doing stocking stuffers this year and we set a $50 limit. I've been searching high and low on Pinterest for gift guides for dudes, but I have had zero luck finding anything helpful. And then I remembered oh yeah, I have a blog, I should be doing these lists.
So I decided to make a dude gift guide for you today. But it is a little different. I took several of the ideas I saw on Pinterest and offered way better (IMO!) suggestions for about the same price. I asked CB for his opinion on these too, so this is actually backed by a dude. Although he insisted that all every dude wants is a Cabela's gift card............
I saw many gift guides that suggested very, very expensive "briefcases". Unless you're dating a J.Crew model (and if you are, bravo to you) I would opt for the GoPro instead. They can take it fishing, camping, golfing, hunting... whatever it is they like to do.... and re-watch the OMGGreatestCatchEverrrrrr, over and over again.
I saw a lot of gift guides that suggested getting your boyfriend boxers for Christmas. Maybe it is because I've only been with my man for less than a year, but that seems odd to me at this point in our relationship. For $18 get you underwear, wrap it and put it in his stocking instead!
Engraved flasks are a nice thought, but when will they ever use it? The next time they find themselves stuck in that pesky 1920s Prohibition Era? Scratch the flask off your list and get him a nice bottle of whiskey from a local distillery! The brand above is just right down the street from me in Fort Worth, Texas!
I see books and calendars about bacon being gifted all the time. You know where things like that go? A junk drawer before they eventually find themselves in the trashcan or at the goodwill. For 8 bucks, just cook the man up some actual bacon instead.
From my dating experience, the mom generally buys him a nice button down shirt or two for Christmas. Instead, for the same price, get him a jersey from his favorite football team!
May I be so bold as to recommend #82 from the Dallas Cowboys?
I think every gift guide I saw had a shaving kit listed. In the event that your man already owns an electric razor, which doesn't even require shaving cream, ditch the novelty (and quite expensive) shaving kit and put that money toward a StubHub Gift Card.
----
Is there anything you've seen on gift guides that you thought was totally ridiculous?
What are you planning on getting your man for Christmas??
Great picks, and good takes on the "standard" gifts we get for guys. Shaving kits are so boring. That's like them getting us a shaving kit for our legs. Boooorrrrringgggg haha.
ReplyDeleteoh i love how you did this! however, I am not a fan of go pros. I mean, if someone gave me one I wouldn't say no BUT i just think it looks like a fish eye. And I recommend instead of a shaving kit to give him an actual shave. it's a really fun experience!
ReplyDeletehahaha this makes me laugh so hard because the Mister was about 50/50 on all of those things. He wants new button downs so I am getting him some, he LOVES whiskey so I always try to find new ones for him, he wants Jack Black shaving stuff every year... etc. Me? I would rather do what you are doing and buy a fun night or two somewhere and do small stockings.
ReplyDeleteI got my boyfriend a very nice briefcase/man purse last Christmas. He loves it and uses it daily. Though he's not a J.Crew model, he is a smarty pants at a startup company and needed a nice bag to haul his computers (yes, plural). That's the only one I disagreed with. Definitely tickets to something fun over a shaving kit. I've never met a dude that uses a shaving kit...
ReplyDeleteMy husband actually asked for a shaving kit for Christmas! He got that same set as a groomsmen gift and wants the full size. Also, I got that bottle of TX Whiskey as an engagement gift. It was awesome.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of this not that for gift guides!!! There are so many gift guides out there that have things that I would never buy for someone.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for being real. Every gift guide for men I've seen apparently assumes all men are flask-toting, cigar-obsessing, man cave-having, golfing dudes who want to be given steaks for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLove the list! Funny, but my husband is a bit metro. lol! He would prefer the shaving kit and button downs to the tickets and jersey! I will take the jersey & ticket! lol! #tomboy
ReplyDeleteWell sorry Brian you need new clothes soooo instead of a jersey you're getting new shirts. In my defense, I also bought him some smaller items (a hoodie and a golf ball and tee set) that are sports team themed. ALSO, this last girlfriend only bought him jerseys so I wanted to be more creative (insert cringing emoji face)
ReplyDeleteLove this, so true! My husband would never use or want most of the stuff on the gift lists I see.
ReplyDeleteYou did choose a REALLY gorgeous man purse for your pictures, though. Not that I would spend $129 on it, nor would Jarrod ever use it.
ReplyDeleteThank you!! Birthday/Christmas/Anniversary all within 6 weeks makes the gift giving task super "difficile" on this here lady! So......where do I get the jersey? Come on, you're the expert here!
ReplyDeleteI love this - especially the booze vs. the flask. The only time I think a flask is a good idea is IF you purchase the booze to go with it. They might not ever use the flask again but you got the good stuff and why not save the money. The REAL BACON cracked me up. It's all truth though. FO'SHO! Enjoy your music festival - I've been purchasing concert tickets left and right :)
ReplyDeleteWell this is pretty damn accurate. I never would've thought of the underwear gift- smart!! Ha, your posts are my favorite!!
ReplyDeleteI know my husband would love a new jersey.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say that my boyfriend is about 50/50 on these. He likes sports, but he does NOT do jerseys. At all. He even chooses to wear casual button ups over tshirts... even in the summer.
ReplyDeleteAnd since he's a web developer (and not really into outdoors-y thing) he is probably 234987 times more likely to use the nice bag over the GoPro.
The bacon though? Always bacon. Who needs a book about bacon? No one.
Such great ideas! Loved this list.
ReplyDeletesuch great ideas! i especially love the underwear one. SO true! hahahah
ReplyDeleteJohn actually asked me for shirts this year. But I totally agree on the other ones! (I even agree on the shirts, had he not asked.)
ReplyDeleteStubHub gift card is #1 on my own list...and I'm pretty sure I'd be a beneficiary if I get one for my boyf. Excellent idea.
ReplyDeleteI am actually literally getting my husband that bacon book. He saw it and was like "I MUST HAVE THAT" so there YA go.
ReplyDeleteMy guy actually WANTS a fancy shaving kit, believe it or not. He even put it on his wish list! :) He would also love a fancy briefcase/messenger bag. He's a programmer though....so computers and all of their accessories are kind of his life. :)
ReplyDeleteErika
Your gift guide is brilliant and 1000% true. I got my bf underwear the first year we were together (prob because of one of the same guides you saw) and guess where they are? The bottom of his drawer. I think the tags are still on them.
ReplyDeleteA Go Pro! This might be what I was looking for. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAs much as my husband loves the Cowboys, the only way I'm dropping that much dough on a Dallas jersey is if I'm buying him a Sean Lee, even if he is injured. #PennStateForever
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, this is the most fantastic gift guide I've seen on a blog this year. Bacon? So simple and so perfect!
I gave my husband lingerie for me to wear for V-Day one year haha. I agree with the person that said to get your man an actual shave vs. a shaving kit. Mine would never try to shave himself like they do at the barber shop, but he loves a hot lathered straight razor shave. This year I got him a subscription to the Dollar Shave Club and a couple of their shaving products for normal shaving though. Hopefully he likes them!
ReplyDeleteHaha awesome guide! I think very few of these gift guides for men that you find on the internet are actually written by men. Though having said that, my man would love some nice button down shirts and an overly expensive man bag for Christmas, and he already uses one of those "novelty" shaving kits daily (and beard oils!). Love your #2 though, it's a win-win for everyone!
ReplyDeleteSo accurate--all the "not that" gifts are really just girls getting things they like and pretending he'll like them. I've been with my guy for 5 years, and the buying yourself underwear "for him" still goes over wayyyy better than buying him some. Boxers just aren't a sexy gift. Ever.
ReplyDeleteIf someone cooked me bacon I'd be theirs forever.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most amazing gift guide I've ever seen. You're so spot on with this list. We all have different men, mine would love two button downs and a shaving kit, but that's because he never shops for himself and loves "fancy stuff". But as far as the flask vs. actual bottle of whiskey or bacon vs. book - this list just made me so happy.
ReplyDelete#nailedit
ReplyDeleteHope
www.hhdesignsblog.com
lol, you actually LIKE your boyfriend, dont you? seems like the other gift guides are to show off for other girls, these are all gifts that he will actually use and appreciate. You're a damn good catch ;-)
ReplyDelete-AJ
I bought Chris a tablet for Christmas. I'm a little nervous about buying electronics for him that he didn't specifically pick out for himself, but we'll see how it goes...
ReplyDelete