Does finding the best gifts for men really matter? How important are the gifts we give? Can people look through the neatly tied bows and crisp, patterned wrapping paper and see the real you and attach a meaning to it all? Is it really that important to your career, romance or influence over others?

ABSOLUTELY!

The art of finding the best gifts for modest men might seem a relatively straightforward process, but when it comes down to it, it is not. Offering inappropriate gifts or gifts that may offend can ruin any emerging or already forged relationship. Recent research concludes that buying a wrong gift for a man can put a relationship in jeopardy. This was based on the assumption that ‘gifts act as markers of interpersonal similarity for both acquaintances and close relationship partners…’ (Dunn et al 2008). In this experiment, men’s evaluation of undesirable gifts revealed that they saw the gift giver as less similar to them. Subsequently they thought their future together with such a person would be significantly shorter.

I guess the lesson for all of us is that bad gifts reflect badly on our relationship and us as those close to us assume we know them well enough to find the perfect gift for every occasion. It also pays to remember that finding a soul mate or ‘kindred spirit’ is thought to be central to a successful relationship and satisfaction (ibid. 2008). Where we identify a similarity with a partner, friend or colleague, it is human nature to associate this with greater relationship satisfaction.

We especially like to think our partners are similar to us. So this reveals the potential harm that receiving a bad gift can do because it damages that sense of similarity when we get a bad gift. Finding the best gifts for men whether modest or not is therefore, very important in my opinion. Do not lose heart. Choosing the best gift for Christmas or any other occasion need not be an arduous task as we will be looking at how to find the perfect present for your dad, husband, son, male friend or colleague, especially if they are the modest type.

The typical epitome of the “modest guy” is one whose life is marked by simplicity and has a humble opinion of himself. To put it more bluntly he is basically a simple man with simple tastes – not that it is a bad thing. It can be nearly impossible to buy gifts for this type of man, as you are constantly second guessing your choices. Will he like it? Will it be appropriate? It may come as a surprise to most women that men generally have simple tastes and are sentimental contrary to popular belief. Although they may prioritise necessity from time to time, they also have an emotional connection to certain things and occasions. Coming back to our modest men, these men are often not very materialistic which often poses problems for anyone who tries finding the perfect gift for them.

We can draw some similarities between the essence of gift giving and our modest blokes. The art of gift giving can be traced back to ancient Roman festivals where communities gave each other simple gifts such as sacred evergreen branches during celebrations. With time and as all things do, there were changes to the types of gifts, which then included gifts of honey and cakes symbolizing prosperity and sweetness expected in the coming year.

Nowadays, gift-giving has become big business especially at Christmas with the advent of St Nick, cutthroat advertising by the media and its ability to sensationalize this once modest gesture into a shopping frenzy from early November until Christmas Eve. Ironically, there are still some cultures where there is no gift giving madness during Christmas or any other occasions for that matter! It is standard practice to be thankful to the powers that be for the added years when it comes to birthdays and a special meal, mostly chicken, rice and soft drinks for lunch to mark Christmas. At best the younger kids get new outfits to wear to church.

With this background in mind, is it any wonder that some people prefer the simple things in life? Although the men we are concerned about are modest, it certainly does not mean that you can grab the tired old socks, jumpers and cologne routine to mark every occasion. With options only a mouse click away, we need to put an end to traditional mundane gift ideas. Variety is the spice of life, it may be an old saying but that should help us refocus and bring out our sense of creativity while searching for the best gifts for men. As such, gift buying should be a process that demands the creative expression of our feelings for the recipient, depending on the relationship of course, which should be a pleasurable experience rather than be seen as a chore or stressful time. Buying gifts only gets tricky when left until the last minute.

When you make the decision to buy a gift, you need to keep in mind the occasion, the recipient’s personality and most importantly, your budget. I cannot emphasize this enough. What are his interests or hobbies? Is he an active outdoorsy kind of guy? Is he a car enthusiast or keen on art, fishing, golf or sports mad? Does he enjoy music or movies? There are also many great gift ideas for the modest traveler or adventurer. A weekend booking in a mountain cabin or romantic getaway are all options that can be explored depending on your budget and his interests of course.

Choosing unique gifts that thrill him such as experience gifts might prove profitable for you in the long run. We all know it is easy to get anyone enthusiastic about anything if you pin it to an existing passion. Unique gifts, personalized gifts, premium seating tickets for his favorite team, a gift certificate to a lovely restaurant will mean a lot more and show the recipient that more thought has gone into the selection process. I have done some research for you and have a few great gift giving tips. I hope this helps.

Often, picking up a hint from the recipient, an idea here or there is all you need to get the ball rolling. My son is one of those people that will tell you as the year progresses the sorts of things he is into which makes life easier when birthdays and Christmas comes along. All I need to do is select from the many hints dropped albeit knowingly! Therefore, listening to hints from a recipient is a great way to gauge interests and it is of great significance in finding the best gifts for men. Having said that, doing your shopping online opens many possibilities all at the touch of a button. Gifts online come in a variety of categories to suit all tastes and better yet, searches can narrow it down to suit your budget should you decide to set yourself price ranges in these times where belt tightening has become the order of the day. Cheap is the new cool this year. Start early and you get plenty of time to look for inexpensive thoughtful gifts that match your recipients’ taste, personality and your budget.

Whoever coined the term ‘boys and their toys’ is surely a genius. My husband’s best friend, a renowned doctor and modest man I might add has a famous rule, which rings true of most men if not all. He never buys his kids any toys that he cannot play with. Funny that! As most of us have learnt, men are but kids in larger muscular bodies. Therefore, when buying them gifts, even for the modest guy, keep this gem in mind.

Everyone has a role model. As such, all men can be categorized into the James Bond type who adore all gizmos and his spirit of adventure. This is manifest in men who love and acquire and or work with everything electronic, said doctor falls neatly into this category; Walker Texas Ranger, John Wayne or GI Joe wannabes who in real life may be our men in uniform; policemen, army personnel or firemen; the MacGyver and the DIY Mr. Fix It crew who revel in their power tools making and building things. All men love toys of some sort and are enthusiastic about them.

It does not have to be the latest or the most expensive gadget as long as they get pleasure playing with it to relieve stress, re-live childhood dreams or memories, avoid boredom and have time out from the rigors of this world. Best Gifts for Men offers a varied range of electronic and gadget gifts for men that modest men will certainly appreciate. For example, you can help him find his way home using the latest affordable GPS system, he will never get lost again with the latest hand-held gizmos. He can use it when he goes out tramping, to find where he parked the car at the stadium or mall. Gifting something practical cannot be resisted, as he needs it and will use it at some point.

If he is into sports, outdoor activities and sporting gift ideas for men are a great option. For a golf enthusiast, buying gifts for this guy should be fun as golf is a game where guys dress-up; they have fun and exercise all in one outing. The implication when buying for this bloke is to settle for one or more of the categories mentioned above. Personalized items such as golf apparel, bags, balls, authentic tour shoes, best fairway woods, small gym equipment, will definitely be a success, the list is endless.

Do not get caught comparing what someone gave you before. Instead go for ingenuity where budget constraints make it impossible to splash out and for the modest recipient. When giving something, it is the thought that counts. Likewise, putting some thought at the beginning of the gift giving process to ensure that we get the satisfaction that comes from gifting the perfect present that will not sit at the bottom of a drawer or on a dusty cupboard shelf. Gifts should come from the heart and should be received in the manner in which they are given. The idea of gift giving should be a tangible token that represents our love, friendship, support and generous nature instead of the common frustrating dilemma we have become accustomed to.