The best gifts are the things you’d never buy for yourself but would still love to own—those niceties that are beyond either our budgets or at least our levels of self-indulgence. Men are no different from women in this respect. There are lots of things they want and even need but they won’t buy for themselves (or even tell you about). So the next time you want to surprise your man for a birthday (or a Friday!), pick one of these guaranteed guy-pleasers. Even though they may not make sense to you, guys tell us they’ll delight him.
Socks. What were you expecting we’d have on this list, a Lamborghini? Good, quality socks are something all men require (and desire) but don’t want to pay for. In fact, guys think socks should be free. So buy him some cashmere-blend dress styles or a few pair of incredibly high-tech athletic socks. Makes a great “no-reason” gift.
Utility fridge. Whether he uses it to store beer, venison, or the fish he catches, guys love an icebox they can put in the garage or basement and call their own. Don’t ask why, it’s just so. But this is a win-win. You don’t want his fishing worms next to your hummus. If you’ve been looking to upgrade, order a new side-by-side and have the delivery guys relocate the old one. Attach a big red bow. Or search sites like craigslist.org for cheap buys.
Anything grill. Cooking meat over fire appeals to something prehistoric in men. But even though your caveman may claim he’s content with his Smokey Joe, you can bet he’s yearning for the new, super-deluxe BlastFurnace 3000. Buy him one if you can afford it. If not, then some mesquite chips, a nice pair of tongs, or even a few fillets will do. Anything associated with the grill thrills. Bonus: He’ll do more cooking!
Extralarge tool chest. We’re talking about those big red ones on wheels they sell at Sears—the Craftsman multidrawer models with ball bearings. It doesn’t matter if your man doesn’t own enough tools to fill one or if he even knows how to fix anything; this is a status symbol for guys—sort of like owning a 4x4 that never leaves pavement.
A pro ball. Pick your guy’s favorite sport and buy him the best pro-model baseball, football, basketball, or other piece of equipment that’s central to it. It doesn’t matter if he plays anymore, he’ll relish just sitting on the couch with it in his hands while watching the game. It’s a way to help him hold on to his dreams—literally.
“Get Out of Jail Free” card. Borrow one of these from the kids’ Monopoly set. (You can also buy a pack of extra cards for under $5 at hasbro.com or on eBay.) Give it to him in an elaborate envelope and tell him the next time he screws up something small, you’ll forgive him—no questions asked. Be sure to explain that you don’t mean this literally—you’re not planning to post bail.
Underwear: See “Socks,” above.
Dress Up a Plain Suit
