Should i get my boyfriend something for valentines day

Dating

Should i get my boyfriend something for valentines day

There is a lot of pressure on Valentine's Day for anyone in a relationship, but it may actually feel even more complicated and fraught for brand new couples. That’s because you might not have a ton of history and the relationship is just starting to find its footing, when bam! It's V-Day, and you're presented with a lot of tricky traditions and expectations. But is that something you even really need to worry about in a new relationship, if it just so happened to have started right before the holiday hits? Should you even worry about exchanging gifts on Valentine’s Day if you just started dating? If so, what would you even get them? After all, you don't want to disappoint your new boo but, at the same time, you don't want to be doing way too much and make it weird.

So, to help sort through this whole balancing act, I reached out to an expert: Erica Gordon, millennial dating expert, founder of The Babe Report, and author of Aren't You Glad You Read This?. She assures Elite Daily it doesn’t really have to be all that complicated. Here'as how she suggests you handle the holiday so you can just relax and enjoy, instead of sweating about giving the right gift.

How soon is too soon?

According to Gordon, there should be no rush or pressure to give a Valentine’s Day gift to someone you just recently began dating. In fact, she says there's no requirement for any relationship that hits V-Day before the half-year mark. “You should not expect to exchange gifts with someone you've been dating for less than six months,” Gordon tells Elite Daily. “The expectations are still quite low in the first six months, as two people are figuring out if they see a long-term relationship working out. That being said, it's rare that someone would expect a gift from you if they've been dating you for under six months.”

How to celebrate V-day with a new partner

Just because you aren’t expected to go all-out on a holiday gift, that doesn't mean you can't celebrate a romantic holiday together, says Gordon. In fact, using Valentine’s Day as an excuse to spend some quality time together is actually a great idea. “If you're newly dating, a date night is more than enough of a gift. A nice Valentine's Day dinner out at a restaurant is all you need to offer your new sweetie. No lavish gifts are necessary at this stage,” explains Gordon.

If you’re going to give them a gift, what would be appropriate early on?

But what if your love language is gifts and you're just the type of partner who loves to show people you care with thoughtful presents? In that case, as Gordon explains in a piece on The Babe Report, it really depends on what stage you’re at. “You have to ask yourself if you see the relationship potentially going somewhere,” Gordon writes. “If you do, you might want to give a small Valentine’s gift, but it shouldn’t be anything too extravagant.” Her suggestion for ideal gift: “A fun heart-shaped gift would work perfectly in this situation … a heart-shaped box of chocolates is an appropriate gift for this stage in a relationship.”

While it’s definitely helpful to have these Valentine’s Day etiquette guidelines, every relationship is a little different. If you aren’t sure what to do, then play it cool. If your heart says you are ready to go all out for V-Day, however, then go for it and embrace the holiday spirit.

  1. Family & Relationships
  2. Dating & Relationships
  3. Valentine's Day Ideas

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Michele Meleen

Michele is a counselor who has experience in lifestyle and families in a clinical setting.

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Updated November 21, 2019

Should i get my boyfriend something for valentines day

Choosing presents for guys on Valentine's Day can be challenging. You know that flowers and chocolates are what you like, but is that what men want as well? The best gift ideas for guys are the ones that take his personality into account. Valentine's gifts perfect for men can include everything from romantic, homemade presents to traditional watches and cologne.

Special Social Media Posts

Show the world how special your man is in one or more romantic social media posts on Valentine's Day. Include the best pictures of you together or your favorite photos of him with a long, romantic rant about how much you love him and what a great guy he is and a custom hashtag. This modern public display of affection will melt his heart.

Romantic Scavenger Hunt

Give your guy an unforgettable adventure all about your love when you plan a romantic scavenger hunt for him. Lead him to all the places that are special in your relationship with homemade clues. When he gets to the end, he can find you and a gift or picnic lunch.

Should i get my boyfriend something for valentines day

Framed Photo of You Together

Grab the best show of you together and find or make a frame for it. Look for something that already has hearts on the frame or the word "love." You could also write a personalized message on the matting for the framed photo. Opt for a smaller frame like a 4 by 6 or 5 by 7 he can keep on his desk at home or at work.

Special Underwear

While you could buy lingerie for you to wear, you might also consider a matching his and hers underwear set or some special underwear just for him. Guys who wear boxers might like silk boxers with a matching silk robe while boxer brief guys might find an all-over lip print romantic.

Potted Plant

Romantic guys who are really into symbolism will appreciate a cool potted plant with the message that its growth represents your relationship. He'll be able to physically see how your relationship is doing based on the state of the plant and, like your relationship, he'll want to nurture it and help it grow.

Dinner and a Show

If you've got a little more money to spend, a nice dinner out followed by a Valentine's Day comedy show can be really romantic. Pick a restaurant you know he's been dying to try and look for a special show made for couples.

Man's Best Friend

Romantic men are often loving caretakers, so a puppy might be the perfect gift to keep him company when you're not around to snuggle. Make sure he's ready for a dog, pick a breed he loves, and buy the beginner accessories he'll need. If you're not ready to make the purchase alone, take him to see the puppy litter and let him choose for himself.

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Traditional Men

While they might not be totally original Valentine's Day gift ideas, the gifts traditional men want are obvious and easy to find. This type of guy is looking for something masculine, classic, and potentially useful.

An Intimate Night With You

Many traditional guys see Valentine's Day as an opportunity to get in some intimate alone time with you. Whether you book a hotel room for the night or turn your bedroom into a special romantic location for the night, he'll be thrilled.

Should i get my boyfriend something for valentines day

Love Letter

Guys who are traditional appreciate when a woman shares her feelings without expecting him to do so in return. Write him a 100 Reasons Why I Love You poem or letter that he can read and keep to himself. Use special paper and a matching envelope.

Streaming Service Subscription

With so many TV and movie streaming services available, you can get your guy the one he's been hesitant to order for himself. You can find services that specialize in sports or specific types of movies. Prices for most of these services are around $10 per month and you'll want to opt for a whole year to make it worthwhile.

Personalized Money Clip

Traditional guys don't necessarily want to flaunt their loving side, so subtle reminders are great. Money clips are small and useful, so men love them. Look for a money clip that includes a design of something he loves and add a cryptic message about your relationship that only he'll understand.

Stylish and Multifunctional Watch

People don't need watches as much as they used to thanks to cell phones keeping us all informed of the time. However, watches can also be a fashion statement or clothing accessory. Look for a watch that is both stylish and functional for his lifestyle.

Tickets to a Sporting Event

If your guy follows a certain sports team or enjoys a favorite band, consider buying him tickets to the game or the concert. Ideally, you would go along with him to the event. If it is something you can't stand, however, then buy him two tickets and tell him to take his best friend for a boys' night out.

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Teenage Guys

Gift ideas for a teenage boyfriend on Valentine's Day don't differ much from teen guy gift ideas on other holidays. While not all teen guys are the same, most aren't ready for major public displays of their softer side. Look for a romantic gift he can enjoy at home or something cool he can show off to his friends.

Personalized Playlist

Gather all the songs your guy loves or all the love songs that remind you of him and create a custom Valentine's Day playlist. If you do something similar for all holidays, he'll end up with a custom playlist tailored to him for every occasion.

Snack Pack

They say the way to any teenager's heart is through his stomach. So, why not pack your guy a bin full of his favorite snacks? Add a couple single-serve drinks, snack foods, and even candy to a storage bin or box decorated by you. For about $10 at your local dollar store, you can get a ton of snacks to fill your gift box.

Men's Cord Bracelet

Teen guys who wear sentimental jewelry will love romantic keepsake jewelry for men that includes their favorite colors and a charm or two tied on. You can find tons of cord bracelets online that include things like camping and fishing charms and braided designs. It will be an outward symbol of your relationship he can wear with subtlety.

Should i get my boyfriend something for valentines day

Two-Player Video Game

If your guy is into video games, show him you can enjoy his hobby together with a new two-player video game. Look for a game that's made for two players, fits with his gaming system, and includes elements of the games he typically plays on his own. New games typically cost between $30 and $60, but you can find great used games for under $20 at most gaming stores. He'll get a new game and the promise of fun times spent with you.

Punny T-Shirt

Give your teen boyfriend a cool shirt he can rock while thinking about you when you pick out a funny pun (punny) t-shirt. Prices for shirts range from $10 to $30 and can include food puns, people puns, or punchlines and characters from his favorite TV show. This gift shows you know him well and appreciate his sense of humor.

Two-Person VR Experience

If you have a local virtual reality (VR) place and a healthy budget, you can book a two-person experience for you and your guy. He'll be able to pick the game when you arrive and you'll both have fun making new memories in an alternate reality. Prices typically start around $15 per player for a half hour of gaming.

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Your New Man

If your relationship is new or you're only casually dating, generic gifts are the way to go. Try to pick up on something personal you do know about this new guy and find a way to tie that into the gift like picking out something in his favorite color.

No Gift and No Expectations

When your relationship is new, men don't want to feel any more pressure than they already feel. Since your relationship hasn't hit the romantic point yet, some men would appreciate your acknowledgement that you aren't expecting anything from them and don't plan to do anything special for them on Valentine's Day. The key here is knowing this is what he wants and expressing your honest desire to follow suit.

Homemade Valentine's Day Card

If you set the bar too high on your first Valentine's Day, you'll forever be trying to top it. Keep the day stress-free, yet special, by acknowledging whatever feelings you currently have about the relationship in a homemade Valentine's Day card. The time, thought, and personalized sweet message will make him feel special without the pressure to match an expensive gift.

Lottery Tickets

Use a phrase like "I'm lucky to call you my Valentine this year!" paired with a DIY lottery ticket gift. You can fan the scratch-offs out and secure with a paper clip or create an elaborate display in a coffee mug. Pick out inexpensive scratch-off tickets with a luck, heart, or Valentine's Day theme.

Beef Jerky Bouquet

As long as your new guy isn't a vegan or vegetarian, he'll probably love a beef jerky sampler. Look for local varieties and unique meat sticks you can fill a beer mug with to create a cute, but masculine bouquet.

Cologne Sampler

Buying cologne can be tricky since not everyone agrees what smells best. Since you might not know him well enough to know what cologne he loves, opt for a small sampler pack with a variety of scents you enjoy.

What Do Guys Want?

It is possible to show your man that you love him with a gift. You just have to know what your guy likes. Men appreciate gifts related to their specific interests or gifts that solve a problem and make something in life easier. Aim to spend about $50 or less on a Valentine's Day gift for him depending on your relationship and budget. Now if you happen to be in a younger age bracket, you'll want to get tips on gifts for a teenage boyfriend.

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Are you supposed to get your boyfriend something for Valentines Day?

Even if your boyfriend isn't upfront about wanting a gift and brushes off the idea, the truth is that he wants to feel loved just like you do. He wants to feel cared for and appreciated, and getting him the perfect Valentine's Day gift is a great way to do that.

What should I do for my boyfriend for Valentines Day?

Make sure that you make arrangements and reservations well in advance as places book up fast during the week of Valentine's Day..
Plan an outdoor adventure. ... .
Take him out of town. ... .
Take him on a shopping spree. ... .
Wine or beer tasting tour. ... .
Take him to a show or game. ... .
Drive-in movie date. ... .
Indulge his adrenaline junkie side..

Should I be upset that my boyfriend didn't get me anything for Valentine's Day?

If your partner doesn't realize it's Valentine's Day, there is absolutely no reason to get upset. Some people are just very forgetful about dates. If your partner apologizes and offers to make it up to you soon, accept the offer gracefully.

Do couples give gifts on Valentine's Day?

Happy and secure couples create and select their own rituals. Not all couples, for instance, make a big deal of Valentine's Day. They might exchange cards or buy a special dessert — but they know to celebrate other key days such as their birthdays and anniversary."