How to Buy the Perfect Valentine's Gift for a Boyfriend or Girlfriend

Your Valentine’s Day gift should express the feelings you have towards a loved one. Here's how to buy a present that fits the bill.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Think of your partner's interests. Choosing a gift that represents an interest says "I know who you are" to the receiver. There is no higher compliment.

2. Pay attention. Throughout the year, your partner will express a desire for some items, such as a pair of boots, books or a piece of jewelry. Note these valuable hints and choose a present from among them.

3. Talk to friends or family. If you're not coming up with ideas, solicit suggestions from the people who know your loved one best.

4. Be creative. Take your loved one someplace--a restaurant, a night club, a romantic getaway spot--that you've never visited before.

5. Give the gift of pampering. A day trip to the local spa for an herbal cleansing and massage can score high points with men and women alike.

6. Do the pampering yourself. Invite your partner to your place and cater to their every whim. Prepare a sumptuous candlelight dinner and play the masseuse or masseur for the evening. Better still, trade massages.

7. Enjoy dinner in the restaurant of a fine hotel or inn and then surprise your partner with a room for the night.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow time for shipping if you're shopping online or through a mail-order catalog.
• Refrain from giving money. A cash gift is another way of saying, "I have no idea what you like." Not the message you want to send.

[Dan1]

on 2/12/2009 I found the perfect necklace using the Jewelry Information Center website. Such a great resource - anything you want to know, it's there (information about fine jewelry, savvy shopping tips, care and cleaning information, jewelry history, fashion trends, jewelry stories, and a design gallery to choose from). I thought long an hard about what to get my girlfriend for Valentine's. I wanted something very special and I thought a piece of jewelry, something she can cherish forever, was perfect (unlike flowers, candy, dinner, although those are all still wonderful).Seriously, the Jewelry Information Center, a nonprofit organization, which has been around for 60 years is the ultimate source for jewelry information - every man should bookmark this site! Wanted to share as I know from my own experience and those of friends, that buying jewelry can be overwhelming and their site has made thing