If you aren’t sure what your guy friend likes to do, a quick trip to his house or apartment should clue you in — just look at what he has lying around and what’s on his walls. For instance, if you see a stack of Nintendo magazines, there’s a good chance he’s a gamer, so a new game or some Nintendo memorabilia would be a good option. Along the same lines, if you see a Metallica poster on his wall, there’s a good chance he’s a fan of the band’s music, so a concert DVD or some band merchandise may be in order.
Comedy movies and standup recordings. Novelty gifts — T-shirts with funny slogans, strange knick-knacks, crass board games, and so on. Prank gifts — things you know he hates (like a jersey for his favorite sports team’s rival), things that are amusingly out of style (like ugly 70s sunglasses), bizarre non-sequitur (like a sack of potatoes), and so on. Something clever that plays off of his name — e. g. , if he’s named Brian, you might consider a Life of Brian movie poster.
The potential problem with these sorts of gifts, of course, is that they can sometimes come across as cold. Giving a plain, functional gift to someone you’ve known your whole life may lead to hurt feelings if your guy friend is sensitive about this sort of thing, so be aware of this possibility. You’ll also want to keep in mind that certain functional gifts can send unintentionally rude messages. For instance, while a subscription to a health food magazine may be useful, it may send the unfortunate message that you think your recipient needs to lose weight.
If your guy friend has an S. O. , the same principle applies, so you might want to consider getting something for the two of them. For instance, two tickets to a show put on by the couple’s favorite local band is a fantastic way to give your guy friend an entertaining night out with his favorite sweetheart (with or without your presence — it’s your decision. ) This is also a great way to ease tensions if you’ve recently had a disagreement with some of his other friends. If you get him something that you, him, and the other friends can use together, you’re basically offering an olive branch and saying, “I want us all to get along. "
Ties Tools Belt buckles Shaving accessories Wallets — many guys go long periods of time without buying themselves a new wallet, so this gift will probably be especially appreciated.
A piece of art created by you (like a painting, drawing, or sculpture) A handmade craft item (like a piece of furniture, skateboard, laptop stand, etc. ) A handwoven piece of clothing (like a knit hat or mittens) Some homemade food (like cookies or brownies — non-perishables are best) A song written and performed by you (if you’re truly bold!)
Cologne or personal fragrances Flowers Cufflinks or other jewelry Fancy chocolates or other fine sweets (especially those in stylish, elegant boxes) Expensive accessories (e. g. , Rolex watches, fine pens, etc. ) Provocative clothing (Funny T-shirts are fine, but silk boxers, terrycloth robes, stylish jackets, and so on are too personal for platonic friends) Event tickets for just you and him
Write in SMS-speak (e. g. , “Hope u had gd bday. Thx fr bein a gd friend. “) Be condescending in a funny way (e. g. , “I don’t know if you know this, but it was really hard to pick out this card. I was actually hoping I could have it back so I could re-gift it for Amy’s birthday next week. Oh yeah, happy birthday. “) Include a dopey acrostic of his name (e. g. , for a friend named David: D — Daring / A — Amazing / V — Very cool / etc. ) Draw crude or bizarre doodles in the margins.
There’s a tricky balance you want to maintain here, however — being too impersonal can come across as rude. For example, leaving an unmarked package containing his present on his porch and not mentioning it to him for a week might make it appear like you don’t care about your friend very much. You know your friend better than almost anyone else, so try to keep his sensitivities in mind.
Unfortunately, for some guys, not even this will be enough. In these cases, you may need to simply ignore your friend’s puppy love until he loses interest. If he’s becoming too distracting to ignore, most relationship guides will recommend being blunt — in other words, telling him directly that you don’t want to ruin your friendship with romance. [3] X Research source See our article on the subject for more information.
