Getting Personal

                Why Men Are So Difficult to Buy Gifts for
            
                1.	Because they refuse to make a list

You've been secretly adding to YOUR Christmas and Birthday list since January. Well, you have to be prepared, don't you? - just in case anyone asks what you want. But you keep asking and asking him to make a list. Or at least suggest a few things so YOU can jot them down in case someone asks YOU what he wants, as they inevitably will. And does he? Does he ever?! That's why buying gifts for women is relatively easy, they know what they want so you only have to ask. But buying gifts for men is difficult as they won't give you any clues.

2.	Because they say daft unhelpful things like "don't bother to get me anything"

But do they really mean it? Of course not. 

3.	Because they say "just get me socks" when they already have a drawer full

OK so half of them have holes in but they like them, they're old friends and they refuse to throw them away. 

4. Because they get excited about things we don't understand

They may enthuse about the new Top of the Range Series 4, Version 8, 24 kilowatt, 3.5 gigabyte, 400 bhp XP Rated Super-powered Whatnot but it all goes right over our heads.

5.	Because they never know they want it until they see it

They don't have the imagination we women have to conjure up in our heads that dream bag with two pockets on the outside and a zip on the inside in a very particular colour, shape and size that drives us to scour the shops until we find one that precisely matches the picture we've drawn in our heads (and handbags don't generally make good gifts for men anyway!)

6.	Because the moment they see something they want they just buy it

You can pretty much guarantee that shortly before Christmas or their birthday they'll come back proudly waving a great new gadget that they just happened to spot on their travels with a triumphant cry of "look what I found!" And your heart sinks with a sigh of "if only I'd spotted it first!" Even if the sign in the shop helpfully stated "gifts for men" it won't have occurred to them that they could put it on their non existent list and wait for someone else to buy it for them.

Well, that's a few reasons why gifts for men are difficult to buy. I'm sure you can think of a few more. The big question is - what are you going to do about it? 

1.	Forget asking him to make a list because it just ain't going to happen.

2.	Ignore the "don't bother to get me anything" nonsense, tempting though it may seem.

3.	Resist telling him in a disparaging tone exactly how many pairs of socks he already has, including the ones he is wearing and the ones in the wash.

4.	Try to show a little interest in all those numbers and letters he spouts from time to time, just in case there's a useful clue in there somewhere.

5.	Spot something he'll like before he does! 

6.	Buy it and hide it away before he gets the chance to see it and buy it himself!

The last two tips might appear easier said than done but there are plenty of unusual gifts for men that he doesn't know exist. 

Would he like to build his own Porsche or Lamborghini? OK it's just a scale model but if you want to go larger and can't afford to buy him the real thing, you could also treat him to an experience day, driving one. Personalised Sports books make great gifts for men who are into Football, Tennis, Cricket, Boxing, Rugby, Golf, Horse Racing or Formula One. Or you can even order a specially recorded personalised "you're a legend" football commentary. Or how about a "Grow Your Own Football Pitch"? You might even get one with authentic grass seeds from the club he supports! If you reckon he's more newsworthy than he realises you can get him a personalised spoof Daily Mirror newspaper. Or perhaps he'd like to grow his own carnivorous plants, hot chillies or bonsai tree? For the technically minded who also enjoy a hint of retro, how about a classic look telephone with up to date technology? Or if he's a brain box, there's always an IQ test gift pack. These are just a few ideas to whet your appetite. Whatever he's into there are plenty of gifts for men he really won't know he wants until he gets one.