It is a truth universally acknowledged that it’s absolutely impossible to buy gifts for men. Whether it’s your father, your partner, your son or your brother, when you’re prowling around stores the day before their birthday, it’s easy to feel your blood pressure rising before finally buying something that you’re fairly certain he doesn’t actually want just so that you have something to wrap up and give him. But never fear: here are some ideas to help you through the hardest sort of gift buying.

Consider His Hobbies

First of all, remember that the most important part of gift buying is that you need to focus on what exactly your recipient will want. It can be really tempting to get them what you’re interested in or what you think they should like - but if you’ve been wishing that your dad would learn to cook for the last thirty years and he still hasn’t, he probably won’t start showing any interest just because you’ve bought him a book about how to make tapas for his birthday. Look into books about your recipient’s favorite movie genres and musicians, get them signed novels by their favorite artists, get them gardening implements if they love to spend time outside

Try Food And Drink

Let’s face it: we all love to eat and drink, so why not get your loved one something that they can really luxuriate in and enjoy? We often don’t splash out on ourselves as much as we deserve, so do your research to pick the perfect gift like a bottle of wine with a great vintage or a bottle of Kikori whiskey for someone who likes a tipple in the evenings. If you don’t live particularly close to your recipient, you could always order a luxury gift hamper - they’ll often include things like cheese and preserves and will be an absolute treasure trove to anyone who enjoys the finer things in life.

If You Can Craft…

Admittedly, not everyone will appreciate a homemade scarf in the middle of summer, particularly if you aren’t very good at knitting yet and there are a few uneven stitches, but on the whole crafty presents are generally great ones. Not only are they absolutely unique, but a lot of work and time have gone into them, making them totally invaluable and a symbol of your love for the recipient just as much as a birthday gift. If you’re good at crafting, consider the skills that you have and how you can use them.

What About An Experience?

Finally, remember that one of the best gifts you can ever give someone is the ability to make memories. Most of us have got more than enough things, so go for something like a day out racing sports cars, or tickets to a concert, or maybe even a romantic weekend away for you and your partner. The most important thing of all is to get them something that they’ll remember forever and having a great time with you is much more valuable than anything else.

Do you have some favorite go-to gifts for guys? Share with us in the comments!