gift giving dilemma!

[bailarpilar]

I want to get my boyfriend something special for the holidays but I am at a complete loss as to what to get, what to budget, etc.

 

We've been dating for 8 months now. We've been LD for the past three months because I was studying abroad but we'll be reunited in about a week. He visited me and we had a blast so I think it'd be great to get him something that will remind him of our trip (plus I only have time to shop here).

 

He likes cooking, food and drinks more broadly, travel, and is getting into art. Even though I know this it's still hard.

 

He loved the food here and I shot myself in the foot by showing him all the traditional cookbooks I bought for myself so I don't think it's appropriate to buy one of those books for him, now that he knows I have them? We don't live together but we cook a lot together so he'll have access to these books. Plus, most of the books are in a language he doesn't speak.

 

I know nothing about beer (what he loves) so I dont feel comfortable buying him beer.

 

This is the plan I have but I am hesitant about: my current city is known for its art and design and one thing we did when he visited was go to look at some of the design. He absolutely loved it! He is developing a style so I know what types of things he'd like, but the things within my price range are really small and while beautiful, may be kind of random. for example, we encountered a furniture line that looks like pop-art and he really loved it. But I can only afford a small box. I'm thinking about getting him a box for christmas and filling it with little things from our trip, maybe? Would that be weird, getting a box for christmas? even if it is an expensive, beautiful, wooden box?

 

 

A few other things:

1. Budget. What is appropriate for 8 months? We're in our mid-twenties and I am a grad student. He is an engineer. I don't want to spend more than $150. Things here are expensive so it might be difficult to get something under this amount. But I have no idea how much to spend, especially because I don't want to make anything awkward (see #2):

 

2. We didn't talk about exchanging gifts. I'm not very religious but my family is Christian and Christmas is a huge deal for us. He isn't religious and he wasn't raised in a Christian household. I know he does a gift exchange at work. I want to give him a gift because I love him and want to surprise him and thank him for all that he has done for me. I don't care if I get something in return. But I am a bit worried that he might feel awkward especially if he doesn't get anything for me. He has spent hundreds on me over the past 8 months though so I can always tell him that I want to thank him for doing nice things for me

[mariekatie]

Well i send him hand-made cards & write a long love letter in it. He loves it. I guess writing hand-written mails are so rare nowadays. It doesn't even cost much as i made everything by following videos on YouTube. If you're looking into budget stuff, send him a "care package" consisting of his favorite snacks. But if you're in an international LDR now, it's way cheaper to buy on amazon, ebay instead of sending it on your own.

[d0nnivain]

I wouldn't surprise him. I would say something like I can't wait to be home & see you. I'm thinking Christmas Eve [or whenever] would be a great time together to exchange gifts. Does that work for you?

 

 

Your budget sounds fine, even a bit generous so don't sweat that.

 

 

Many companies sell mixed cases of unusual beers, like a sampler. That might be a good choice. They are between $20 - $30.

 

 

Can you get him a coffee table book of amazing glossy photos of where you are? He can flip the pages, remember the trip & drink one of the beers

 

 

If you have time when you get home bake him some traditional cookies or other dessert from where you are.

[spanz1]

engineer huh? Get him one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A

 

He can have fun programming it, and it can (with addons) become a robot, drone, game machine, etc.

 

If he is electrical or digital engineer and has no personal test equipment, try this:

 

http://www.newark.com/bitscope/bitscope-micro/oscilloscope-2ch-20mhz-40msps/dp/74X7819?MER=PPSO_N_P_Oscilloscopes_None

 

 

it is a logic analyzer, analog oscilloscope, and signal generator all in one part.

[TMichaels]

Did you take any/many photos while you two were visiting/touring together?

 

If so, why not make him a photo book? You can add captions, titles, etc. -- whatever that's appropriate or would be meaningful to you both.

 

For example, don't spend the money on a pricey box in a design reminiscent of what he likes -- do a photo collage on one page or spread in the book of some of the architecture or other items that reflect the kind of design he became acquainted with and admired while on your trip. Same thing when it comes to the beer issue. Don't worry about becoming a beer expert -- include some photos of the brands you know he sampled or enjoyed, a pix of a bar or pub you explored or had a great time at, etc.

 

There are a lot of companies out there that offer customized photo books -- Shutterfly is one. Google for more.

 

You can choose the size, hard-backed vs softcover, use a pre-fab template that has backgrounds and layouts already designed or customize your own. Cost usually is $20-25 or so for a 16-20 page book hard-cover book. Often, especially at this time of year, you can find a sale, promo code, or other special offer to bring the cost down or enable you to go "up-sell" to a bigger sized book at the same price.

 

Best of all, you design the book right from your own computer and just have to upload the photos to the photo book website. You can see an online proof and once you are happy with what you created the book is shipped to you via the postal service. IOW, it's something you could even design and work on from your current location and it would be waiting for you at home when you return.

 

Sometimes such companies will run a special offer -- buy a book and get a customized photo calendar for a discount price, for example. You also could make him a custom calendar using a different meaningful photo on every month from your time together and/or note any special dates that are coming up in the next year like a trip perhaps you might have talked about/planned, your graduation date, his birthday, yours, etc.

 

Either would be a nice way to commemorate the time you spent together, bring back some good memories, and a very personal and creative gift without spending a ton of money and being too personal or extravagant, IYKWIM.

 

 

HTH,

TMichaels

[bailarpilar]

Wow, Thank you all so much for the wonderful advice! I want those things you linked to spanz1 for myself!!

 

Unfortunately we didn't take many pictures while he was here. We are both horrible at taking pictures and the more fun we have the more unlikely we are to take pictures. This is embarrassing but we only have one picture of us together that we took. His sisters took more pictures of us together in a day than either he or I have taken of us in 8 months! We both talked about how we needed to take pictures of us together one night over dinner and we totally forgot.

 

I am definitely going to start taking pictures because I think a photo album is a great idea! I actually am an amateur bookbinder so this would be perfect for me. I just need to start taking photographs...

 

A design coffee table book isn't something I thought of, but that is a good idea! There have to be some out there, I'm going to go look for that ASAP!

 

So far I found a bunch of little things (like stocking stuffers) that will remind him of our trip. I want to find something cool to put them in-maybe this box i've been talking about, but I'll see if I can find something cheaper that's equally beautiful and maybe more functional.

[spanz1]

Another great present would be a 3D printer. Unfortunately they are out of your price range. The cheapest acceptable ones are more like $350, and have to be assembled from a kit. like this one:

 

 

Printrbot Simple Maker's Kit Model 1405 3D Printer, 4" x 4" x 4" Maximum Build Dimensions, 100 Micron Maximum Resolution, 1.75-mm PLA Filament: Amazon.com: Sports & Outdoors

[Michelle ma Belle]

OP I think you're on the ball and clearly have your thinking cap on if you ask me so don't second guess yourself.

 

I think any gift regardless of how small or large is perfect if it celebrates some of the the great moments you've shared together. This is especially important in LDR.

 

Personally, I think your ideas are great. Getting a box full of little things that he may have mentioned along the way or that remind him of you and your trip is far more impactful than any one gigantic gift that was an obvious choice. Anyone can do that but not many can be so thoughtful in recollecting numerous experiences and conversations and package them up. That shows you listen and more importantly, you pay attention to the little things and THAT is a pretty damn sexy quality if you ask me

 

Good luck!

[TMichaels]

Unfortunately we didn't take many pictures while he was here. We are both horrible at taking pictures and the more fun we have the more unlikely we are to take pictures.

 

I am definitely going to start taking pictures because I think a photo album is a great idea! I actually am an amateur bookbinder so this would be perfect for me. I just need to start taking photographs...

 

 

You're not thinking enough out of the box, bailarpilar. If you're an amateur bookbinder your options are more not less.

 

 

Think about all the printed materials that contain photos/graphics/illustrations that are out there. Postcards, brochures, rack cards, newspapers, magazines, etc. that contain photos/illustrations/logos of places you visited and experiences you shared. Do you have any ticket stubs, Metro cards, hotel receipts, a lapel button, etc? All are also good content to include in a collage which can be embellished, decorated, and personalized in your own way.

 

 

Best,

TMichaels