A guide to shopping for your girlfriend
By Rabita Saleh
It's common knowledge that guys are notoriously difficult to shop for. However, depending on how long you've been dating, and the kind of things he likes, there still are some great gifts that you can get him.
TRINKETS
The first option on our list is trinkets. However there isn't much use getting him a cool sabre-toothed necklace. If you do, and he likes it, then, trust me, you have bigger issues.
Pop-culture themed merchandise i.e. from TV shows, Marvel or DC, anime, or videos games, based on his preferences, are always a good way to go. If he's a football fan, you could try football merchandise. Make sure you get products by the correct football club though. Getting a Liverpool fan Manchester United merchandise might not seem like a big deal to you, but there's a hundred percent chance of it seriously jeopardising your relationship.
Pro-tip: If you get him a mug, get a key-ring as well, just one little trinket seems like you're skimping.
AMPED-UP GIZMOS
After the first year, normal trinkets just won't do. You've got to extract a larger sum from your coffers to please your beloved. You can now move on towards the belts and ties zone. Wallets and bags also fall under this category and so do earphones, albeit these will begin to hurt your reserves a little more. Something unusual but really easy to get your hands on is a new mobile phone cover. Don't try to get him to experiment with new styles; most guys don't like that. Check out his usual cover, and get him something along the same lines. He'll love it, and there's the added bonus of his phone always reminding him of you from then on.
Next there's the stuff that'll really hit you hard — the perfumes, body-care products and the shaving kits. If you don't have that kind of cash on you though, there is a way to achieve similar results, if you're willing to get a little crafty and put the effort in.
Your boyfriend is likely to be into technology. Even if he isn't into it, no one can be sad to see a Google Play/ Apple Store gift card. If he is into gaming, and by any chance has a Steam account, getting him a Steam gift card is sure to make him think you're the best girlfriend ever.
EXPERIENCES OVER OBJECTS
Since guys are so difficult to shop for in the first place, why not get them an experience instead of a material gift? While dinner dates are always going to be the go to plan, you can also take him to a movie, or go bowling. There are also escape rooms, billiards clubs, comedy shows, concerts, and a plethora of other activities you can do together. Beware though; a lot of men still prefer to stay at home most of the time. However, even if he's reluctant at first, your enthusiasm has a high chance of turning his mood around. Don't forget, at the end of the day, seeing you smile like a lunatic is very likely to make his day.
Rabita Saleh is a perfectionist/workaholic. Email feedback to this generally boring person at rabitasaleh13@gmail.com
By Asif Ayon
Your mom does your shopping and you only have spare change to work with each day. You've got a crew cut and you wear a beige baggy pant to your coaching at 4pm. Within this state of monotony, you suddenly hear from your friends that the girl who sits at the back likes you and thinks your memes are fire.
You obviously make the jump and ask her out, because she's a girl and you never banked on someone from the opposite gender ever even talking to you. But she did and you two have been inseparable for the last week. Cute and all, sure, but gooey eyes won't get you very far. Let capitalism and materialism take over from here because this is how you really make your girlfriend happy.
THE BIG PLAYS
First step to doing this, save as much petty cash as you can. Listen to your girlfriend. She will talk about things she likes and things she wants all the time, there's your catalogue. In my case, it was a Polaroid and it took me three months to save up for, just in time to surprise her for her birthday. The typical stuff that girl's want, like makeup or clothes, are more hand fisted towards you and it is a safe bet to buy her that kind of stuff for Eid or Pahela Baishakh.
But it's plays like buying her a Polaroid because she told you in passing that her student has one, or getting her a ukulele after you spotted her tinkering on one at a guitar shop; girls fall for that stuff hard. Bottom-line, know who she really is and what she's into and your big plays will feel worthwhile and not like just stuff that you're buying for someone.
THE SIMPLE THINGS
Add an element of surprise to this and trust me, you can make her happy with even an apple. When you're going on a date, buy a flower on your way there. You're meeting her after her class; well bring some chocolates for her. And even if you can't add context to your gift or can't find one fitting for the occasion, buy her something small like a hello kitty hair pin as a surprise. You will receive a better reaction to being late to your date with her.
GOING SHOPPING TOGETHER
This is great because this doesn't even have to involve the act of you buying something for her, your time and attention is the gift here. Clothing stores have chairs setup just for you and you better be filling that spot up. And if you're buying something for her, especially if it's clothes or shoes, it is imperative to your cause that you bring her with you because you don't want to get her sizes wrong. Take her out, call it a date and while you're at it, you can even buy something for her.
The age old myth is that it is hard to buy gifts for your significant other and there are businesses and magazines dedicated to catalogues, personality tests all for this one task when in the end, it's as easy as asking a girl out – you just do it with care.
Asif Ayon likes to groom his moustache and play the bass. He's a student of Economics at BRAC University. Reach him at asifayon2996@gmail.com