It shouldn’t be this hard to shop for the men in your life…but alas, it is. In this article, we can admit the difficult truth: men are borderline impossible to shop for. 

You may think you know your boyfriend — or your father, uncle, or grandpa, but when it comes to picking out a fantastic gift for them, your brain draws a blank. Especially if you’ve already gifted classic gifts like “stuff for the grill” and “his favorite cologne” over the past three years. Seriously, he already knows what’s in the package before he tears the paper.

For others, the man in your life may be a Minimalistic Male. He may truly not appreciate many gifts because he doesn’t need them. 

Or, there’s the Shopping Boyfriend, who loves to buy himself anything he pleases. You don’t know what to buy the man because he’s already bought everything he wants. 

Either way, shopping for your boyfriend is a tough task. But I like to get my Christmas shopping done early in order to avoid any last-minute anxiety about what to get everyone. 

If you’re not the most inventive gift-giver, finding unique gifts for your significant other for multiple holidays and occasions over the course of the year can be a real pain. That bottle of his favorite Scotch suddenly is sooo overdone. 

Have no fear, this year we’re determined not to have gift anxiety! If you need a Christmas present for your boyfriend this year, here are a few ideas to inspire you: 

New York Times Custom Football Book 

This has got to be the coolest gift for any man in your life who’s a sports fan. This custom book is compiled of former New York Times coverage of your boyfriend’s favorite football team. 

Give him something that he can flip through in his free time and use as decor. It’s a terrific way to let him know that you pay attention to his interests without getting him yet one more jersey from DHGate. 

New York Times Birthday Edition 

I understand that not every man loves sports, so if you liked the last gift but didn’t think it suits his interests…this is an awesome option for any man in your life. This is the same idea as the football teams, but you choose the date and let the New York Times compile news from that day. 

You can have it inscribed with their name, and you can even pick your anniversary as the date if that speaks to you. But it’s a creative way to celebrate your boyfriend without doing a lot of work.

Sephora Favorite Cologne Sampler Set with Redeemable Voucher

If you always get your boyfriend the same old bottle of cologne, get him to switch it up! This set has a few advantages for your boyfriend including: a new toiletry case, he’ll never have an excuse to smell bad, and he gets a full-size cologne!

The advantages for you: your boyfriend can stop tossing his stuff in your makeup case, he smells amazing, and he has to go to Sephora to redeem the cologne with you (and buy you something, too.)

Lululemon ABC Pants

Anything Lululemon is a great gift for men. Not only are the clothes fashionable, but they’re comfy and long-lasting even for those who go hard on their clothes. 

These pants look smashing on all guys, and I’ve heard rave reviews about these specific pants from a bunch of my guy friends. Great for dressing up or down, you won’t have to stress that your boyfriend is wearing sweats to a function again. 

Do him — and yourself — a favor. Get him some Lululemon pants.

Viking Professional Steak Knives 

We all know a B.O.B. — the Beef-Obsessed Boyfriend. If he’s not your boyfriend, he’s your boyfriend’s friend. He cooks all the steaks, he’s investing in a meat smoker, and barbecue is the best at his house. 

For the man who knows how to grill up the best steak in the world, get him this set of steak knives from Sur La Table. Forged in Germany, these can cut through any steak and they last a long time.

FINEX Cast Iron Skillet 

I’m not just saying this: I’ve met so many men who are obsessed with their cast iron skillet. They pore over Reddit threads to learn how to properly care for it. They talk about all the various cuisines they cook with their trusty skillet. 

Whether it’s steak night, biscuits, or skillet cookies, this pan has many purposes. So give your boyfriend a pet project. Use this reverse psychology and get him to cook.

Take Him To A Concert Or Sporting Event 

If he’s someone who buys everything for himself, or never truly appreciate an actual gift…get him an experience. Something you two can do together that will become a fond memory for you both. 

Whether he’s been dying to see Drake in concert, or is a longtime hockey fan, booking an event to look forward to is a great option for gifting. 

Himalayan Salt Block 

I had no idea that this was such a popular gift for men until I went on TikTok. I found out that when it comes to grilling, a Himalayan Salt Block is the epitome of luxury. It enhances the flavor of your vegetables, fish, meat, or anything you’re grilling, giving them a high-quality taste. 

This is an affordable option for someone who loves to grill, but has all the other bells and whistles. 

SKIMS 

Sometimes, it’s your job as the girlfriend to make sure your man follows trends. And while he may be impartial to Fruit of the Loom boxer briefs, it’s time to introduce him to SKIMS. 

Whether you just want to be able to steal his hoodies again, or you want him to up his style points a few notches…everybody’s wearing SKIMS.