When it comes to romance, most guys think that flowers will make a girl’s heart melt. It’s the perfect way to say “I’m thinking of you” or “I’m sorry” and the easiest way to show a woman you care. However, a bouquet of roses isn’t the only way to make a woman smile, and in fact, it’s kind of played out. Next time, instead of this typical cliché display of affection, guys should try one of these thoughtful gifts instead.
- Her favorite treat Yes, it’s pretty basic, but so are flowers, aren’t they? If you pick up a pack of Oreos on your way home from work or run out to grab her iced oat milk latte in the morning, it shows her you’re thinking of her and want to make her happy. It doesn’t need to cost a lot or be elaborative to make her go, “Aww…”
- Concert tickets to see her favorite band The only thing better than staring at a vase on the table is jumping up and down in the audience when your favorite artist performs one of their biggest songs. The energy and excitement that comes with surprise concert tickets are sure to win her over.
- A simple card Cards aren’t just for holidays, and you’d be surprised how much women actually appreciate a sweet and thoughtful card for no reason. Of course, don’t just sign your name at the bottom and call it a day — a few words from the heart will mean more to her than any material gift ever could.
- A home-cooked meal A man’s cooking is always welcomed, even if he can’t do it all that well. She’ll appreciate the little efforts that are made, and you’ll get bonus points for attempting to recreate her favorite dish. It shows that you care enough to spend time preparing her something from scratch, and that means a lot.
- Getting her car washed or serviced When a man takes his girlfriend’s car for a wash or fills it with gas, it comes across as not just thoughtful, but protective, as well. Taking care of the small details she normally wouldn’t expect you to do makes her life easier, and that’s all she’ll really care about in the end. This is, without a doubt, one of the most thoughtful gifts ever.
- A scavenger hunt I’m not sure what it is about this idea, but it totally works and I’m not sure why more men don’t do it. It’s so easy to pull off. All you need is post-it notes. She comes home, and little notes are left all around the house, leading her to the prize at the end. (Hint: You’re the prize if you do this.)
- A massage This one doesn’t really need an explanation. Giving a slow, intense, relaxing massage is a way to help her unwind and relax after a stressful day or week at work. There is one small caveat here: Don’t try to use this as a preamble for sex. Women are smart and know when this is the case, and it will completely ruin the gesture.
- A framed photo of a great memory together Women are very sentimental by nature, and like I said before, things she doesn’t expect you to do will stand out in her mind. She expects a man to buy her flowers and she expects to be the one to put the vacation pictures of you two together around the house. So, when you take this initiative it not only happily surprises her, it shows her which memories you cherish with her, as well. If you’re looking for thoughtful gifts, this one should top the list.
- Surprise lunch visits at work Assuming she’s not in meetings all day or hasn’t told you she’s too busy to stop for a break, popping by her office to whisk her away for a meal will be a welcomed surprise. There’s no better way to break up a grueling workday than to spend time with the person you care about.
- Heartfelt words from your mouth Some men can only express themselves with gifts and gestures, and that’s OK, but sometimes just hearing how much you appreciate and care about her is all she really needs. It doesn’t cost a penny and she’ll smile about it for days on end afterwards, if not forever. Women are pretty easy to please when it comes down to it — we just want to feel loved and cared for. The great thing about words is they never die, and sadly, flowers do.
