It’s that time again, but “what the hell to get him” you might be asking yourself. Choosing a thoughtful and unique gift for your boyfriend can be a bit of a tricky task. With so many special occasions needing gifts throughout the year, it is hard to know exactly what he wants and that will be meaningful to him.

Read on, as we help you peel back the "mystery behind the man" and get you on track to buying him a gift he actually wants.

In a nutshell, the trick to knowing your boyfriend's wishlist is to dig deeper and try to find out more about him. What are some of his interests and hobbies. Does he enjoy doing certain things, does he watch certain types of shows or read certain types of books?

So what does my boyfriend actually want?

boyfriends getting their gifts

If you are living with him you already have the inside scoop, as you can have a look around and see what stands out or if there are patterns or themes that become obvious. If you're not living together then just subtly ask him a couple of questions over a call or text message, or even better, the next time you see him. But the best advice is to into full slueth mode and have a little snoop around the next time you visit him.

Below are some things to help you figure out what he likes.

  • What is he missing or in need of? Us men can be pretty bad at buying something that solves a problem we're having, and we will normally just carry on with what we have or go the DIY route and cobble something together. It's not uncommon either to see us with a tattered old gadget or item on it's last legs and in dire need of a replacement - but still being used daily. You'll hear us proudly proclaim "if it ain't broke then don't fix it". This is an opportunity to see what he is "quietly struggling with", what's really needed and what could be helpful to him.
  • What books does he read or music does he listen too? If you asked him what his favorite book was, would that tell you anything about his interests. If you're seeing a lot of Tom Clancy books, then military, spies, esponiage etc are of interest. What that translates to in a gift is multi-tools, practical gifts and gadgets etc.
  • What are some of his hobbies? For example, does he like golf, going fishing, or mountain biking, is he a keen gamer, likes cooking or braaing perhaps.
  • What TV shows and Movies does he enjoy watching? If you're seeing a lot of documentaries or biopics then he's a practical chap, fascinated with the world and keen to explore and learn more about it. Travel gifts, books etc would be well received then. Also have a look at his YouTube page what themes stand out.
  • Does he collect anything? This goes for collectibles yes, but also, are there any kind of “shrines” and collections of things that he has put together. Like a vintage cars collection of posters, model cars or other such memorabilia. Or a Marvel figurines collection. 
  • What sort of style is he rocking on the daily?  For special occasions, is he the kind of guy that will go all out and wear something snazzy like a suit jacket, a dress watch, leather belt and loafers (complemented with stylish accessories like cufflinks, tie sets, wallets etc) or is he more low-key and happy with jeans and a shirt - and might be more keen on a funky pair of socks or multi-tool that he can show off and open everyone's drinks with whilst flipping the steaks on the braai at the same time.
  • And lastly, what is his star sign? If you’re into astrology, make sure to check out this page: Zodiac Man - it can really give you helpful insight into what sort of guy he is and the type of gifts that he would find unique. It's oddly accurate we've found.

These are just a few ideas that can help you on your way to figuring out what sort of things he is into, and what would make a unique and meaningful gift. Once you know some of his interests you can then start to narrow down your search for presents that would fit into those groups.

Below are some of the essentials every man would love to receive

  • Beer accessories - fancy openers, beer glasses
  • Braai & cooking gear- cooking gadgets and tools but also spices and sauces
  • Gaming goodies-  collectibles and merchandise, plus also gaming t-shirts
  • Practical gear - such as wallets, tools and DIY stuff, and even socks (not the boring kind though, think funky and unique socks)

Birthday Gift Ideas

His birthday is that one special occasion during the year to go all out and really show him how much he means to you.

While a gift will go down a treat, birthdays are also a chance for you two to get out and do something special and make a few memories along the way.

Anniversary Gifts

While anniversaries are mostly there for married couples, there’s no reason why a few important milestones during a new relationship shouldn’t be celebrated.

Dating for 1 month, 6 months and 1 year are some key milestones to consider.

Romantic Gifts

When romance is in the air and it's his birthday or another special occasion, such as Valentine's Day, where his gift calls for a more romantic touch.

Getting a special gift followed by a romantic date night, or day out exploring or doing something he loves, is going to be just the ticket to warm the cockles of his heart, and get him in the mood for love.

Gift Boxes

Gift sets and packs of goodies are a great present to receive as a guy. If we receive a box with loads of goodies inside it’s like having a mini-Christmas to us.

You can either go for a gift set with everything already included, or even make up your own “special gift pack” and add some thoughtful and unique items to it, along with a handwritten card or letter.

Affordable Gifts

Just because a gift isn’t expensive doesn’t mean it has to be “cheap”. As a guy, no matter the cost of the gift, if we can see that thought and effort has gone into it, that already makes it sentimental and unique.

For example, something creative like a DIY gift, handmade or “designed” by you would completely wow us!

Expensive Gifts

If he has been a really good boy and you’re also looking to splurge, this is the perfect opportunity to get him something timeless and of premium-quality. If he knows it’s luxury then he’s going to appreciate it and look after it carefully for many years to come.

Gift Voucher

Lastly, and when all else fails, there's always the trusty old gift voucher route to take.

Some people might say that a gift voucher is impersonal, but it is actually a really practical gift to ensure that he gets something that he actually wants. Everyone wins!

Mantality stocks all the coolest gifts and goodies a man could ever want. But sometimes it's tricky to buy gifts for your boyfriend, and even great gift buyers need a bit of help sometimes. Create a gift voucher so he can get exactly what he wants. Above is an example of the voucher that will be received by email.