5 Gift Ideas for Wives (That Husbands Will Enjoy Too)

Between her birthday, anniversaries, holidays and the occasional need to get out of the dog house, it might seem like you are always looking for that next great gift for your wife or girlfriend.  Finding the perfect gift for her can be time consuming and stressful.  Many men have spent countless hours aimlessly wandering the mall or scrolling through website after website with nothing to show for their efforts.

Since you are investing a lot of time and effort to find the best gift for her, why not give her a gift that you might enjoy too?  That may sound a little selfish, but to be honest most of us men are a little selfish.  Don’t misunderstand, I am not suggesting you buy her a gift that is really for you, like lingerie.  That can be a quick trip back to the dog house.  There are plenty of thoughtful gifts that she will love that you will enjoy too.  We hope you enjoy this list of the five best gifts for wives.

Weekend Getaway Gift for the Two of You

 

A weekend getaway can be a great gift for a birthday or anniversary.  Vacations make for fun, lasting memories.  Rarely do you see a scrapbook full of pictures of gifts someone has received but everyone one of us have at one point or another has been stuck looking at someone else’s vacation pictures trying to come up with an excuse to get out of the room. 

When selecting a destination, pick somewhere she has always wanted to go.    It’s not a gift for her if the destination is a golf resort that you have always wanted to visit.  You can find great last-minute travel deals on websites such as lastminutetravel.com and expedia.com.  If you like to travel often, you might consider signing up for travel deals from your city which are sent right to your inbox or social media account.  

When deciding how to give her the weekend getaway gift be creative.  You can wrap up a “Things to Do When Visiting __________” book that is specific to the city or area you are visiting.  You might also consider a fun travel gift for her with travel essentials such as 3 oz silicone travel bottles, a neck pillow, a reusable travel water bottle, sunscreen, etc.  Another fun idea might be to create a series of clues that she has to decipher to figure out where she is going.   

When possible give her the travel gift in advance of the trip so she has time to plan the things she wants to do.  For a lot of people planning the trip can be as fun as the trip itself. 

Couples Massage Package Gift for Her 

Most spas offer a couple’s massage.  With a couple’s massage you and your wife will be in the same room with a massage therapist for each of you.  This can be a relaxing and intimate way to spend time together.  

If you are new to massage you will want to take some time to research various massage techniques.  A Swedish massage is gentle full body massage that is ideal for first time massage guests or for those who are sensitive to touch.  If you are looking for a more aggressive massage to work on your trouble areas, you might consider a deep-tissue massage. 

To make the experience even better, consider calling the spa ahead of time and arrange for a vase of your wife’s favorite flowers to be in the room.  Imagine her surprise when you let her know she gets to take those home with her after the massage.

Don’t forget when budgeting for your massage package that you will need to tip the massage therapists.   You should plan to tip 20% of the price you paid for the package to be split between the two therapists.

If a couples massage just isn't in the budget, consider a massage gift box. Of course, if you give her this it's implied that you will be doing the massaging. While that might not be as fun for you during the massage, it's infinitely more intimate so it might be more fun for you afterward...

Creative Food or Drink Gift Boxes for Women 

If your wife has a favorite drink or snack you could give her a gift box that features those goodies.  Gift boxes are very trendy now and can make gift giving a breeze.  One advantage of the gift box is that someone who knows a lot more about women’s gifts than you do has already packaged together a collection of amazing themed gifts that go together.  Another benefit is that the gift arrives in gift packaging, ready to make a great impression.  No need to fuss with the wrapping paper and bows.  As you probably have learned by now, the way the gift is packaged can be as important as the gift itself. 

When shopping for gift boxes for women make it even more special by personalizing the gift.  Having her name or favorite saying engraved on a wine tumbler or coffee mug is a great way to add some excitement to the gift and to give her something she will cherish each time she uses it. 

Drink gift boxes make great gifts and generally include enough for at least two people to share.  From tea and coffee to wine and cocktails (or anywhere in between) you are sure to find just the right drink gift box to wet both of your whistles.   

 Experience Gifts for Women

Things are good, but experiences are often better.  Researchers from San Francisco State University found that people who spend money on experiences rather than material items were happier and felt the money was better spent.  The joy she receives from opening a gift will fade with time.  However, the memories made from adventures together can last a life time.  

When deciding which experience would make the best gift you should consider things she likes to do.  You might think the NASCAR driving experience sounds like a blast, but she may not agree.  She might prefer a wine and painting class.  Here is a list of ten experience ideas catering to both the adrenaline junkie as well as those who prefer something a little more down to earth:

1. Skydiving
2. Hot Air Balloon
3. Escape Room
4. Food Tours
5. Wine Tastings
6. Glamping (Glamour Camping)
7. Cooking Lessons
8. ATV or Segway Tour
9. Sunset Horseback Ride
10. Pottery Classes

When you give her the “experience gift” be creative.  As mentioned before, presentation matters.  Try to find an item related to the experience and wrap that with a cute card.  Another fun idea is to give her a cute empty picture frame with a personal note saying how excited you are to fill it with pictures and memories of your upcoming experience.

 Fancy Night on the Town Together

If a busy schedule or a tight budget doesn’t allow for the weekend getaway then give her a romantic night on the town.  With the right preparation and planning you can squeeze a lot of memories into a few hours of fun together. 

Prior to giving her the gift make sure you take care of all the logistics.  You might only be 30 minutes from home, but you want to create an environment that is a world away from your typical date nights at Arby’s and the local cineplex.  When deciding where to eat and what to do think about the things she likes.  Would she enjoy a night of dancing, a musical, a comedy club or maybe a visit to a local museum?  You might even want to recruit one of her girlfriends to covertly find out what things your wife might like to do on a night out on the town.  If you still need suggestions try searching online for “things to do in your city.”  Often there are great opportunities right in front of us that we miss.

Once you have decided on the events for the evening be sure to get all the needed reservations.  To make things even more special you could consider renting a limousine.  A ride in a limousine is likely something she has not done in a while, if ever, and will be something she remembers.  If your budget is tight you can have the limo take you to your event and then arrange for other transportation home.    

When you tell her about her gift, consider keeping it a surprise where you will be going.  Not knowing where she is going can add to the excitement of the evening. However, this doesn't work for everyone, so make sure she's the type that likes surprises.  It would be a good idea to get her a new inexpensive necklace gift or set of earrings for her night out on the town.  Tell her she will need to dress up and be sure to give her enough notice so that she has time to shop for a dress (if needed) and to get her hair done. 

On the night of the event start by eliminating those things she will worry about.    Arrange for a sitter for the kids so she is not wondering if the house will be a mess when she gets home.  Give her flowers before you leave home, so she can leave them in a vase and doesn’t have to worry about them on the date. 

On the date, be sure to put your cell phone on do not disturb so you can focus only on her.  Remember to do all those chivalrous things like opening her door, standing when she leaves the table, etc.  All of these things might seem excessive, but will guarantee a night she will cherish and remember.

 A Personalized Gift for Her

Hopefully this list of five creative gifts for women has sparked your creative side.  Whether you use one of these ideas or come up with your own, the gift you give will always be better when you personalize it for her.  You know her likes and dislikes so plan accordingly.  When all is said and done, if she enjoys her gift you will enjoy it too.  Remember the old adage “Happy Wife – Happy Life!”

If you have any other ideas of gifts for your wife that you also enjoy we would love to hear from you in the comments below.