Hey,

My wife is turning 31 Sunday and I've got her some presents but nothing that really stands out as fun and unique. Any suggestions? She doesn't like video games, and I'd prefer to avoid generic stuff like a spa massage or jewelery.

Edit: I'll select one response to pick a choice of a $2.99 title from this weekend's 50% off Interplay promo.


Some food for thought:
Guys - What's the most successful birthday gift you've given?
Girls - Any favorite gift ideas?

For my birthday she bought me a new laptop (!) so I'm really under the gun to please.

I was going to say a spa massage, but then I saw that you think that is too generic! Generic or not, I bet she would enjoy that. If you think one spa massage is too generic, what about something like a season pass of spa massages, like X number of massages, or one year's worth of massages? I can't imagine that she wouldn't be thrilled with that!

If massages are out of the question... This is a very hard question to answer without knowing what she wants for her birthday (like a list of things to choose from), so in the absence of knowing that, I would say that because she got you a new laptop, you should return the favor and get her a new laptop of her own. Just make sure that the laptop you get for her is at least as powerful as the laptop she got for you! :)

There is always the method of "You'll never guess what I bought you for your birthday" a couple of days ago, and see what her guesses are. Choose one of the things she guessed/hoped for, and add a few personal coupons ("1 hour massage session", "Dinner with your parents", "Night out without me" etc).

I don't know enough about your wife to make a precise suggestion so here are some good general tips.

It would be best to give her a gift that plays to her hobby. Since it seems she did that for you (I'm going to make the leap and assume your a big gamer since your asking for help here)

If you have any cooking skills whatsoever making her a dish on her birthday is a good cherry on top. It doesn't have to be the main course but its always appreciated when its something you put time and effort into (as long as it does taste like food, or a food like substance)

A piece of jewelry is usually a safe option. A nice trick here is to put it in something else. Go down to the bookstore and buy the cheapest book they have. Then cut a hole in the pages, put the ring box inside then gift wrap the book.

Take her somewhere special to receive the gift. Location can be everything.

A nice way to tie all this together is a picnic or a special dinner for two. Have a location and then a backup location indoors (if first location is outdoors).

Write down something special to say to her at the climactic moment (make it short if your not a good writer)

If you want something more specific just say so but in general, jewelry and purses that's what all the women I know can't seem to get enough of. Good luck.

I'd suggest suggest some type of jewlery.that she may be fond of.

If that seems too generic you take her out to a fancy restaurant.

Alternatively, you could take her to a theme park (Disney land, adventure world etc) and spend the day there just going on rides and relaxing.

Final suggestion, buy her a lap top XD.


Just do something that lets her know that she's special and important to you.

Jewelery is always a safe bet but besides that my wife enjoys the digital camera that I got her. She uses it all the time so I keep getting brownie points when I say to her "I guess you like your gift :p"

Nothing says I love you like front row tickets to a Mixed Martial Arts tournament. :D

...Or if that's out of the question, you could take her for some Llama back riding. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xytflX-6D0

And if that doesn't sound like it would work...well...you could try a water park, bowling, skydiving, or archery/skeet shooting. If all of that sounds boring and uncreative then I don't think I can help you. :P

Whatever you do, don't buy her this. :D

It's really hard to suggest anything special when you didn't tell us what she's into.
Birthday gift should be something that has some connection with her hobbies, personal beliefs or character points.
Best thing I can suggest you right now is a weekend trip to some nice scenery in combination with some nice piece of jewelry.

A weekend getaway for two to the breezy southern shore of Lake Superior.

usually it pays to pay attention when the girls talk about their childhood, for example my girlfriend has got a movie dvd from me one year she loved as a child, so i thought ok a dvd might not be much but in the end its not just the movie but also the re-awakened memories im gifting her so i got it and it worked out just fine. Listening pays sometimes at least in a relationship :)

Geeze, what do you get for the wife of the undead cow that has everything?

Well, I think it depends on what she likes, so you'll just have to tailor what I suggest depending on that, but a friend of mine took me to a "chocolate emporium" for one of mine, so that was a cool idea.

Personally, I think the best birthdays are spent eating great food, and lots of cake, with great company; perfect day for eating with reckless abandon :D

Learn how to eat pussy . It works .

Ok, this is going to be a stretch but you might consider what household chore she really hates and make doing that her gift. For me, this wasn't so much a birthday present as much as my amazing hubby deciding to learn from his previous marriage (she still complains that he did none of the household chores).

One year I received a really, really nice camera - again, not a b-day gift but my old point and shoot just would not take the kinds of pictures I wanted.

Does she like to go on adventures? Hiking, driving, sightseeing? Plan a weekend to some scenic/fun/interesting place but really plan it - if it's remote, pack a cooler with wine/cheese/crackers/grapes/blanket. If it's interesting, look up if you need tickets and the local places to eat... you get my drift - nothing spoils an adventure trip so much as being unprepared ;-p

What are her interests? Reading, crossword or suduko puzzles? Find her an online subscription (or snail mail) to a year of puzzles or buy her an e-reader with a gift card to fill it.

Is she into cooking? There are a billion excellent cooking tools that most people won't necessarily buy themselves - if you're not sure what she's always wishing she owned (dunno-bread maker or good knives), then find a local cooking supply store - take her to lunch first nearby and then suggest you do a little shopping. Oh and btw, Cooks Illustrated is one of the best magazines for people that like to cook - no ads and it explains the science. https://www.cooksillustrated.com/

Buy her a tree - yeah it's kind of weird but if you own your home, it's the kind of thing that will always be in your yard. Depending on where you live, a fruit or nut tree would eventually give you both a crop - hey, it's not something everyone suggests but it's kind of cool ;-)