So here’s the situation: you’ve only been with your current partner for a few months and all of a sudden the holidays are coming up. At this point, you may be still nailing down the nitty-gritty of your relationship and thus may still be at that casual stage where it is not exclusive. Or, on the other hand – you could be on the way to something much more serious and rewarding.
Either way, gifts are a wonderful way to show your interest in someone, but they can also be a minefield of misinterpreted intentions. You can even court people with gifts, which is of course very romantic. A gift can also show your intention to your partner that you want to pursue a serious, exclusive partnership and taking things to the next level.
Giving Gifts in a New Relationship: Scary!
As your relationship is still quite new, you shouldn’t go over the top when it comes to holiday gifts. Over and above whether you have the money or just want to make a really powerful gesture, you should never spend around $50 on a casual gift, or double for birthdays, and this is really the upper limit.
In fact, the average cost of gifts in a new relationship is around $20 and sometimes less. Shocking I know.
Remember that even though you may not be spending bundles of money, it should never look like you are buying gifts on the cheap. You have two options: you can buy cheap gifts that look expensive, or you can just buy cheap gifts.
There’s Cheap and then there’s Cheap
Getting a cheap gift that is really impressive is no easy feat. If you know what your date likes, you can buy a gift related to that. This means that they probably won’t notice that you didn’t break the bank to pay for it.
Put it this way: if your partner works out a lot and you notice that he’s a little stiff the next day, why not buy him a muscle rub or a massager. It will let him know that you notice that he’s working on those muscles, but it will also let him know that you care. It is a gift that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, but one that cuts right to the heart.
That being said, a brilliant way to get gifts that are thoughtful and cheap is to take advantage of sales and coupons. At the right store and with the right coupons you can get a great outfit for just $20. You can even get some perfume or great-looking jewelry at a great price if you shop smart.