It’s that time of year again that every man dreads. Granted, some guys foolishly have it coming but that’s ok. I’m here to help guide you through some bad ideas for gifts, and instead make sure you get a satisfied sweetheart something she will love and you both can reap the rewards…it’s Valentines Day!

First things first, don’t make the number one mistake of getting something last minute! This seems to be the number one culprit that leads to bad gifts. Think about it; when the majority of us do anything at the last second it usually isn’t the best representation of our capabilities, right? Don’t do it, trust me. Another thing, if you think you’re off the hook because your girlfriend or wife told you she couldn’t care less for such a ridiculous “holiday”, think again. Let’s not forget, women sometimes say things they don’t mean but occasionally mean it (confusing I know). Play it safe and invest a little time and money on Valentines Day to at least show your appreciation (even if she told you not to get her anything). Trust me, you will both be happier.

Now, lets talk about some of the worst romantic gift ideas that some men thought were great but majorly backfired.

T-Shirt

One rule to rule them all; do not (I repeat), do not try to buy women’s clothes on your own (the majority of the time you will fail). Being perfectly blunt, a t-shirt is a pretty lame gift and doesn’t really capture what you are trying to say (unless the t-shirt literally says it) or how you feel so best to move on. It shows that there was little thought and effort in finding a symbolic gift.

A Mug

A mug is one of the most clichéd gifts in any scenario. It’s a boring and thoughtless gift, and signifies that you don’t really care (even if you do). You are better off not getting her anything rather than presenting a mug you self-wrapped after running to the corner gift shop. This is not your dad or your football buddy, so don’t think just buying a mug with a bear holding a heart will set you free.

Fake Jewellery

I know what you are thinking: she won’t be able to tell the difference and you save a chunk of change. This could all be true but if she somehow ever found out (if not from the start) then it could seriously damage her respect/trust for you. Let’s face it, women don’t like cheapskates and like to be spoiled, hence the term a diamond’s a girl’s best friend.

Second Hand Jewellery

Again, like previously mentioned, this is not the greatest idea. It’s a sleazy way of making her think you care more then you do and not a great way to build a relationship. Also, don’t buy second hand engagement rings that’s just plain ridiculous. Think about it for a second, you are buying her an object to show your lifelong devotion/commitment and you decided the most important item and symbol of your relationship should be categorized as second hand. It’s a mean gift that also reflects badly on you.

Small Appliances

You are just shooting yourself in the foot. There is nothing romantic about a toaster or blender, and odds are if she needed it she would of probably bought it for herself. A resourceful gift is not romantic and is not necessarily appropriate for the holiday.

Hopefully this little excerpt help shed some light on the do’s and don’t’s for this years Valentines. Trust me, women have a hard time shopping for their men as well, so it’s not just you. If you want to go all out and make it a day she will never forget, get down on one knee and unveil a beautiful engagement ring to share your lives together. Valentine’s Day is a great day to unveil the most romantic gift of all. Engagement rings can be tricky; take your time finding the perfect one. Good luck.

About The Author

Ross Davies is a married man and has over twenty years experience of buying terrible gifts for his wife and the consequences of such actions.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and interest in finding the perfect romantic getaway is blooming. If you want to seriously wow your lover, forget about material offerings such as electronics and clothes. Think “experiential gifts”. What better way to spend Valentine’s day than spending quality time with your lover in an exotic destination? Below are 5 romantic destinations that will make your V day truly memorable.

France

Who can think of a better place for lovers than Paris on Valentine’s Day? If you’ve got the money, take your sweetheart on a whirlwind tour, beginning with the world-famous Eiffel Tower. If you’re hungry after the climb, find a charming little restaurant and order a three-course meal with champagne. Those breathtaking photos you shoot from the top of the tower and the pictures of this historic city will be cherished forever.

Hawaii

When you want to escape the cold and warm up, you can’t beat a trip to a tropical location. Celebrate your relationship with a singing Valentine in Honolulu or a quiet dinner at any of the restaurants on the islands. Take a cruise, and enjoy the view from the ship’s deck with a drink served in a coconut shell. Document your trip with pictures, and then select the best one to enlarge to poster-size and frame.

Italy

When you really want go all out, visiting Venice and taking a trip in an Italian gondola says “that’s amore.” Legend has it that in Turin, couples used to announce their engagement on Feb. 14. This Valentine’s Day, be sure to bring your camera when you tour Lake Como, the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany or Verona. Take the best photos from your trip to Italy and put them on “his” and “hers” mugs.

New York City

The Big Apple has enough charm and appeal for two, especially on Valentine’s Day. Take your true love to the top of the Statue of Liberty and declare your sentiments, or tell her how you feel while riding in a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park. Take in a romantic show together on Broadway, or let her sightsee along Times Square. New York is a picture taker’s heaven, and when you select your favourite photos and make them into a calendar, you can remember your special trip for months to come.

Savannah, Georgia

Try a little deep south to woo your sweetheart with a trip to historic Savannah. Tourism is big here, and a Valentine’s riverboat cruise with roses, fine chocolates, champagne and live entertainment won’t soon be forgotten. Stroll down the streets and take in the moss-covered trees and gorgeous homes. Capture scene after scene on your camera, then make unique greeting cards or post cards with the best photos.

The art of digital photography has come a long way since the days of black-and-white pictures and film cameras. You don’t need to be an expert photographer to get great shots, and modern technology allows you to put your best images anywhere you like. A picture is worth a thousand words, so this Valentine’s Day use your camera as a tool to express your feelings and tell your story. Get as creative as you like, because love is in the air.

When you do find a destination, taking lots of pictures and creating personalized photo albums will keep your memories fresh. Photographic images can be transferred to almost any surface.

Margaret Hemingway is a blogger and mom of 4 and occasionally blogs for Elephoto, a Canadian service that allows visitors to create photo books, albums, cards, calendars, canvas prints and more. Elephoto also provides great valentine’s day gift ideas.

There are almost as many lovers of Valentine’s Day as there are haters. Lovers say it’s a day to remember your loved ones, haters say it’s a day for chocolate and flower companies and fancy restaurants to make a killing. Whichever side of the divide you belong to, this article isn’t about why Valentine’s is great or not. It’s just a chilling warning not to do some dumb stuff during Valentine’s Day. This is of course targeted at those who actually care about the day at all.

Break up with your partner

On the scale of dumb things to do, this is the worst possible. Your partner is expecting some love and TLC and instead they get shown the door. Seriously, this can probably wait for a day, or better yet, happen a day before rather than on the material day. I don’t care how hurt you are or what happened, the easiest way to ruin all your future Valentine’s Days is to break up on the day. Stick it out for a day and then call it, you’ll be saving the both of you bitter memories in the future.

Turn a Valentine’s outing into a venting party

You see the sorry part about many dates that happen on this day is that they are attended by half-convinced people who want to maintain the status quo. Here is someone who has reserved the day for love and intimacy and the moment you arrive at the restaurant, the first thing you start complaining about is all the roses and other lovey-dovey stuff all over the place. Next you start complaining about the prices that have been inflated just for the sake of lovers just like you. Instead of being such a wet blanket, why not just call the day off and stay at home. No one has dragged you to the restaurant (unless you have literally been dragged there) and no one is forcing you to stay either. Put up and shut up and give your date a wonderful experience.

Drink too much a.k.a. get wasted

It’s a Valentine’s date not a frat party. Taking your date out and then over indulging is a sure way of killing the intimacy the event should have. Whether you are a guy or girl, the last thing your date wants is to drag you home when you are drunk beyond coherence. If you must drink, pick another day. A few glasses of wine should suffice for such a day to lift you moods and give you guys a good time. Getting wasted is neither romantic nor intimate. Control the booze and you’ll have a great time.

Take your lover somewhere that bores you/them stiff

Sure, she/he loves postmodern art and can spend hours on end at the museum or art gallery just poring and poring over various artistic minutiae. You, on the other hand, got bored the moment the plan was made and you end up gritting your teeth through it all. No can do.  Dates are about doing things that you both find interesting and entertaining. If you don’t feel that art, voice it beforehand so you can adjust the plan accordingly. There is no prize for playing a martyr in such situations, just an opportunity to become irritable and ruin the entire evening.

Cook up a storm, literally

Guys and girls alike fancy a partner who has some descent cooking skills. Whipping up a tasty meal may just be what will increase the level of intimacy you and your partner have. But with cooking, same as many things in life, good intentions are just that, good intentions. There is no amount of good intentions that can cover for a lousy meal. If you can’t cook, either find someone to cook for you in-house or make a reservation at a fine dining restaurant; your beau will thank you for it later. There is no shame in not being able to cook; there is shame in faking you can cook and then blundering to some disastrous results.

Guest post by Scott Ryan, writing for Call Mum