What's Holding you back ?

If you take a look at your calendar today, you might be surprised to see that February 14th is already here! Let's face it- Valentine's Day can sneak up on us without warning. If this year the pressure is on for you to pick out just the right gift or card for your special someone, then I have some helpful advice.

Before we go any further, I need to make something clear: this article is meant for those of you who are currently in a relationship- not those looking to get into one. This is because I'm going to focus on gift ideas that will please your partner (not bachelors and bachelorettes looking for the perfect gift to lure in a mate).

Everything I'm going to discuss is either stuff that my boyfriend and I like, or gifts that friends of mine have gotten from their significant others and reported back to me as successful. So let's get started!

For starters, the most important thing about Valentine's Day (and any gift-giving holiday) is to show that you put some time and effort into it. I'm not saying the gift has to be perfect- just thoughtful. Anyone can pick something off a shelf in a store, but it takes a little bit of creativity to make a gift by hand or find a special item that no one else will have.

When in doubt, think back at what you've done for your partner over the course of your relationship. What have been their favo rite food? What are some of their hobbies? Think about putting your own little twist on something they love to do. And of course, you have to think about price.

My boyfriend works night shifts all around the holidays so I can't just ask him what he wants- if that's not an obstacle for you then great! You're lucky and I'm jealous. But for those of you who might not know their S.O.'s that well, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

(1) If you buy something because it is cheap, you will be responsible for it indefinitely if your spouse does not like it.

(2) Consider what your partner would truly desire if their life depended on it, rather than just "cool" or "trendy." You're searching for long-term value here.

(3) Give them a gift card to a store they enjoy. My partner was ecstatic when I bought him one for his favorite clothing store (he's picky about what he wears).

Thank you for reading. Stop by our site again very soon. We are always adding new articles on a regular basis about all kinds of topics. We would love to have you come back as our friendship grows. Please feel free to leave comments or questions about this article.