This question came up a couple of years ago, and I remember being surprised that it was a polarizing topic among commenters. I said then that I think homemade gifts are always nice because they require time and thought, and I still believe that. It takes about 13 seconds to get online and order someone a gift card. Some of us don't care--I love gift cards--but let's be honest, it's a quick and easy out, and not very personal. (Impersonal gifts have their place, of course, so don't construe that as me dissing gift cards or other store-bought gifts outright. I am not.)
One thing we tend to forget is that a gift is YOUR expression of YOUR feelings about someone. Yes, it's for that person, but it's from you, so it should be a reflection of you and something you enjoy giving, too. Think about it--is it more fun to hear from the giver, "I saw this and thought it was perfect for you!" or "I don't know what this thing does but you said you wanted it so here it is"? It really is the thought that counts.
There is no answer to what "guys in general" like. Some like anything, some prefer expensive stuff, some think homemade gifts are the most thoughtful. It depends on your guy and his maturity level; an immature dude probably won't appreciate the thought and love that goes into a homemade gift. Only you know which one your guy likes best. I don't think you can go wrong with a gift you make yourself, but perhaps the best idea is to get him both--something you make and a little something you buy.
Really, though, the answer is give him what you want to give him. If he doesn't like it, it won't be the end of the world.
Thanks for the question.
Pretty much the only gifts I still hold on to are homemade ones. My fiance has given me sweaters, movies, etc but the gifts I have sitting around my place (now our place) are all the homemade ones she has given me. I keep her homemade cards on my dresser, she once made me a flimsy paper valentine which I actually love even though it only took her probably 15 minutes to make. I only use the mug she made me for my morning coffee and I keep a photo album she made of a camping trip we took with friends in my front hall among the photos.
Personally I love homemade gifts. Speaks of a more personal knowledge of one another and appreciation. Not to say I don't like the copy of "Hobo With a Shotgun" she got me on Blu-Ray as part of my birthday, I just like the effort and thought a homemade gift takes.
But as WA says, there are always going to be different people who like different things.
OP here!
Your comment really helped me made my decision! Haha I'm ganna make him something and hope he likes it :)
gee thanks
Homemade presents rock!!
I made a guy a mix of songs that were chosen as a reflection of our life. All the songs had a deep meaning. Two weeks later I asked him to pop it in & he told me he gave it to someone who liked the songs. That guy was my husband..., who is now my ex-husband.
Thoughtful gifts are always good gifts. Thoughtful, however, is not necessarily the same as "expensive" or "homemade."
A Rolex, neatly packed, without so much as a handwritten note? Not a very good gift. Yeah, you spent a lot of money on it. Maybe the person you're giving it to actually loves to have watches for some reason. But if you couldn't be bothered to add a personal note it comes out as a "cold" gift.
On the other hand, you can spend months knitting a scarf for someone. But if you didn't think ahead and realize that person doesn't wear scarves, for whatever reason, it won't be a particularly good gift. You should at least put enough thought into knowing what kind of gift that person will appreciate.
I was talking to a friend once and he mentioned how an ex girlfriend had given him this book as a present a few years ago. He likes to read, so I suppose she figured it was a good idea to get him a book, which is only half right. It was incredibly long, difficult to read, and not at all his taste. He mentioned how he would've rather gotten some other book. Come his birthday a few months later, I got him that book and wrote a small note (by hand) saying I hoped he'd enjoy it. He said it was the best gift he'd ever received.
The first birthday my boyfriend and I were together for, I taught myself how to knit, and knit him a sweater :) It was a lot of fun to do, and he was completely amazed! He wears it a lot and always beams when people compliment it!
i bring baked gifts for my guy almost every time i see him because he pretty much has everything but a personal chef lol right now he's away on business in the bahamas cleaning up some irene mess and just sent me an email tonight saying all he can think about are my lemon squares and he hopes there will be some when he gets home. on our last date his gift to me was a playlist of 10 songs he saw as possible runners for "our song". homemade gifts are the best gifts ever, it's not about the money, it really is about the thought that counts. and even if a guy doesn't like what you made for him, if he cares he will still make a fuss ESPECIALLY if you made it. a really ugly sweater from barney's is just a really ugly sweater from barneys. but a really ugly sweater that YOU made for a guy that's crazy about you, he will keep that thing forever.
For my BF's birthday, I bought him an accessory for a video game, and I also drew him a card, filling the inside with a lot of thoughts about our relationship. He keeps the card on his desk and says it was the best gift he's ever gotten.
For our anniversary, I made a sexy calendar for him.I had to pay for the photo shoot and had the calendar professionally done, but I also added the birthdays of friends and family and put funny and interesting sex quotes as captions for the pictures. So it was kinda of a bought present but with a lot of thought
When I first met my BF, he was two years divorced, but still grieving for the loss of his family. His ex took all the formal pics of the kids and he only had a few snapshots. I snuck one good pose of each kid, scanned and then photoshop'd into portraits and printed them in black and white and framed them. When he opened the gift, he cried.