If your wife wasn’t happy last year or the year before that, please avoid the “Oh, but it’s gonna be different this year" mindset without thinking some things through. Things are not going

to change if you’re not planning on taking a different approach to the situation. Before making any moves, ask yourself what you did in times past. Did you get her perfume,

when she prefers jewelry? Did you get her an outfit that’s not even remotely close to being her style? Did you buy her some new pajamas when she already has

a ton? The only way to get something different is to do something different. If you’re stumped, ask her best friend for some recommendations. Women are into the details, so

she’ll be able to pick up some cues you’ve probably missed.

Trivia time. What are your wife’s favorite things? What’s her favorite color? What’s her favorite scent? What does she do in her leisure time? Does she like to garden, plant

or make things? Does she enjoy gadgets or does she like to cook? How does she feel about spa days? If you know the answer to at least some of these

questions and you buy her things that complement what she loves, you can’t go wrong.

You would be surprised to see this on here, but hear us out. It’s not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with a gift card, but it usually sends a not-so-welcome

message. Which one? The “I totally forget until the last minute to get you something, so here’s this gift card, babe" message. If you want to include one in a card along

with something else, we’re OK with that. But don’t let it be the standalone gift. Nine times out of 10, this move flops. 

Just because you might want a power tool, that doesn’t mean she’s longing for a new blender. The holidays are a sweet and sentimental opportunity for you to bring on the

romance. Don’t get her a gift that says “Thanks for holding down the house.” Get her one instead that says “Thanks for being my wife, best friend and lover.” Something

tells us a kitchen appliance is not going to get that point across.

Some husbands keep messing up in this area because they keep wanting to surprise their wife. But not every woman is big on surprises. Don’t wait until the week of

Christmas (again, that looks like poor planning). I’s perfectly fine to ask “So, what are some things you’d like this year? Will you give me a list?” Take the info, don’t

mention it again and then go over and above with the presentation. The timing, wrapping and present all play a role in your wife grinning from ear-to-ear or you getting

major side-eye….again.