Twenty-five ideas for men who say they do not want anything, organised by the kind of man he actually is rather than by price.
In this guide
- For the one who says he has everything
- For the one who likes things that work
- For the one who wants time, not things
- The sentimental ones that actually work
- How to buy for someone who resists gifts
- Budget bands
For the one who says he has everything
- A restored print of a photograph he has never seen enlarged
- A framed map of the town he grew up in
- Whisky from the year you married
- A leather notebook cover with his initials, if he still carries one
- A commissioned illustration of his car, his boat or his dog
- A proper shave kit — the one thing men rarely buy themselves
For the one who likes things that work
- A cast-iron pan, seasoned and engraved on the handle
- A good multitool with the date engraved
- A watch strap in a leather he would not choose himself
- A knife roll or a tool roll with his name on it
- A weather station, a torch, a good pen — dull gifts men love
- A subscription he will use every week: coffee, hot sauce, records
For the one who wants time, not things
- A day out doing something he mentioned once and you remembered
- Tickets to see the team, the band or the driver
- A night away with nothing scheduled
- A cooking, welding or woodworking class for two
- A booked table at the place he always suggests
- A weekend where you take everything else off his plate
The sentimental ones that actually work
- Your vows printed and framed for his side of the room
- A letter for each year you have been married, in one box
- A keepsake box for the things he empties out of his pockets
- A photograph of the two of you, printed and framed, which most couples do not have
- A playlist with a note explaining each song
- A record of the song you first danced to
How to buy for someone who resists gifts
Buy for the version of him that exists on a Saturday, not the one at work. Notice what he replaces rather than what he asks for — the worn wallet, the broken torch, the mug he always takes. And attach a date to it: engraving converts a practical object into something he cannot throw out.
Budget bands
Under $50: whisky, an engraved tool, a framed print. $50 to $150: a pan, a shave kit, a class for two. Over $150: a watch strap and service, a night away, a commissioned piece.
From Sagevow
A personalised keepsake — names, date, the vows themselves — outlasts every other anniversary gift on the list.
