Christmas shopping has been a bit of a beast this year.

It’s required a bit more thinking and creativity to celebrate our first Christmas as a married couple together.

I want it to be truly special and memorable, and I hoped to give him a special gift to commemorate the holiday season spirit. That seems to be a taller task than I had imagined.

In past years, we’ve given each other a list and a budget that we would stay within. This year, we exchanged lists, but we didn’t set a budget, and we each had our own ideas of something else we wanted in addition to the lists.

We entered dangerous territory on that one.

In past years, I’ve gotten him wallets, clothes, a valet tote—to place his constantly forgotten keys, wallet and cellphone and video games. I’m not sure what else really stands out in a guy’s mind as a gift besides these things, but I tried to up the ante for this year.

Obviously, I can’t reveal my plans, but I have come across one common theme in regards to shopping for him—buying gifts for men is hard.

In previous years, I only had to worry about my uncle, and I always got him a gift card. Therefore, I need something more personal for a husband.

I’ve jotted down some lessons I’ve learned from websites and personal experiences about how to shop for a guy because it’s pretty different from a woman.

• Get your significant other’s sizes from head to toe: Although it might seem a bit ridiculous, I don’t know all of his sizes. So, I had him write down everything from his hat size to his shoe size. While all stores fit differently, you’ll at least be almost spot on in most cases, and it’s helpful when you’re shopping for his new clothes.
• Don’t be afraid to ask another guy: Ideally, you could get your great guy friend to shop with you, but if you’re like me and don’t have one, ask another guy. Find a male sales clerk or another guy out shopping for himself what they think of what you’re buying. It’s helped me tremendously in past holiday seasons or birthdays, especially when it seems that most guys fall into a general category for style.
• Pay attention to what he truly likes: Every guy has his hook. Whether it's gadgets, home improvement or fashion, each guy always wants to add to his collection of whatever. For Robert, it’s usually something with video games, books or watches. Florissant has GameStop, Henefer’s Jewelers and Barnes and Noble to suit his needs. If you have a guy who is into fashion or style, there are also some nice men’s shop around town and nearby, such as Men’s Wearhouse and Milano’s.

The most important thing about Christmas shopping and gifting for me is that it’s from the heart and is enjoyed. So, no matter how his gifts turn out, I know he’ll love them because they’re from me. 

Happy Holidays!