There's a saying that goes, "Women are from Venus, men are from Mars;" this saying does hold true when shopping for a woman. It can get quite difficult and intimidating to buy gifts for a woman, like an anniversary present or a gift for Valentine's Day. Many men get intimidated when shopping for women, because it's quite difficult to know and understand what a woman really wants. There are times that even the most heartfelt and well-intentioned gifts can spark fits of the wrong emotions in a woman. Shopping for women does not have to be a roller coaster of confusion; here's a quick guide to help.
Think Like a Woman
To shop for a woman, you have to get in touch with your feminine side. Whether you're shopping for your mother, your sister, your wife, or your girlfriend, you need to have a good idea of what she likes. Do not go for obvious things like jewelry or flowers or teddy bears. Every woman has a unique personality, which means that what she really wants may fall under a stereotype or an idea you have of what women want.
Go for the Sale
Many women love sales. Sales are that time of the year where everything good comes cheap. The mall may be crowded during mall-wide promo sales, but the extra time and effort you spend looking for a gift is well worth the savings you get if you buy shop on a sale. Sales can be difficult to come by, and can get a bit stressful especially with a crowd of shoppers. Here are some tips to keep in mind when shopping at a sale.
* Holiday and clearance sales. The most expensive items usually have up to a 50{170c5dc430f64c583d5107d62ba05598e67e73b9b6a5f140f81c7d71fdb25fb3} markdown during special sales, when stores and boutiques need to clear out inventory. Make sure that you're not buying old stock, and that you're getting the best value for money.
* Discounts. Shopping for women can get a bit expensive. Store owners know this, and try to offer discounts for gift items for women as much as they can. Discount goods need not be cheap; as long as the gift is of a good quality and has a reasonable price, then you can buy it.
* Follow the leader.
Duplicates and One-of-a- Kind Items
If you think that shopping for women will not get any more difficult, think again. Some women prefer to have two or more items of the same variety, and some prefer to have a one-of-a-kind item that only they own. What makes it even more confusing is that many women have certain preferences on what items should be bought in duplicates, and what items should be one-of-a-kind. To make things easier for your shopping day, here's a quick list of what can be duplicated, and what should be extra-special:
* Duplicates: perfumes, shoes, jewelry , make-up kits, skin care products
* One-of-a-kind items: clothes, bags, purses, watches, bracelets
Keep Up With Trends
While reading a fashion or women's lifestyle magazine may sound unappealing and completely beneath your manhood, it's always a good idea to do research before shopping. You do not have to completely and thoroughly read the articles as much as you would a hotrod magazine or the latest video games; the least you could do is to look at pictures, memorize them, and look for similar items at the boutique or the department store. That way, you can keep your friend or significant other trendy and happy with the way she looks.
Shop, and Get It Over With
One of the reasons why men find it so difficult to shop for gifts is the very idea of shopping. For some men, a boutique or a store that specializes in women's apparel and accessories is like a punishment for some unknown sin. While the place may seem a bit too feminine and fluffy for your own tastes, the only way you're going to get a good gift for that special woman in your life is if you enter the store, have a good idea of what you ' re going to buy, make shopping quick, and high-tail it out. Chances are, though, that you may enjoy the shopping experience more than you're willing to admit to yourself.