It’s getting close to that time of year again when you have to find the perfect gift ideas for your girlfriend. The witches come out to frighten you and ghosts of ex-girlfriends’ past haunt your every waking moment.
I’m not referring to Halloween, when all you have to do is give her a little candy and you’ll get lucky in superhero costumes. I’m talking about the time when you have to go above and beyond that adorable three scoop kitty tee. (Although, maybe not the worst idea if you’re on a budget).
Your girlfriend will go crazy if you take it a step further, like with this three scoops of kitty blanket that says warmth, love and kittens all in one:
Getting incredible Christmas gifts for your girlfriend is easy!
When it comes to her 21st Birthday, Valentine’s Day, Christmas or Hanukkah the stakes are high. Sure these moments are meant to be a time of love and giving, but they could just as easily turn into scary moments if you decide to throw a pair of socks and a Family Guy-themed desk calendar her way.
Don’t worry, College Magazine is here to help with your gift-giving worries. This list is perfect for Christmas gifts for your girlfriend and good birthday gift ideas. Why? Because we went directly to the source. Your girlfriend
Top 10 best Christmas gifts and best birthday gifts for your girlfriend.
We asked girlfriends nationwide to come up with a list of the best gifts for your girlfriend for the holidays or any day really. Without further ado…
1. Thoughtful Photo Album or Frame
Need a stellar Christmas gift idea for your girlfriend? Find the latest photos of you and your girlfriend from Instagram and Facebook and *gasp* print them. Then go to a local crafts store and buy an album or create your own.
The simple Forever Photo Album
“I like sentimental things, so if he was able to put something together like a photo album or scrapbook that is meaningful to our relationship that would be so cute.” -Chelsea Tirrell, Senior, Hofstra University
“My favorite gift was a scrapbook of photos of us that he made for me. It meant a lot to me because took the time to pick the pictures and sat down to think about all our great memories. I love that I can look back on the book for years to come.” -Olivia Jenning, Junior, Florida State University
Kate Spade Picture Frame: $39.95
Umbra Fotochain Picture Frames: $34.99
10 More Incredible Gift Ideas & Gifts for Your Girlfriend
Did you know that “receiving gifts” is in fact a love language? In his book The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman doesn’t refer to the materialistic aspect of giving gifts. Think past the item.
The effort and thoughtfulness behind a gift for your girlfriend means more than the gift itself. That means pouring time and love into gift ideas for your girlfriend, whether it be for a holiday, your girlfriend’s birthday, anniversary or just because.
Not sure where to start? Narrow down that gift for your girlfriend by investigating beyond the obvious:
- Ask your girlfriend’s best friends.
- Consider her hobbies. Find something that will make that hobby more fun, exciting or easy
- Search GroupOn for an experience she’ll love, like skydiving, a hot air balloon ride or a paint night.
- Buy her a luxurious experience—like a spa day or weekend away—to let her finally indulge.
- Find something uniquely her. For example, if she loves owls, buy her owl mugs or cute owl tee.
No matter what you come up with, make sure your gift idea for your girlfriend comes wrapped with a thoughtful hand-written card.
The card’s message will show her you really care. Gift giving is a language. Become fluent in it like Jack from This Is Us and your girlfriend will melt into your arms forever.
Top 20 Gifts Your Girlfriend Actually Wants 2018
1. Shadow Box
Some sentimental S.O.s have discovered a cheat code to buying gifts for your girlfriend. When you’ve bought almost everything else on the list for your girlfriend, buy her a gift to hold all of the other gifts. Wait—what?
“Being that we’ve been together so long, my boyfriend has gotten me a bunch of gifts for holidays, anniversaries, etc. But I’d say my all-time favorite would be tickets to a concert. He surprised me with tickets to my favorite band and we had AMAZING seats,” University of Central Florida junior Siera Siedl said.
Siera’s boyfriend can’t recreate that concert experience. But he can commemorate it with a shadow box filled with the tickets, movie stubs from their first date, bottle caps, you name it, as reminders of all their best dates.
Basketball players honor great seasons by retiring their jerseys and displaying them on the wall; great baes honor their girlfriends by retiring mementos and displaying them in a shadow box. Talk about a creative gift for your girlfriend.
2. Promise Ring with Birthstones
“My boyfriend gave me a promise ring for our one year anniversary and it was just the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It had our birth stones connected. It was just so beautiful and meaningful,” University of Florida junior Hannah Wilson said.
Personalizing the ring will show your girlfriend how much thought you put into the promise ring. Plus the ring will represent you and your girlfriend equally minus any cringe-worthy matching outfits.
“My boyfriend gave me this beautiful pink floral ring from Pandora. He said it was our promise ring so it has a lot of sentimental value to it, which is what I love most about it,” said Stacey Rodriguez, sophomore at Palm Beach Community College.
3. Desk Decs
Make sure your girlfriend thinks of you during her 9 to 5 to match your 24/7. Buying her a beautiful small item to place where she’ll see it the most like her desk at home or at work. In the early stages of a relationship, the desk dec will quickly trigger thoughts of you without needing to bombard her Snapchat.
For maximum results, get a gift for your girlfriend that show her you care through trinkets that you know—cue Julie Andrews—a few of her favorite things.
“I really like trees even more then flowers and I used to always wear this tree necklace. One time my boyfriend surprised me by leaving a little metal tree in my room with a note,” Temple University junior Claudia Murtha said.
“To me, it doesn’t matter how much the gift is or what it is just the fact that he thought of me is what matters the most and that’s what makes the best gifts that I could ever receive.”
4. A Manicure
Dive into your girlfriend’s mid-week sanctuary. No matter how hectic a woman’s life gets, someone massaging, lotioning, grooming and painting pretty colors on her hands will make her feel 10 times—or 20 times if she also gets a pedicure—better.
“I’m on a college student budget, so I tend to give myself my own manicures, but I’ve always wanted my S.O. to pay for one for me as a gift,” Florida State University sophomore Kate Reitz said. If you can afford it, pick up the tab on your girl’s trip.
If you have the time, hop in the chair next to her and treat her to a freshly manicured partner on the side. If these options don’t work, skip plan C and go right to plan D…IY gift for your girlfriend. Pick up all the pro tools for your girlfriend to use at home.
5. Monogrammed Necklace
“Girls want gifts that are specific to them and not something that a guy could’ve given an ex,” said UF sophomore Allison Hollaway.
Don’t make the mistake of re-gifting the heart-shaped locket your ex returned after a tearful goodbye. Your new bae will look through your ex’s Instagram and she will not be happy to see that locket around your ex’s neck seven months ago.
“My favorite gift is probably my preppy monogram necklace because it’s unique specifically to me,” Hollaway said.
Your girlfriend can wear her initials around her neck every day and she’ll think of you. Find a monogrammed necklace that matches with most of what your girlfriend wears, whether that be black, brown, pearl, gold, silver or a funky color.
6. KitchenAid Stand Mixer
The kitchen is not, I repeat, NOT a woman’s place.
When she returns home from the boardroom though, she might crave a batch of her grandmother’s homemade double chocolate chunk brownies. The gift of efficiency comes with rewards. Cut the baking time in half with a KitchenAid Stand Mixer that will do the mixing for her.
Plus, this gift for your girlfriend looks boss, shining bright in the kitchen.
“[I love] my KitchenAid Mixer because it makes cooking fun and it’s my favorite color, cobalt blue,” said FSU recent graduate Karen Popovich.
The KitchenAid Mixers come in almost every color in the rainbow so pick her favorite color and she’ll know you pay attention. And if your girl loves to cook, KitchenAid also sells attachments that’ll let her juice, stuff pasta and more with one appliance.
7. Pandora Bracelet and Charms Bracelet
Pandora Charm Bracelets are the gift that keep on giving. Save yourself the stress every time a holiday, birthday or anniversary comes around.
After you buy her the actual charm bracelet, keep adding to it with charms that represent your time together.
“The best gift I’ve ever received was a Pandora charm bracelet… Each charm had a meaning special to me and to him,” said Northern Virginia Community College sophomore Lexi Viernes.
Did you take her to Disney World? Buy her a heart-shaped charm with Mickey and Minnie kissing on it. If you took her skiing for the first time, find a snowflake charm.
8. Makeup & Vanity Mirror
You know she looks gorgeous without makeup. But if she spends hours before going out perfecting her winged eyeliner, show her you appreciate her efforts.
“Makeup is usually my favorite gift. Not so much because it is a girly thing or whatever, but because it shows that my boyfriend recognizes my interest and is willing to learn more about something that he may not necessarily care about in order to make me happy,” said FSU recent graduate Katie Flanigan.
Feeling lost in a sea of Sephora products? Take a peek in her makeup bag to see what brands she uses.
Or count on trusted makeup brands like Tarte, Too Faced, Urban Decay, Stila and whatever her roomie/BFF said she will love to guide you.
BONUS: Complete her makeup setup with a vanity mirror that will give her the perfect lighting to add a pop of color to her eyeshadow. “I do my makeup almost every day so a vanity mirror would be a great gift, ” said Palm Beach Community College sophomore Nicolle Cutolo.
9. Disney World
Make unforgettable memories with bae at the Happiest Place on Earth. You get to relive your favorite Disney childhood movies live an in color on rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Peter Pan’s Flight in Magic Kingdom. Or eat and drink around the world on a budget at Epcot.
“My boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Florida. I just turned 21 and he bought us tickets to Disney for my birthday,” said Pace University senior Chelsea Chuck.
Sneak in a stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to check out the brand-new lands like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land.
Or discover a new world at Pandora: The World of Avatar in Animal Kingdom. Make the experience even more ‘Gram-able and surprise her with matching t-shirts for cheesy pictures together in front of Cinderella’s Castle.
10. An Actual Engagement Ring
She’s the one. After years with your college or even high school sweetheart, you feel confident and ready to start a new life together.
“I never let myself splurge. If my boyfriend gave me jewelry it would make me feel special that he got me something I never get to have,” said FSU recent graduate Jazmine Goodman. “He could also give me an engagement ring.”
Talk to her best friends, maybe even consult her parents to find out what ring she’ll feel proud to wear forever. Before you drop all that cash, learn about the four C’s (Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut).
Your girlfriend is your biggest investment—but her engagement ring comes in at a close second. Do your research on quality and certification to make sure you get this right. And once you hit that fiancé status, finding gifts for your future wife will prove even more of a challenge.
Good luck, champ!
11. World’s Best Girlfriend Award
Get your girlfriend something that hits her in the feels and the funny bone. James Madison University sophomore Carli Woodyear said, “[I want] something funny, like a medal with ‘World’s Best GF’ on it.”
Year-round she puts up with you. She puts up with your snail-speed text responses. She deals with your roommates who stack dishes two-feet high before picking up a sponge.
Give her an award that shows her who is number one in your heart.
12. Polaroid Camera
Aesthetic is everything in 2018. Your girlfriend constantly asks for photos then spends the rest of the car ride home editing them to fit the color tone of her Insta feed.
“I love the vintage aesthetic of the Polaroid and that it’s an instant printing of memories instead of having to wait to print them out later,” said University of Florida freshman Veronica Sandoval.
That way you can look back on your photos together snuggled up by the crackling fire.
13. Personalized Blanket
Together or apart, make sure your girlfriend wakes up to her favorite person every day: you.
“Last Christmas I gave my girlfriend a personalized blanket covered in pictures of her dog, cat and us. I’m pretty sure she still sleeps with it every night,” said UF recent grad William Taylor.
If she’s the sentimental type, pick a photo that marked an important step in your relationship, or even hunt for the first photo of you two ever. If she’s more silly, take a funny selfie of yourself or find an embarrassing pre-puberty photo of yourself to use for the blanket.
14. Engraved Necklace
“My favorite gift from my boyfriend is a gold nameplate necklace with his name on it. Both of our names begin with the letter A, so he gifted me something unique that distinguishes between the two of us. Thoughtful gifts like that are so sweet to me. He wanted the world to know that I’m his, so I rarely take it off to show that he’s also mine,” said Florida State University sophomore Alisson Sealy.
15. A cashmere scarf
“I got [my girlfriend] a scarf because she lives in New York, and it gets super cold in the wintertime,” said University of North Carolina Greeensboro recent grad Harrison Atkinson.
The PNAS found that the Rhinovirus (aka the common cold) thrives in cooler temperatures. And your ambitious, on-the-go girlfriend has no time to worry about fighting off a cold when she’s busy climbing the corporate ladder to a corner office.
Keep her healthy—and trendy—with an ultra-soft cashmere scarf.
16. Games
Some Friday nights, you and your girlfriend stay in and fall asleep from boredom at 10 p.m. Spice up your night with games that’ll bring out your competitive side.
“Even though it was a really goofy gift, my boyfriend bought me a deck of cards that we could use together because he knew about my love of card games,” said UF sophomore Abby Morris.
Or opt for card games like What Do You Meme, Exploding Kittens or Cards Against Humanity so you can make this gift an excuse to host couple friends for a wine night.
17. Matching Onesies
As soon as your girlfriend asks to go somewhere in matching outfits or costumes, you grunt and refuse. She gave up on the matching dream long before Halloween.
Washington University freshman Mackenzie Llewellyn said, “Matching onesies would be my ideal [gift] because [it is an experience] that we can share together.” Surprise her this holiday season with matching onesies that’ll get the whole family saying “aww!”
18. Speaker
A concert lasts one night. A speaker lets you relive every beat of your favorite tune over and over again. Give your girlfriend a speaker that’ll blast so loud, she’ll jam out like no one’s watching (think Taylor Swift “You Belong With Me” music video vibes).
19. Books
Not every girlfriend needs something sparkly for you to see that sparkle in her eye when she opens your gift. “I’ve never been the girl who wears jewelry, I would prefer for him to get me a book because it shows that he pays attention to how I spend my free time,” said Lander University junior Brookelyn Garner.
Buy her favorite book series, like Harry Potter or Crazy Rich Asians.
20. Your attention… and maybe a puppy
Your girlfriend should not need to repeat herself. Communicate effectively and be attentive to her wants and needs.
“I think little things count, like listening to me and remembering what I said weeks later or even just offering to do something for me means a lot to me,” said Tallahassee Community College sophomore Kyrsten Rice.
You already know the best gift for your girlfriend—you just need to remember it. Write down notes of what she says she wants. Use a voice recorder if all else fails. That way you’ll know exactly what to get your girlfriend.
Rice said, “I guess I’ve had a lot of my thoughts about getting a puppy lately.” And of course, if you’re ready for the commitment of taking care of a furry friend, you can adopt a pet from your local shelter. Because puppies = happiness.
Need more gift ideas for your girlfriend?
Check out our extended list of gifts you can get in an instant. It’s super easy to get the gift she loves if you’ve been listening to every hint she’s dropped all year long. We’re kidding!
It’s much easier to get a gift your girlfriend will love if you simply put a little thought into it. That’s why we made your life easier with our list of gifts that girls have actually said they wanted. If you read the list, and think about the best fit for your girlfriend, you can’t go wrong. These are tried and true.
Even more gift ideas perfect for your girlfriend.
11. Love Bracelet
Alex and Ani Love Spiritual Armor Bracelet: $46.90
12. Coffee Obsessed Love
Coffee Obsessed Racerback Tank: $24.99
13. Hot Tech Love
All-New Echo Dot: $49.99
14. Rayban Love
Ray-Ban Erika Sunglasses: $140.00
15. Whimsical Love
Jelly Clouds Shower Curtain: $29.99
16. Smoky Love
Tarte Eyeshadow Palette: $54.94
17. An Adorable Book
Me without You: $5.90
18. A Thoughtful Throw Pillow
19. Cat Love
Cuddly Cat Tapestry: $45.00
20. The Best Way to Read
Kindle Oasis E-reader: $249.99
21. Wanderlust Love
22. A Love Mug
You’re My Lobster Mug: $29.95 OR You’re my person mug: $22.00
23. Art Love
Punch Trunk Love Tapestry: $45.00
24. Literary Love
We Lose Ourselves Blanket: $49.99
25. Trendy Backpack
Herschel Little America Backpack: $86.85
26. Cuddle Love
Kitty Cone Duvet Cover: $89.99
Or one of these awesome duvets, almost guaranteed to get you some cuddle buddy action…
27. Gorgeous Earrings
10k Rose Gold Round Stud Earrings: $97.65
28. Treat Yo Self Love
29. Quirky Gift for Long Nights Studying
Ramen Bowl with Chopsticks: $16.95
30. Succulent Love
31. A Journal
Journal with White Embossed Suede Cover: $30.00
32. Fitness Love
Fitbit Alta HR: $149.93
33. Clever Tee that Says “I Get You”
OR
34. Bike Love
Critical Cycles Urban City Commuter Bike: $219.99
35. Photography Love
Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital SLR Camera: $418
36. Indulgent Love
Treat Yo Self Blanket: $49.99
37. Panini Love
Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler: $79.99
38. Personalized Love
10k Gold Personalized Name Necklace: $99.00
“I think getting a necklace out of the blue would be a great gift. It would definitely make my day.” -Gabrielle Loureiro, Sophomore, Construction Management Major, University of Florida
39. Adventurer Cozy Blanket
40. A Sexy Boot
Vince Camuto Boot: $74.58 and up
41. Gorgeous Watch
Kate Spade Women’s Smart Watch: $325
Or if you’re ready to spend it all on her….Salvatore Ferragamo Rose Gold Watch.
42. High Quality Sound Love
Libratone Multi-Room Wireless Speaker: $269.00
43. Hipster Music Love
1byone Turntable with Built in Speakers: $62.99
44. Robot Love
Sphero 2.0: App-Controlled Robot Ball: $119
45. Classic Photo Love
46. Motivation Love
47. Creative Love
MYNT3D Professional Printing 3D Pen: $69.99
48. Handmade Love
Oversized Knit Scarf : $74.95
49. Celestial Love
Celestial Fireworks Duvet Cover: $84.99
50. Instant Photo Love
51. Prickly Love
Prickly Pattern Shower Curtain: $49.99
52. Cuddly Love
Vermont Teddy Bear: $29.99
“I have memories that I can forget, so teddy bears are a good reminder. Plus, I can sleep with it.” -Audrey Nerette, Senior, Civil Engineering Major, Penn State University
53. Organized Love
Erin Condren LifePlanner: $30.00
54. Smart Love
Apple Smart Watch: $424
55. Flower Love
Two Dozen Red Roses: $43.81
“I’d want my boyfriend to get me calla lilies just because it’s Tuesday.” -Nadira Guerrero, Sophomore, Criminology and Law Major, University of Florida
56. Overnight Love
Herschel Supply Co. Novel Duffle Bag: $99.99
57. Movie Love
Netflix Subscription: Priceless
“A movie night would be a lot of fun, especially if it was a really long movie. If we watched a movie together and I got to eat all the popcorn all wanted, then I’d be a happy camper.” -Yasmeen Brooks, Sophomore, Public Health Major, University of Maryland
58. Serious Camera Love
Sony Alpha a5000 Mirrorless Digital Camera: $479.99
59. Running Love
Nike Women’s Running Shoe: $85.00
60. Laptop Love
Apple MacBook Air: $999.99
61. Coordinates of Your Love
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