Buying a gift for the man in your life (here, we mean your spouse or boyfriend!) is actually not terribly different than buying for special women and children in your life. Really! Many tend to frame men as the more difficult group for which to buy presents, but that doesn’t have to be true. Read on for some simple tips and guidance for buying religious gifts for men.

Religious Gifts for Men

For the first two tips, don’t even think specifically about your man yet.

• What is your budget? Any person who truly loves and cares about you would NOT want you to break the bank for a gift. Many men appreciate financial responsibility! Maybe your income is lower than you’d like or maybe you’re saving up to go back to school or maybe your biggest chunk of gift change is going towards children. Whatever the reason, it is not selfish to set priorities and allow your gift-giving to follow those. If being lavish brings you happiness and you have the income - then go for it.

• Where are you at with your relationship? If you’re married, your gift choice might look very different than another woman’s choice for a man she just began dating.

Now start thinking about the man himself…

• What are his interests? Of course this means reviewing his hobbies (sports, home improvement, reading, etc). But think a bit outside the box as well. Is he active in his church community? That tells you that a religious gift, like Christian jewelry for men, might be a good option. Does he have a best friend who lives far away? You could purchase a gift card for an airline that flies there.

• What is his style? I’m not just talking personal dress style (i.e. don’t get mens’ Christian jewelry if you’ve never seen him wear anything other than a watch!), but also overall “tone” of his life. Again, he might like wine, but if he’s casual - no need for a crystal decanter. If he drives a sports car, he may not be into camping gear. Of course, no one can be pigeonholed, but you want to get the man in your life a gift that “goes” with who he is.

• What types of gifts does he give? If you have been married for years, and he always chooses minimalist gifts for you, that tells you he prioritizes meaning over expense or just chooses to show his love in other ways. While you don’t have to match his gift-giving habits, you also don’t want to “overbuy” or “underbuy.” If he doesn’t give fancy gifts after all, he may not like getting such presents. This is always tricky if the relationship is new and you haven’t been through many special occasions. But you can assess his gift-giving tendencies by other actions. Does he bring you flowers or small gifts regularly? Then he likes giving gifts and will probably go “all out” for a holiday or birthday. Do your dates tend to include experiences like picnics, hiking, or museum-hopping? If so, he might be more inclined to “do” than “buy” or “give” and his presents will be more modest. If you know he’s on a budget, be careful of spending too much, lest it make him feel guilty for not indulging you more.

Religious Gift Ideas for Men

And, finally, here are some specific religious gift ideas for men:

• This a blog on a Catholic site, so you know we have to bring up religion and faith! But, really, a gift that strengthens your man’s spirituality is good for him and the relationship. We already mentioned Christian jewelry for men, but religious books and journals are more affordable, casual choices (remember, think about budget and style).

• Even if you choose to purchase one of the traditional religious gifts for men, you may also consider the gift of time or experience (I alluded to that above, too). Tickets to an upcoming drama at a funky theater. Passes to an indoor rock-climbing gym. Homemade coupons for a no-guilt nap, a night “off” from chores, etc. (those are great for busy dads)! These are often just as interesting as anything you can buy in a store.

• Here is perhaps one of the best religious gift ideas for men: find a gift that you can enjoy together! Okay, it might seem odd to pick a gift that is for both of you. But many men have trouble getting creative about ways to spend time with the women in their lives. You’ll be doing him a favor by getting something he will love doing with you! So grab that pasta maker that you’ve both had your eye on. Pick up a book of blessings if you’ve been talking about recommitting to family prayers. Book your New Years’ Eve accommodations.

I hope this guide on religious gifts for men helped you think more positively about the joy of gift-giving, even for the men in your life. Good luck, you’re going to do great!