Have you ever had a "Doh!" moment, when you felt like slapping yourself in the forehead because you missed something that should  have been obvious?  I had one of those recently when a friend started talking about how he could find just about anything using "search strings" in Google.  To keep a long story short, basically, if you know how to build a good query, Google can pinpoint a lot of cool stuff.  So why am I talking about this here?  Simply because you can use this method to find some great discounted prices.

Finding Popular Items at Discount Prices

I realized that with some practice, I could probably dig up discounts on popular items being sold online.  I was right.  This is a very cool trick, but I'm not going to bore you with the details.  Instead, I'm going to show you the results (which you will love)!

Below you will find a collection of items that I compiled.  It consists of VERY popular items selling on Amazon that meet the following requirements:

1.  They are popular.  Each item has at least 20 reviews.

2.  People like them.  To make my list, the item has to have an average of 4 out of a possible 5 stars.

3.  They are discounted at least 25%.  Many items shown here are discounted much more than that, but I had to have a cut-off point and 1/4 off seemed pretty reasonable.

It has taken me a while to build this list, and I'll do my best to keep it updated.  If you happen to find that a discount has ended when you check it out, drop me a line, please, and I'll fix it.  Whatever price is showing on the actual Amazon site is the price that counts.  By the way, I generally choose to show Amazon because they are well established and provide outstanding customer service.  When you order something from them, you don't have to wonder if it will arrive.

CLICK HERE to see the current discount prices and to read the reviews.  You can search out these items yourself too, but it will probably take you hours to put the list together, trust me.  If you like this list, please feel free to tell some friends about it!

I love the holiday season.  I'm not too crazy about the cold weather, but it's a small price to pay for the fun and excitement that starts building up right after Thanksgiving.  By the time Christmas rolls around, I feel like a kid again as I watch my own children rush down the steps to see what Santa brought them.  One thing I'm not too good about though is Christmas shopping.  I've historically been a bit of a procrastinator.  I'm not one of the people you'll see on the news, shopping on Christmas Eve, but I usually only beat them by a day or two.  I guess as much as I like the holiday, I'm a bit of a Grinch when it comes to dealing with the crowd at the local shopping mall.

For Christmas 2011, I'm challenging myself to be done shopping at least a week before the big day arrives.  I might even finish wrapping before December 24.  To help me achieve my goal, I'm putting technology to work for me.  One of the nifty side effects of the internet and technology explosion is that BIG online retailers have started catering to people like me.  I didn't realize how much until I saw THIS.

Now you don't have to wait until Black Friday to get deals, and if you do happen to wait, you still don't have to deal with the giant crowds that make their annual pilgrimage to the parking lot of the local WalMart!  I know that a lot of folks really get into the hustle, bustle and excitement of having people elbow their way in front of them for the last deep discount item, but that just isn't for me.  I much prefer sipping my coffee and listening to some Christmas tunes while I shop.  Heck, I might even eat some cold leftover stuffing while I'm at it!  Seriously, if you haven't checked out these deals, or if you are just royally stuck for some good ideas, you should check this out!

I'm sure that there will always be people who love to rub shoulders with the holiday crowds while they shop.  My wife adores Black Friday and starts the countdown to it right around Halloween.  For me though, the convenience of shopping from home wins every time.

Finding Great Presents for Men

Have you ever had a really tough time coming up with creative presents for men who you care about?  I think we all have.  That is why so many ties and coffee mugs get purchased around Father's Day and Christmas.  My name is Dave Minneran.  I'm just a guy who was looking for an interesting idea for a website and started thinking about the best presents for men.

It occurred to me that I could make a site that would help end the scourge of blinking Frosty the Snowman ties (I actually received one of those as my "Christmas bonus" one year, at work).  Before you read any further, I want to make something clear.  People have sent me emails asking if "I" have some particular item for sale.  Although I'd love to be able to directly sell stuff, I'm just the idea man.  I'll try to come up with the great gift ideas and act as a kind of gift guide.  After that, I'll throw you a link to find the best gifts for men at good prices.  Usually it will be on Amazon.com.  That's because pretty much everyone knows and trusts Amazon, and they usually have prices that kick butt over the competition.  If you've never shopped there, you should check it out [everybody else has ].  I seriously just bought a Garmin GPS on there, to replace my broken one, for $50 less than I could find it locally... but I'm rambling.

Guys Are Tough to Buy For

It can be tough to choose good presents for men. Some of them can be very picky. This site will help you to find great gift ideas for the men in your life and will showcase items that have received outstanding customer reviews.  I've come up with a lot of ideas from my own "wish list" and I've also asked a lot of friends what they would want.  (Some of them want things I never would have dreamed of buying for myself.)   My goal is to get you to the items you are looking for as quickly as possible! I think I'm a relatively normal guy, so I'll try to point you toward things that I think the majority of guys would like. I'll do my best to constantly update this site with interesting new gift ideas. If you are in a hurry, you might want to jump to this listing of Best Selling Gifts for Men that I've put together. It is a real time saver, and you will find great presents for men in a variety of categories without having to click all over the place! You can also check out the quick picks over on the sidebar. I'll keep that updated with quick ideas for the men in your life.

Women can be tough to buy for too, but men are more likely to leave an unwanted present just sitting in the box and not even return it. I think that is what ticks women off most about the whole gift giving situation, and why they make themselves crazy looking for, and searching out, the best gift ideas for men every time there is a holiday or special occasion.  Women (at least my wife) tend to drop hints left and right when a birthday or holiday is coming up.   Men are not all that complicated, but a lot of us don't talk much about what we want.  In case you were wondering, I like gadgets and things I'll enjoy using.  If it simplifies some pain in the neck chore, all the better!

I'll Just Buy a Gift Card!

Hey, I'd never turn down a gift card.  Especially one for Red Lobster!  But even giving a Gift Card is no guarantee (although it is a popular option). Some men will say thanks, and then stash the card away, only to be found by their girlfriend or wife several months later, completely forgotten! Of course it isn't ever good to stereotype, and there are plenty of exceptions to every rule, but guys tend to like immediate gratification. The little boy never really goes away. Gifts for men need to grab the recipients attention as soon as they open it. Think of a little boy opening up a present he has been hoping for at Christmas. If you pick the right gift idea, you will see the light in his eyes and he won't be able to hide the excitement. He'll want to "play" with his new gift right away, even if there is assembly required. If the same boy gets a box full of socks, even if he needs them, the reaction just won't be the same.

This Outdoor Convection Cooker (with accessories) would make a great surprise if he enjoys doing some outdoor cooking. Click on the image for details and reviews.

The Painful Truth

A key to successfully choosing presents for boyfriends or husbands is to realize that they might smile and say thank you for a very practical gift, but socks are socks. Women are much better at realizing, at a relatively young age, that there comes a time when practical gifts make more sense. A lot of men understand this rationally, but it never quite sinks in.

Presents for Men Who Have Everything

Some women fret when they are shopping for presents for men who have everything. Honestly, they probably don't have EVERYTHING. You might think that they have everything they NEED, but there is always more room in the toybox. Check out the latest gadgets for these guys. Electronics are often like candy to these guys. Look at what they have already, and then see if there is a newer, bigger, or faster version of it available. Men seldom can resist a good upgrade, especially if their friends have it.  I'm not too bad with this, but my neighbor can't stand it when he doesn't have the best of something.  No kidding, I'd almost be that if I went out and got a new $300 lawnmower today, he'd be cutting grass with a new $400 lawnmower by next week!

Include a Fun Gift

It doesn't matter if you are searching for Christmas presents, birthday presents, anniversary presents or any other presents for guys, try to make it fun. Even if you must go the practical route, try to throw in some kind of fun gift for him to play with. It may sound silly, but the love of bells, whistles, lights and noise that makes little boys go nuts in a toy store is always there. The toys just get a little bit more advanced.  Of course, gifts based on personality are usually the best way to go, so if this absolutely does not apply to the recipient, keep looking.

A Few of My Favorite Things

My birthday is coming up in a few weeks. That is where the whole "Presents for Men" idea came from originally. My wife has been asking me for birthday gift ideas and I guess I'm not too good at supplying them. I've heard my kids telling her that they need to get gifts for dad (they really don't have to) but I honestly am not the kind of person who sits around thinking of gift ideas for myself or what the best present would be to make me complete. I'm pretty good with what I've got.

I do have to admit that I enjoy it when my wife comes up with an exceptional birthday gift idea or Christmas gift idea. Two recent winners were an iPod and an upgrade to my rather ancient cell phone. My wife is a talented shopper and occasionally hits with some great present ideas. She is very good about grabbing these unusual gifts for men the day after Thanksgiving. Yes, she is one of those brave souls who hits the Black Friday sales filled with ideas for presents. She's good. She picked up my first GPS,  and a Blackberry Curve in consecutive years and spent less than $150 total. They both fall under my "best presents for guys" category. I use them both a lot.  (I've since changed to an Android because they were on sale and my contract was expiring.  It is another favorite gadget of mine.)

So anyway, she comes up with these ideas on her own. I guess my two older kids are old enough to recognize some quality presents for guys, so they might be offering some quality input. I don't know for sure. I don't snoop or ask them. I guess I'm a bit boring like that.

Finding Cool Gadgets

I don't think you can go wrong with most guys if you buy some kind of cool gadget that they will actually use. The "actually use" is key however. I think it is important to ignore what the sales guy says if he is just pushing 20 years old and you are looking for a Father's Day present for your 35+ year old Dad. I love every Father's Day gift I ever received because they came from my kids, but I think a few were influenced by sales people.  Even with that said, I do think that some of the gadgets (like the emergency fire starter) are some of the best gifts for men.  The almost cry out to be put to use like a new toy on Christmas morning!

Looking for something extra that's inexpensive? How about this emergency fire starter for guys who go hunting, fishing, or camping?

As I'm writing this, I'm concerned that I sound unappreciative. That isn't the case at all. I'm starting to think that maybe I am a pain to buy gifts for, because I can't even think of anything I want to go out and buy myself right now.

Enough about me. If you are out looking for "gifts for him", you should concentrate on mens gifts that fit the individual guy. Don't buy him that blanket thing they sell on TV (the one you wear) because you think it looks snuggly. I was joking with my kids that I was going to buy one of those just so I could walk down the stairs wearing it if I ever wanted their friends to leave. Listen to what your boyfriend, husband, Dad, etc. talks about a lot (past the point where you usually tune out). Encourage him to talk more about something he seems excited about and you might be surprised at the gift ideas that come pouring out.

What Was Your Best Gift?

What I would really like to happen is for people who visit this blog to leave their great present ideas or stories about the best present they ever gave or received (and why) in the comments so that all of the ideas for presents can build into some helpful lists. My plan is to add posts or pages devoted to topics more specific than just "presents for men." If you need a present for Dad, you will be looking for something different than you would be for a teenage boy. Some of the most memorable and precious gifts I have ever received, cost the least amount of money. An example would be anything my kids took the time to pick out or make for me. Those Santa's Workshop gifts are priceless because of the stories that come with them. I always enjoy listening to the reasons why my kids picked some particular gift out for their Mom or me. If you don't have kids, you'll just have to trust me on that one.

If you have post suggestions, please share them along with any productive input you might have. Some general gift ideas I'd like to cover include birthday presents for men, wedding presents for men, anniversary presents for men, Father's Day gifts and generally any other good gifts for men. I'll also be writing about specific great gift ideas that might help you to get your creative juices flowing. I'll be asking some friends of mine to add some input too. When appropriate, I'll include links to the products in case you want to check them out yourself. Like I said already, I do like Amazon a lot because of their big discounts and the fact that it is so easy to find user reviews of almost any product. I'll usually show off or point toward only the best reviewed products. There really is no sense in pointing to anything less. I hope you get some great gift ideas here that you were not able to think of on your own. If you see something mentioned and you have something to share about it, please leave a comment. I'll be happy to post it as long as it isn't spammy and it has to do with choosing the best presents for men.

If you are looking for 40th birthday gift ideas, be sure to take into account who you are buying for. There are tons of 40th birthday gift ideas that are basically jokes about being over the hill. Most people don't get offended by this, but there are a few folks who don't deal well with the milestone. You wouldn't want to be the one to send them into a depression!

For most people, by the time they reach 40, they are mature enough to realize that it is just another day and just another number that really has very little to do with who they are or what they can do. 40th birthday gag gift ideas are fine for these people, but if you are having a party for the person who is turning 40, you might want to make sure that at least a couple of the gifts they receive are just "regular" gifts that they will be able to enjoy. If you are looking for 40 birthday party ideas, you can keep things fun by including some 40th birthday poems or 40th birthday quotes from friends and relatives. You might try to include at least one person who is older than 40 so that they can say something encouraging. Or, alternatively, you could have someone dressed up like the Grim Reaper show up bearing their "good" gift. Just something to think about.

So what about actual presents for people turning 40? Well, it isn't like they suddenly turned into a different person or anything! Just aim for presents for men (or women if that is the case) that reflect the person's personality. There are many different types of 40th birthday gift baskets available that you might want to check out. This link will show you over 50 different ones. These include "time capsule" baskets filled with retro items that were popular in 1970. Some focus on a peace and love hippie theme. Others are more general. There are really too many varieties to list here. There are many different kinds of basket available for under $50, so it is worth it to check them out if that is within your price range.

40th Birthday Gift Basket Box of Retro Candy

World's Greatest 40th Birthday Personalized Plaque

The Big 40 Beer Mug

Since this is a milestone birthday, you might want to consider purchasing some type of personalized gift. It doesn't necessarily have to include the age of the person. It could be a legitimate and useful gift like a tie or even a flask. Personalized flasks seem to be a very popular gift for engraving. I've received one myself in the past. They don't seem to have a lot of practical uses though once you get beyond your early twenties. I guess some people still like to carry and use them. Maybe people just hide them well! Another idea I thought was interesting was personalized wine labels commemorating the big event. You can Click here to check those out.

You might also want to consider some more unique birthday presents for men hitting the big 4-0. If you can afford it, a weekend get-away package might be nice. They might also enjoy being introduced to something new that they have never tried before. Try to make it something they will not injure themselves enjoying though!

Seriously, in other posts, I've mentioned that you should really try to make each gift fit the personality of the person for whom you are buying. You should have fun with 40th birthday presents, but don't forget that the person is your friend. You probably know what their hobbies are. Maybe you can remember something that they used to enjoy doing back before they got married and had kids. Did they used to like shooting pool? Maybe they played a musical instrument that they no longer get to do anything with. If you can give them a little taste of what they enjoyed in their youth, it could turn out to be a lot of fun for both you and the person getting the present.

Are you faced with the challenge of coming up with some retirement gift ideas for a man? Maybe the key is to focus on looking at the matter from the perspective of how his retirement is going to affect his life, and the new reality he is going to be facing. With that in mind, there are some relatively safe bets you might want to check out for the recent retiree that generally do not cost too much.

After many years of facing a familiar daily grind starting with getting ready for work, commuting to work, working, then home and shifting back into the home environment, for five or maybe more days a week, suddenly he is going to have as much as ten hours or more daily to fill up. This can be a real shock to the system, regardless of how much he may profess to be looking forward to it. No matter how much vacation time a man may have had over time, he's suddenly facing the prospect of filling those hours for the rest of his life.

Shopping for presents for men can be a frustrating business, especially if the intended recipient is older. Men tend to become set in their ways, and many of them take a particular pride in those ways and they can be resistant to changes in them.

Count yourself blessed if the man in question has a known hobby. This lends itself to gift giving, of course. For a golfer, fisherman or gardener, it's a relatively simple matter to find a nice piece of suitable equipment that he will appreciate and make use of.

One course that may not be immediately apparent is to consider whether he's been close with any of his present or former co-workers who has such a hobby or outside interest. If it's likely or even possible that such a relationship may grow with the availability of additional free time, maybe that present or former co-worker would be interested in introducing the retiree to that interest.

If so, in light of the fact that the retiree will have so much additional free time, you might take a chance and present him with a set of golf clubs, for example, or some fishing gear. The co-worker might like to engage him in being introduced to the activity. The retiree will have a chance to expand his horizons without making a substantial investment in the necessary equipment.

For many people facing retirement, budgeting is a big concern. If he has a chance to find a way to occupy his time in the company of a known associate, without the need of spending a lot of money, he may jump at it.

If such fortunate circumstances aren't present, consider whether the retiree is married and how his relationship with his wife is. It could be that he'd welcome a chance to engage in some sort of activity with her that they hadn't had the time to pursue during his working years. Maybe you could provide them with a certificate to take even a short trip to someplace they'd enjoy.


In any case, it seems that it would be a good idea to afford the retiree a chance to engage in some enjoyable activity upon his retirement to lessen the shock to the system of suddenly having a bounty of unaccustomed free time.

So someone in your life is turning 30? A real milestone birthday in our culture, especially since those who are in their forties or older are likely to remember the hippies' credo, "Don't trust anybody over 30"! 30th birthday presents can range from silly gag gifts all the way up to extravagant experience type gifts that help the person realize that they are still pretty young in the overall scheme of things. If you are looking, you might find this list of 30th birthday gift ideas helpful.

The 30th birthday is probably the actual threshold of what might be called 'mature adulthood'. Maybe that's why the hippies regarded it with such distaste.

Many men by the age of 30 have taken on family responsibilities and some may have been in their careers for as long as ten years or even more. Others are still moving around in their lives, but if so, their 30th birthday is likely to cause them to pause and ponder why that's so.

Regardless of where any individual may be in his life, you are faced with the job (or opportunity) of coming up with a 30th birthday present. What inspiration can you find to guide you?

The best advice is the most basic: know the person who is to get the gift and buy to suit him. Many people make the mistake of neglecting to even consider who the recipient is and make a gift purchase that really satisfies their own wants or needs. If necessary, do a little research. Ask those closest to him if he's expressed any particular desires privately that aren't apparent from your perspective. If that's not practical or desirable, at least make the effort to listen carefully and even read between the lines for hints to a gift that will be truly appreciated.

Consider the circumstances of the man you're buying for. If he works in a setting where appearances are important, how about something to wear that's especially impressive? An item of designer clothing, even a neck tie, might be a good way to go.

Does he have any special interests or hobbies? This is always a great chance to feed that need at any age, and gift givers can rejoice if the birthday boy has such an avocation. Whether it's a car he works on or HO gauge trains, there's always something to buy that he can put to good use and will appreciate.

If you're going to be buying for a man who's got a family, consider that he might most enjoy a gift that he can share with them. Tickets to an amusement park or a ball game can bring him a lot of joy if he gets to show his loved ones a good time. Many, if not most men by the age of thirty are getting past the time when everything in their life revolves around their own interests.

Of course, the 30th birthday is the first of the birthdays that are ripe for gag gifts, and dozens of marketers haven't missed out on the chance to provide them over a wide range of prices. Whether it's on the internet or a local variety store, you won't have to look far to find something suitable.

In any case, take the time to think about who it is you're buying for and make an effort to make him happy.

Although this site focuses mainly on presents for men, when it comes to 21st birthday gifts, many of the gifts aimed at the big day are meant for either gender. This includes things like shirts, mugs, and any number of things announcing the special person's 21st birthday. Funny 21st birthday gifts seem to be the most common thing you'll find for this big day.

Corsos Cookies Corso's Cookies Happy 21st Birthday Beer Cookie Bouquet - CKS001

Hot Shot Personalized 21st Birthday Shot Glass

Give Me A Beer Personalized 21st Birthday Glass Mug

Perhaps the most significant day in a young man's life after his high school graduation is his 21st birthday. In the eyes of the world he is finally recognized as an adult, fully responsible for his actions and free to do as he pleases subject only to the limits of the law.

Most of those rights and privileges were granted at the age of 18 with the limitation that he couldn't legally possess or consume alcohol. Having had a few years to try out various interests and experiences, though, the 21st birthday seems in many ways to mark the threshold of finally choosing a path and sticking to it, rather than experimenting and playing at life.

So what makes a good 21st birthday present?

Many young men will have encountered some path or interest that they show signs of sticking with by that age. In the time leading up to the actual big day, pay attention to expressions of serious thought and planning about what he's interested in. It may be something of an entertaining nature or it may be something relating to a choice of a life path.

Young men at the age of 21 are still brimming with energy and a sense of adventure. They tend to see themselves as somehow immortal and are willing and able to encounter thrilling experiences for the sheer joy of encountering danger. You might consider buying him a certificate entitling him to bungee jump, for example, or to drive or ride in a race car or to parachute.

It's very common for 21 year old men to have a particularly close friend with whom he especially enjoys spending time. If he has such a friend, he'll really appreciate it if the gift includes a certificate for someone else to accompany him. It could even be a girlfriend that he wants to take along.

If the young man in question has a girlfriend with whom he's especially close, he'll welcome the opportunity to do something special with and for her that he couldn't otherwise provide. In such a case, instead of providing him with a chance to engage in thrill-seeking, consider that he might be delighted to be able to take his special girl to a restaurant or a show that is out of his price range. A particularly good bet in this direction is to get tickets to a popular concert, especially if the tickets are for especially good seats.

A word of caution is advisable here. If the intended recipient of such a gift has never shown any proclivity for going fast or encountering risk, getting such a gift may lead to an uncomfortable moment if he's scared or embarrassed by his lack of willingness to use the gift, especially if it's presented in front of others.

Many men at the age of 21 are newly living on their own and haven't yet been able to generate the income to support a very comfortable life style. If you're familiar with such a young man's circumstances, his 21st birthday could be a good time to present him with something particularly nice, or something that in his circumstances would be considered a luxury. By that age he's probably become more careful about the things he owns, especially if he's had to work to provide himself with what he does have.

Finding just the right 60th birthday gifts can be a bit of a challenge. In today's society, turning 60 doesn't necessarily mean that you are "old". There are people in the sixties who are still quite active. This means that 60th birthday gift ideas can include some things that previously might not have even been considered. There are plenty of 60 year old people who take pride in the fact that they are still learning and trying new things. What this means is, you don't necessarily have to cross off all of the coolest electronics and fun items from your shopping list. 60th birthday gifts for Dad might not include any of the latest tunes, but he could probably handle learning how to use an iPod.
Great Gift Ideas from Amazon

In our youth, we grow and mature at a relatively rapid rate, and those who care for us often like to mark certain generally understood milestones as we reach each of them. The 7th, 16th, 18th and 21st birthdays are traditionally the ones most recognized and celebrated as we step into new responsibilities and understanding, not to mention our growing accountability in the culture, as seen in the differences in how we are treated by the law.

After we attain full adulthood at age 21 and we are more or less on our own, the 'big' birthdays no longer come around so often. In general, once a decade is considered by most people to be often enough to pause and mark significant changes in ourselves. Thus, it's traditional to make a fuss at the 30th, 40th, etc. birthdays, as we don't change as much between them as we do early in life.

By the time a man's 60th birthday rolls around, it's pretty safe to assume that he's had a broad range of experiences and has set for himself a life course that's pretty well defined. In many cases, he owns or has owned most of the stuff he's ever had much interest in. He's likely to have the resources to go out and get or do things that stir new interests, and may even resent it if he feels that someone is pushing him in a direction he doesn't really want to travel.

This can present quite a challenge for someone who's in the market to buy a 60th birthday present for a man. One way that people tend to deal with this significant birthday is by presenting him with 60th birthday gag gifts. Many of these gently chide the recipient for being just so set in his ways as many men of that age have become.

Although the recipient will hopefully take all of this in the good-natured spirit in which it's offered, it's best to tread lightly in case there's any doubt. Many men, in their thoughtful times can become rather gloomy as they ponder their own mortality, if you want to give someone with a personality like this a 60th birthday gift, you might be better off going with something that will lift their spirits.

With that in mind, someone shopping for gag gifts will find from a quick internet search, that there are many fun gift options available to meet their needs. A little time and effort spent looking them over is likely to yield something that's just right for the newly minted sexagenarian. Some of them even have the added bonus of being useful in some way!

Another path that one might follow is to offer a gift that symbolizes the respect and love that the recipient has earned from the giver. Of course, this choice must be as individual as the experiences shared by the giver and the recipient. Such gifts may be found on the internet or in local shops, but this is a great chance for providing something of a personal, sentimental nature.

If your relationship with the recipient justifies it, consider taking the time and spending the effort to create some uniquely personal item. It could be as simple as a well thought out and written poem or letter, or a photo album, for example. If you have old home movies or video tapes available, think about having them transferred to a DVD format (or a video cassette if your special person is technology resistant).


60th birthday gifts for men don't have to be all that different from the gifts you would give for any other significant birthday. Take into account any limitations the person may have, but don't assume that they are ready to be sent out to pasture either. Remember to use your imagination too. There are plenty of unusual 60th birthday gift ideas that you could put together on your own. If you have enough notice and resources, this is a great birthday for bringing together family and friends that might have drifted away over the years. As presents for men go, this would be a big one, but it would also probably be one of the most memorable gifts of the person's life.

Now that our leaders in Washington have forced the legal drinking age in all the states up to 21, a young man's 18th birthday is no longer the rite of passage that it once was. Gone are the days of taking a ceremonial first legal drink on the big day. 18th birthday gift ideas now require a little bit more creativity than they used to.

So, since you can't legally provide the newly minted adult with a case of beer or a bottle of liquor, what options are there for a uniquely grown-up gift?

For many young men, vehicles are a central point of interest in their lives. At the age of 18 they are legally allowed to actually own a car, with all the rights and responsibilities that go with that status. It's a rare young man who doesn't dream of owning his own car. Obviously, if one's budget allows for such a thing, a shiny new car makes a wonderful 18th birthday present.

Of course, it's a rare family or individual who has the resources for such extravagance, but that doesn't mean there's no prospect of feeding that special young man's car dreams. If he's shown an interest and aptitude for things mechanical, how about a car or truck that needs some work for him to make of a project?

A friend of my daughter got just such a 'clunker' of a Subaru for his 18th birthday. It was driveable, but over the several years since he got it he's turned it into quite a showpiece. An added benefit has been that he's spent a lot of time working on it, time that some other young men of our acquaintance have spent getting into trouble. He's also joined a Subaru club, and he and his friends have had a lot of good, clean fun attending rallies and shows and helping each other work on their cars.


He's learned a lot about finding and buying parts at junk yards and swap meets and over the internet, so he's got a leg up on dealing with other people and managing his money. An unexpected bonus is that he sometimes enlists his father for help or advice with the car, and although his dad is no mechanic, they've spent time together in a period of his life when most young men want as little as possible to do with their fathers.

Having put so much effort and time into his car, you can be sure that he doesn't abuse it. It seems that nothing generates a sense of appreciation and caution in driving around in his very own car than the investment of himself into it. An important element of maturity is learning that things aren't going to be taken care of by mom and dad anymore, and the experience of fixing up a car and making it truly his own goes a long way in that direction.

All in all, a car offers a number of positive possibilities as an 18th birthday present. If you think that the young man in your life is up to dealing with such a gift maturely, it's a good option to consider.

Christmas gifts for menChristmas gifts for men can be a challenge if the man in question does not drop a lot of hints.

If you can't think of any way to connect a gift to something that he enjoys doing, take a look at some of these ideas and follow the links in the article for possible ideas that will spark your imagination.  You can always go out to the mall and jostle around with the crowds and traffic if that is what floats your boat, but there are so many options available online today, that I really prefer shopping from home whenever possible.  I find that the savings in time and gas money are well worth whatever shipping charges I may end up paying.  I've also noticed that shipping discounts are also available on a number sites after crossing some specific spending threshold.  That is a definite bonus if you were planning on spending the money anyway.

Corporate Gifts

If the man you are buying for is more of a professional acquaintance, you may want to go the route of the corporate gift.  These are gifts that say that you thought about the person, but do not get touchy feely in any way.  Gift baskets are a pretty safe bet in this genre of gift giving.  They usually contain some pretty nice stuff that most men don't run out and buy for themselves.  I don't know about other men, but my favorite baskets either contain useful gadgets or edible stuff.  It is hard to go wrong with these.  Besides gift baskets, there are tons of these types of gifts available.  Of course, they aren't just for business situations.  they would make good presents for the mailman (or woman), a favorite teacher, or any other person you might feel deserves something, but with whom you have had little personal contact.  If you know something about the person, it will make things a little easier to narrow down, but you can find some good ideas to get you started here.

Corporate Gifts - Here is what you will learn inside this guide...

Golf Gift Ideas

Books for Men

Books for Men

If the man you are buying for enjoys reading, there are always new books you can pick up for him to check out.  The problem is not knowing which books are any good.  I'd hate to buy a book and give it as a present only to find out later that it really stunk.  With a bit of sorting, I've dug up the top rated books for men available on Amazon.  You might want to take a look for some ideas.  All of the books listed are rated at least 4 stars out of 5, so a lot of people like them.  You can also check out the reader reviews while you're there.

The Man's Book: The Essential Guide for the Modern Man

Tree of Life: A Book of Wisdom for Men

Electronics Gifts for Men

Apple iPod touch 32GB (4th Generation) - Black - Current Version

Click to View Product Details

$272.95

Some of you probably know that you could have just skipped to this section automatically.  It might sound a bit stereotypical, but it seems to me that most guys really enjoy electronics.  Maybe not every electronic device, because some can get pretty frustrating, but in general, electronics usually equal fun in most guy's minds.  There are thousands of different options when you go for the electronics department for gifts.  Of course games are always fun, but you don't want to ignore the current technological revolution.  Things move so fast now, that some men might be suffering from a bit of electronics envy if all of their friends have passed them by over the last year.  Yes, things really move that fast in electronics land.  There is a lot of great electronic stuff out there right now.  As you might expect though, there is also some stuff that is either just stupid or which borders on junk.  Here is a listing of top electronics gifts that are hot right now.  All of these were rated at least 4 out of 5 stars4 out of 5 stars by reviewers on Amazon's site. There is a TON to choose from in this area. You can spend a little or a lot when it comes to electronics.

JLab USB Laptop Speakers - Portable, Compact, Travel Notebook Speaker for PC and Mac - B-Flex Hi-Fi Stereo USB Laptop Speaker - Pearl White

1GB MP3 Sunglasses with voice recorder For men

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

In general though, prices are pretty good for most of the popular items today. There is a ton of competition and sellers have to do what they can to keep their prices within reach of customers. I like to focus on Amazon a lot because they deal in such immense volumes, that they can often pass along price breaks that no one else can come close to matching.

If All Else Fails

There are literally tens of thousands (at least) of great and original presents for men to choose from during the holiday season.  It doesn't matter whether you are celebrating Christmas or a holiday of your own preference.

Christmas Gift Cards

This is a time of giving and retailers are doing all they can to present interesting things to you.  If you just cannot find anything that is just right though, there is the old standby, the gift card.  These can be purchased for just about any place you can think of nowadays and they give the recipient the chance to buy exactly what they want.  Of course, it does take away a little bit from the whole "personal touch" thing, but some folks honestly just prefer to be shown the money.  No problem.  It actually makes things easier for everyone, but the choice is yours.  You can check out a variety of gift cards here.

I hope this post has helped a few people to come up with ideas for creative Christmas presents for men that they care about.  Use your imagination, but keep what the guy really enjoys in mind too.  If you get too cute with your ideas for gifts, it could backfire on you.  No one likes to watch a gift just sit there.  Whatever Christmas presents for men that you choose, make it something that will be put to use and make the recipient smile!