Gift Giving in Relationships
One of the more difficult things to gauge when you are dating is what gifts to give, and when to give them. Of course, every relationship is different, and how serious you are, and how quickly your affection grows, is dependent entirely on you and your partner. But there are a few general rules that are good to follow, in terms of not trying to advance things too quickly. Many relationships become complicated early on because one partner is more serious than the other. One of the ways that you can avoid this sort of problem is to simply be careful about the messages you are sending with your gifts. Here are a few suggestions.
To begin with, treat early anniversaries very lightly. This isn’t to suggest that you should ignore them, or that you shouldn’t be romantic – but going too far over the top for a one or two month dating anniversary can definitely send the wrong message, and even scare your partner away! Again, the specifics depend more on the nature of your relationship, but for an early, playful anniversary try to keep things thoughtful but simple – perhaps some flowers, a nice date night, or something inexpensive that you happen to know your partner wants.
Once you have been dating for about 6 months or so, you can begin to classify the relationship as something a bit more serious, and something that is moving more quickly. At this point, whether specifically to mark the 6 month anniversary, or if a birthday or other gift-giving event comes up, you can certainly begin to try larger, more meaningful gifts. At this point, not only will your partner probably be expecting a bit more, but you will also be at a more appropriate point in the relationship at which to display greater affections. When you truly want to give meaningful gifts, it is sometimes a sign that you are ready to.
Finally, there are the gifts that say you’re in it for the long haul. This may be appropriate in under a year, or perhaps if you’re taking it more slowly after a couple of years. That choice is yours. But at a certain point, a serious, binding gift is always a big step in a relationship. Generally, this is a good point at which to consider something like valuable jewellery, or perhaps even something that sends a specific message, like eternity rings at 77-Diamonds. While you may well have given the gift of jewellery before, if you want to give a gift that states your intentions and says you’re serious, upgrading to something truly valuable may be a good move.
Of course, ultimately, the timing and nature of your gifts is entirely up to you. However, this is something that a lot of people in relationships tend to take a bit too lightly, and that can certainly backfire. While there is no need to be paranoid about the gifts you get for your partner, always keep in mind the message your gift sends, in addition to the physical gift itself.