What's in this gift list?
8 Best Gift Ideas for Your Girlfriend (With Effort)
So, you need to buy your GF present that shows you put in effort.
But let’s be honest, you don’t really want to put in TOO much effort, right?
You just want a present that looks like you did. Probably something more personable than a just a generic gift you can buy at Walmart.
The easiest solution is to get a personalized gift.
This will make it look like you did some work and put in some degree of effort without having you go through the actual work of making a DIY gift for your girlfriend.
So that’s what this gift list is all about- effortful gifts for your girlfriend. Without the effort!
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1. Personalized Socks
As if she needed more reasons to wear your face after you get into a fight. These personalized socks can be customized with your face all over them.
Put something goofy so she can laugh about it and show it off to her friends. This is almost a gag gift, but it’s unique and funny enough at the same time to stand out.
No need to remind her who her BF is. These will make sure she’s always with you.
What makes it a great gift:
- Personalize your face on her socks
- Unique gag gift
- Funny
- Shows you put in some effort
2. Custom Couple Dog Tag
You can present this as a gift for her dog rather than for her. Personalize it with something that has to do with you and her as a couple.
Probably some happy moment you two shared together or something. Or maybe Day 1 with your puppy.
Then get it laser engraved onto this dog tag and give it to Fido. She can also use it as a keychain if she wants.
Made with high quality stainless steel in the USA.
You can also add up to 50 characters on the back as a custom message. Then this shows you definitely did put in some work.
What makes it a great gift:
- Made in the USA with polished steel
- Add a custom message
- Put a picture of you two doing something together
- Useable for the dog or as a keychain
3. Wallet Card Insert for Couples
This is literally a piece of steel she can put in her purse or wallet. Or purse-wallet.
This thing is a miniature note to her that she can read anytime. It can be used to simply remind her of you throughout her day, or even as a “going away” gift for LDRs.
Each card is sturdy and lightweight which doesn’t bend to keep her chasing thing for quite some time.
You can choose from variety of different colors and designs. It’s not exactly persozlied, but still better than some random coffee mug, right?
What makes it a great gift:
- A miniature note for your girlfriend’s purse wallet
- Won’t bend over time
- Perfect for reminding her that you care
- Good for long-distance relationships
4. Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum Spray
Sometimes a girl just needs some luxury perfume over any personalized gift.
The price of perfume can make the “effort” you put in show. No need to use fancy names or custom messages when you have fancy perfume, right?
Jimmy Choo is a popular brand among the luxury market and any girl that shops fashion will recognize it.
This spray smells like toffee and patchouli and the cute glass bottle is sure to make her gush. Get this if you really want to do the least work possible.
What makes it a great gift:
- The effort will be the price tag
- High-end brand
- Excellent reviews
- Toffee and patchouli scented
5. Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook
For the girl who likes Harry Potter, now she cook all her favorites like Banoffi Pie. This is more of a “personal” gift because she has to like two things:
- Cooking
- Harry Potter
If she meets both of these, she’ll probably like this gift.
Comes with 150 recipes ranging from desserts to soups to classic dishes. If your girlfriend likes this kind of nerdy and geeky stuff, she’ll probably like this book. At least it shows that you recognized two of her favorite things.
What makes it a great gift:
- Over 150 recipes
- The unofficial book
- Perfect for nerds
- Harry Potter GFs will dig this book
6. Unicorn Snot Body Glitter
Now she can cover herself with unicorn snot and sparkle like one with this body glitter. Comes in a variety of colors like green, pink, silver, and yellow for the GF who has a sense of humor.
Easy to apply and lasts for the entire day. A funny and humorous gag gift for the girlfriend that shows you at least knew she likes unicorns.
Everyone likes unicorns. Even your GF.
What makes it a great gift:
- Sparkle and shine like a unicorn
- Variety of colors
- Funny present
- Everyone likes unicorns
7. DIY Sushi Kit
This sushi kit will teach how you to make sushi at home.
The idea here isn’t to make her make sushi. But rather, make you make it.
You’ll buy the kit and then make her a nice sushi meal for dinner after work. This kit has everything you need supply-wise like rice powder, sesame seeds, rice, and even a rolling mat. You’ll have all the basic supplies, but you’ll still need to buy some fresh items as they can’t be shipped.
The directions teach you how to roll sushi like a sushi chef. Perfect for date night to show your GF you care. Now that’s an effortful gift.
What makes it a great gift:
- Makes 64 pieces
- Perfect for making dinner for the girlfriend
- Comes with all the basic supplies you need
- Directions included for easy sushi rolls
8. Scented Candle Kit
Buy this kit and you’ll be able to make her a set of scented candles.
Candles. How do they work?
Well, this DIY kit teaches you how to make them. But you’ll still probably wonder how they work.
You can make some nice candles that come in a variety of colors and scents, like lavender, coconut, cotton, and vanilla. Each kit makes 4 unique candles in different colors and scents.
The trick here is to carve her name into them, or write some personalized message on the back of each one. Then she can use them in the bathtub or bedroom.
Just the fact that you attempted to make her candles will have her blushing with gush.
What makes it a great gift:
- Make 4 candles
- Unique scents
- Requires effort
- She’ll be able to enjoy them after you make them
How to choose an effortful gift
The trick is to buy her something that’s not generic.
This means flowers, teddy bears, and chocolate. Get her something that shows you did some thinking and took the extra step- not something you just found at Target in the gift aisle.
You’ll want to think about certain characteris about her and buy a present that’s actually relatable to her.
Not something random that’s stereotypically accepted by society.
Things to consider when deciding:
- What are her hobbies?
- What’s she enthusiastic about?
- Does she appreciate DIY stuff?
- Does she like experiences or material goods?
Every girl is different, so you’ll have to do some thinking. But hey- that’s effort, right? And that’s exactly why you’re here in the first place.
Additional resources
Fun fact
The average cost of being in a relationship is $600 a year for 70% of people.
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