6 Perfect Gifts for Every Relationship Stage
By Jeff Cohen
Special to Yahoo! Personals
Updated: Nov 21, 2009
There's a big difference between the right gift for a casual couple versus a monogamous couple. Learn the different relationship stages and the right gift for each stage. Here are some tips for success:
The Casual CoupleIn a casual relationship you need to prove you know something about your partner based on the limited time you've been together. Buying new skis for someone who hates the cold is a
surefire relationship killer
surefire relationship killer. Go for something simple that shows you know their taste -- a CD of their favorite music, or tickets to see their favorite sports team in action.
Once you've had "the talk," it's time to send a positive signal about the potential longevity of your relationship together. The best way to communicate interest is to book something far in advance with your partner. This shows them that you're committed to spending the birthday or holiday with them. Tickets to a show or a romantic dinner and a movie would be a great move.
The Monogamous CoupleIf there is one time to blow the budget, it's the relationship stage. We're not talking about spending so much you need to take out a second mortgage on your home. But venturing into jewelry or even a vacation together shows your commitment.
The Engaged CoupleOnce you're engaged it means you plan to spend the rest of your lives together. This is the perfect time to buy a gift that signifies the road ahead. Examples include a keepsake for a potential new home together or
a sentimental scrapbook to keep future memories
a sentimental scrapbook to keep future memories.
When you've been together for years, think sentimental and you can't go wrong. How about a fun date where you first met? Or book the same room where you spent your honeymoon. Bringing back those memories of the early relationship will help rekindle a spark.
The Couple with KidsGive your partner the gift of time away from parental responsibility by hiring a babysitter or asking a friend/relative to watch the kids. This will give you time to remember what it was like before your bundle of joy arrived.
Jeff Cohen is the author of "
Dating, Inc.," a that shows women a step-by-step plan for finding true love using the same skills that already make them successful at work. Jeff has appeared on CNN, CBS, and Voice of America, and been interviewed by USA Today, Daily News, Denver Post, the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Herald, and Martha Stewart Living Radio. He earned degrees in marketing from the Wharton School of Business and psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and readily admits taking charge of his love life through a game plan that included 77 blind dates before he found the one.
