How To Get Your Partner To Buy You The Perfect Gift This Christmas

Unwrapping a surprise on Christmas Day is tummy fluttering as much as it is stomach churning; we hope that our loved ones know us well enough to find a gift that will put a smile on our face - rather than a look of bewilderment. Although a slowcooker and matching tea towel may seem like a good idea at the time, the truth is we all want to be indulged in a way that makes us feel special. If your partner (or loved ones in general) is a bit useless at picking out something you'll genuinely love and use, then you may want to give them a helping hand. It's widely understood that male and female brains work differently, so it's worth taking into account how we process information in order to understand if those hints are really sticking. (Spoiler: they're probably not.) What's a really obvious hint to you may not be to them, while a thoughtful gift to them may seem like an insulting nightmare to you. I'm a firm believer in providing a short list of suggestions, rather than leaving them to their own devices and getting all in a tizz - this way I've ended up with gifts I've treasured and used all year round, rather than things that end up stuck in the spare room never to be used again. If you're wondering how to get your partner to buy you the perfect gift this festive season, then I've some bits of advice to help you on your way.

If you've seen things you'd really love to receive over the festive period, get out those post-its and highlighter pens and mark them all out. Whether it's the Argos, Boux Avenue, Space NK or M&S brochure, it's a good way to pinpoint bits and bobs you're after without having to actually say it out loud. Strategically leave them lying around and hope you're partner picks them up and has a flick while waiting for the Playstation to load. 

Christmas shopping can be a laborious task, but there are ways to make it fun. Inviting your partner along for a trip to buy *them* things gives you a good excuse to point out items you love too, breaking it up with regular coffee stops to reflect upon what you've seen. It's like a double bluff with good intentions - they'll never catch on to what you're up to, but they'll have lots of ideas to follow up on. 

START A WISHLIST 

With so many retailers now having 'wishlist' functions on site, it's easy to curate a list of items and share it with loved ones. There are even platforms that allow you to curate lists from around the web and get your friends input, making those purchasing decisions even easier. Whether you curate a selecion of goodies and leave your computer strategically placed with the screen on show, or take the direct approach and email it over, the result will (hopefully) be the same.

I'm getting much more into Pinterest at the moment, particularly as it's full of festive inspiration, but it's also the perfect place to create a Christmas wishlist to provide a little inspiration for those that need it. Whether you choose to pin items directly from websites, or curate a selection of dreamy things to get your partner's brain ticking, it's a fun way to past the time while having a productive outcome too.

Although the last time you may have gotten your best friend to tell your boyfriend something on your behalf was Year 5, passing on a message may be the easiest way to ensure they get the hint. Ask your mate to offer up some tips and suggestions on your behalf, tricking your other half into thinking it was all their idea from the start. Sneaky.

Worried that your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/partner just won't get to grips with anything you suggest? Just have an outright conversation. We can be simple creatures that have a tendency to also overthink a lot of things, but put simply we all want to buy our loved ones gifts that will make them happy. There's absolutely no shame in just asking for something - because it makes their job so much easier. 

Do you like to employ some sneaky tactics to ensure you get what you want at Christmas, or do you just hope for the best and return the things you don't like?