Gifts can literally make or break a relationship.
Get your current fling something too closely tied to an obscure inside joke you both laughed at for a total of 7 seconds a month ago, and you run the risk of coming off as too clingy. Buy a generic yet expensive prezzie like perfume/cologne or jewellery, and you’ll have your long-term partner questioning whether the last few years have been a simulation.
It’s a tricky game, and with Christmas coming up, I can guarantee there are more than a few of you out there currently sweating over what to gift your full-time boo/ summer love/ future wifey. Which is a good thing, because ultimately it means you care and want to make sure your honey feels special.
Luckily, in a world where everything is stressful, online shopping lords Klarna are here to make the whole ride a lot easier. Their app is stacked with a budget-friendly buy-now-pay-later feature, price drop notifications and allows you to shop various wish lists. It takes a lot of the headache out of the equation.
So, if you’re a little confused as to how much you should be forking out for your SO’s gift this year, here’s a guide to give you a few ideas, based on how long you’ve been together.
Fresh AF
I’m talking 1-3 months. You haven’t even fought yet. You’ve probably never even met the parents. Christmas might be your introduction to the family, so you’re going to want to make good.
Going for a ~cool~ gift to impress with you impeccable cultural taste that doesn’t completely break the bank during this period is an easy win – their favourite album on vinyl, a film camera or even a pair of classic kicks like AF1s is an easy win (extra points if it’s something that hints to future dates too). Don’t splurge, but anything around the $50-$150 price range will keep you in the good books.
It’s also imperative you’ve got their distinct interests in mind here too – if you’re not so clued in yet on their niche loves (you’re not completely committed yet, so that’s cool), Klarna has got wish lists for everything from skincare essentials, to gaming must-haves that you can shop too.
The Honeymooners
Ah yes, the blissful honeymoon period. You’ve overcome all the awkward stuff, but you’ve yet to hit a real bump in the road. It’s lovely, lap it up sunshine. Personally, I reckon this era spans anywhere between 5 months to a year and a half.
You’re probably going to want to spend a touch more this time around, but also integrate a little bit of personal flair to mark whatever milestone you’ve passed in the relationship. A photo album of polaroids you’ve taken or getting a gig ticket framed is an easy way to get sentimental, and that doesn’t have to be expensive.
On that note then, you’ll probably want to amp up the non-handmade gift side of things, so do some super sleuthing and surprise with a more ~expensive~ gift you know they’d never buy themselves.
Settled
This is probably anywhere between 2 to 3 and a half-ish years. You’ve probably seen it all by this point and are in it for the long run, so good job.
It’s been a rough year, so couples are probably yearning for a bit of quality time together that doesn’t involve Pad See Ew stained tracksuit pants and Netflix. Go halves on a bougie as hell staycation or a luxe night away. Then, gift each other with something fancy-AF to wear on the occasion.
Since you’re looking to fork out on extra cash on a designer piece, you might want to sign up for Klarna‘s price drop notifications to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible. You’ll want to spend big, but not break the bank.
You’re Basically Married
This is for anyone who’s passed the 5-year mark or the 7-year itch. Look, you’ve probably written your own rule book at this point, and you’re definitely stuck enough in your habits that you know exactly what the go is.
You’re also probably at a point where you’re comfortable with asking for exactly what you want. On Klarna, you can share your own personal wish lists with your boo, to ensure you’re both satisfied the morning of the 25th. However, if you’re looking to throw in a few surprises here and there, sussing out stores on the app like ASOS, MECCA, Apple, JD Sports and more is an easy way to zhuzh things up.
