What She Really Wants For Christmas (Hint, It's Not You)

Buying a girl a Christmas present is similar to running across an open field with someone shooting at you, while you avoid the landmines. Yes, it's not very fun. Get it right and you'll go down in great boyfriend history, get it wrong though, and you've earned yourself a one-way ticket to verbal abuse for the next five months. The last thing you want to hear is 'you really shouldn't have'. This is what she really wants for Christmas and here's a hint, it's not you...

 1) Tickets To Something

This is always a great idea. Not only does it give her something to look forward to, but it means that you have yourself a recipe for the perfect date. Whether she's into comedy, music, theater or exhibitions, she's bound to like this gift. Plus, you can get some pretty good deals on tickets now, especially if it's short notice. See Ticketmaster for some inspiration.

2) That Bag She's Been Hinting About For Months

Girls and bags go together like tea and toast. A great combination that's difficult to mess up. Ninety-five percent of women love a good handbag, whether they'll admit it or not. Give a woman a great bag and watch her eyes light up faster than a tree on Christmas Eve. If you're unsure of what one to get her, bring a girlfriend or your sister along, because getting a shit bag is worse than getting no bag at all. River Island is usually a good place to start.

3) A Netflix Subscription

If she doesn't have Netflix, then give her the great gift that is procrastination itself. There's fewer things better in life than sitting back and binge watching an entire series in one go. She'll thank you for it in the long run. The best part? It starts from a measly €7.99 a month.

4) A Spotify Premium Subscription

Yes, so Spotify is free, at least, partly free. What we did in a time before Spotify is beyond me. That said, those pesky ads interrupting your tunes can become more than a little annoying. That's why she'll more than thank you for introducing her to a world without someones loud voice cutting into her emotional song choices. It's only €9.99 a month for Spotify Premium and even better is the fact that she can listen offline too. Winning.

5) A Magazine Subscription

Some girls, admittedly, aren't into magazines. Others, myself included, buy an average of ten a month and enjoy nothing more than kicking back with the latest woman fest and a cup of tea. Buy her a yearly subscription and you might even reap some of the advice benefits yourself. We won't tell. See Cosmopolitan or Glamour and you'll be in the great books for months to come.

6) Flights To Somewhere Random

If I could choose, this would be my favorite, most ideal present of all. Sure, as students you can't afford to jet off to Singapore at the drop of a hat, but then again, there are some amazingly cheap flights to some great places in Europe that you should most definitely not overlook. I flew over and back to Germany last year for less than fifty quid. Plus, this means you'll have a trip to look forward to and a new place to explore. See our guide for inspiration and then visit Ryanair for some bargain flights.

7) Bling, Any Bling

Now I'm not suggesting that you buy her a diamond cluster ring and get her hopes up or anything, but a little jewellery is bound to get her heart a fluttering. You can get great offers around now and there's nothing like opening a present only to be greeted with some sparkle. Try Pandora or Alex & Ani for something on the more affordable side.

8) Something Personal

Spending a vast amount of money on her isn't the way to go here. Sure, showing her that she's worth something is nice and all, but getting a bottle of perfume that costs more than our weekly budget, when we don't even like the smell is pointless and shit for everyone. Go personal and it'll mean so much more. Put together a photo album for her, get her favourite book signed, print off her favourite pictures and make her some wall art, get her a print of her favourite painting. Whatever takes your fancy. Printstagram is a great place to start.

9) A Pampering Session

Every girl loves to feel pampered and Christmas is no exception to this. After weeks of late nights, study sessions, bad food, too much caffeine and the inevitable shower of alcohol afterwards, she's bound to be feel more than a little rough afterwards. Groupon do some great offers on Spas and beauty treatments, so keep an eye out. Alternatively, give her a gift with a longer life span and sign her up to something like Glossybox where, every month, a box full of beauty products are delivered right to her door. You'll be scooping up the brownie points for months to come, I promise.

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