Chicago Museum of Science and Industry photo What do men want for Christmas?
This Christmas I found plenty of presents for my female friends but finding nice inexpensive presents for my male friends had limited choices. Cologne, underwear and socks. Ties as gifts are a joke. And none of the inexpensive colognes were any good. What we need is good presents for men that don't cost a fortune. Which man wouldn't like a new computer or other gadget, but most people can't afford to give such gifts to friends.
Small appliances--for women
Perfume--for women
Dainties--for women
Jewelry--for women
Lotions--for women (insult to men)
Slippers--for women (couldn't find large men's slippers)
Flowers--for women
Candy--for women
So, it is obvious that buying for the men in your life, without a big budget, is a problem. Tools are a great gift but some men don't use them---like most everybody in New York.
Your mission, if you decide to take it, is to create good gifts for men. Please invent gifts that aren't jokes and gifts that won't get re-gifted back to you next year. All, that you can price inexpensively and not lose money.
Basically, what do men want that's inexpensive. I can't read minds, so you find out and I will look forward to the result next year at Christmas.
Joke gifts are fun for the moment, but unless it can be put on, used for some purpose or made for dinner, it probably will go into a closet or just add to the clutter on the coffee table. Things to play with on the coffee table are more appreciated.
Suggestions:
Jewelry: Silver whistles on chains to summon a cab. A pleasant sound would be appreciated.
Good cologne in smaller bottles that we can afford for friends.
Flowers for men--terrarium with Venus fly trap with food. Make it decorative.
Things to make your life easier when the end of the world comes, to keep in apartment or car.
Emergency kits with start-in-wet-weather matches
Camping equipment
Medical kits
Maps of National Parks and nearby roads
Survival and camping books
Older men want testosterone, so invent something for them that doesn't need a prescription.
Things of scientific and educational interest.
Predator insects or spiders in plastic
Useful things made from alligators and snakes
Poisonous plants in plastic--poison sumac is very beautiful in fall
Valuable rocks in their raw uncut state
Objects of art made out of colored shapes of iron behind glass with a magnet attached. Do it yourself art.
Something styled like old whiskey crockery and instructions on how to hold for drinking properly.
Canned unusual foods like squid or weird shell fish meat. I have a can of conch meat I have saved for years. Include a recipe. Wild game meat like deer or wild boar would be interesting. Don't endanger species, but dangerous and plentiful animals, canned, might be of interest. The Travel channel is full of shows on the weird food people eat around the world. Some people might want a taste of the unusual, once in a while. Gifts is where savory spicing in a can is an asset. Can it and gift it.
Strange spices from around the world. Just add some custom Indian curry to rice and savor the heavenly taste and aroma. Spice mixtures from the South Seas are hard to find and are wonderful. Always include recipes. They don't have to be spicy hot because these strange and tasty spices are not duplicated in the USA and don't have to be hot to be an unusual treat.
Spicy candy just for men.
Things with secret compartments. Rings, billfolds, key rings where you can stow emergency money or a treasure map.
