Gift-giving is one of the most rewarding and least executed activities in many relationships. There are so many distractions in our busy lives that it can be hard for many husbands and wives to even think about buying gifts for their romantic partner, especially when it’s not a special holiday. However, gift-giving is a powerful symbol of your love for someone. The gift doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, just buying an everyday item for the house that you think would be useful to your spouse could turn their whole day around. Giving your spouse a small gift is a small gesture that will go a very long way and will also go to good use. Here are 15 things for your spouse you’ll wish you’d bought years ago.
A Journal
If your spouse doesn’t keep a journal, you should buy them one and encourage them to write in it. It’s important that they are able to get their feelings out and one way they can do this is by writing them down in a private place. You’d be surprised how therapeutic journaling can be. At the end of each log, encourage them to write down five things they’re thankful for that day and five things they find beautiful about themselves. Repeating these affirmations will remind them how important they really are daily. If you’re looking for a quality, affordable start, try this notebook from Bangma.
Positive Review: I have been using this notebook every day for the past two months. I've filled up around sixty pages or so. I take it with me back and forth to work, so it's been subject to getting bumped around, yet shows no visible signs of wear. The elastic strap is holding up well despite being used multiple times per day. I also store a fountain pen in the pen loop which so far hasn't lost any of its elasticity. – Ryne
A Microfiber Cloth Set
Microfiber cloths are great for cleaning, particularly because they are highly absorbent. This is because the fabric is designed to hold a great deal of water on a small square foot of cloth. Car enthusiasts have long understood their superior drying ability and you can still find them in large bundles in the automotive section of any store. There are just some tasks other cloths can’t clean! Consider buying this big pack of microfiber cloths from Simple Houseware.
Positive Review: They are light and of good quality. I love the fact that I can clean my windows without Windex and paper towels. Just moisten the microfiber cloth, wipe the window glass, and then dry with another microfiber cloth and the windows are totally clean with no chemicals--just water and elbow grease. – D. Williams
A Portable Charger
You don’t know how valuable a portable charger is until your phone or tablet loses battery life when you’re not near an outlet and you desperately need to charge it. This is why everyone needs to purchase a portable charger so they’re never in a situation where they can’t turn their device back on. These are especially good for every form of travel. It’s also good to consider a portable charger with multiple ports so that others can use while you’re using (they will ask!). Consider this portable charger from Anker.
Positive Review: What I love the most about this power bank is how effective it's been. The power bank itself requires at least 2 hours to charge from empty to full but once charged, your phone will charge to full in less time. As a result, I haven't charged my phone using a wall outlet since I bought this power bank more than a week ago. Not having to worry about my phone going dead or being near a wall outlet is the best feeling next to purchasing a new phone. – Patrick
A Dish Squeegee
This is the product you didn’t know you needed until you had it. Buying the right dish squeegee can help clear leftover food off dishes with a simple swipe. The dish squeegee can also be used to clean fruits and vegetables with ease. These are shaped for control and generally feature a non-slip, comfortable grip which makes these very easy to use. They are also bacteria resistant which makes them very safe to use. Consider purchasing this dish squeegee from FusionBrands.
Positive Review: I love this little scrubber for cleaning softer fruits and veggies and mushrooms. It is gentle yet effective. It is very flexible which makes it my choice for cleaning carrots. I don’t like having a bunch of gimmicky kitchen items, but this one is worth having. – It’s Just Me
A Shoe-Cleaning Kit
Shoe cleaning may sound like an old school practice, but it is truly timeless. Your shoes should always be clean and giving your spouse the gift of a shoe-cleaning kit will allow them to be prepared to take care of any shoe needs at any given time. It’ll definitely be a product that will come to good use. Consider this shoe-cleaning kit from Crep Protect.
Positive Review: This is a very handy cleaning kit that has all you need to give your shoes a spring clean. The kit comes in a great travel case and the packaging is very well presented. The brush is a good size and bristle strength, as some have said in previous reviews, the brush may be a little harsh for softer more delicate fabrics but for my applications it was perfect. The solution goes a long way and foams up really well. It isn't bleach so it isn't going to miraculously make your shoes instantly new, but with some patience and work you can give them a really good refresh. – Smithmeister
A Copy of “The 5 Love Languages”
Learning the way you and your partner express and interpret love is one of the best things you can do for your relationship. Whether your marriage is in a really strong place or a really weak place, knowing each other’s love language will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your partner. Gary Chapman, author of “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts,” encourages you and your partner to discover each other's love language so that you can understand how you both communicates and loves best. Once you know your partner’s love language, you will know what makes them tick and respond accordingly.
Positive Review: It is definitely a good book for couples and it has improved my relationship with my wife. If nothing else it shows you what things your partner is really looking for out of their spouse. I quickly found that my love language was "Acts of Service". Though it might not be sexy or macho to say that, it means more to me to have the dishes and laundry done when I come home after work or have minor home improvements taken care of before I get home. My wife and I have 2 small children and our house is hard to stay clean because every room feels like a mess. We do clean it all the time but it feels like a losing battle. My wife's love language is "Words of Affirmation". As you can tell from all these Amazon reviews I am much more of a writer than I am a talker. My wife is always looking for me to say how much I love and appreciate her because I don't say it often enough. – Kelly Groce
Sonicare Toothbrush
Some people think a toothbrush is simply a toothbrush. Well, your thoughts might change when you buy your first Sonicare toothbrush. This will change the way your spouse cares for their teeth. These are especially great to buy after your spouse went in for a routine visit or had dental work done. This will help them keep up with their dental care the way they should.
Positive Review: I've only used this product once and I'm already prepared to give it a 5 star rating. I've been using a cheap ~$10 oral-B electric toothbrush from Walmart for a few years now and decided to upgrade. This sonicare toothbrush is an insane difference. I turned off the easy start so that I could get the full effect and I'm thourougly impressed. It will vibrate your entire face it is so strong. The 2 minute timer is too short for me but I just run through the cycle twice, not worth taking a star off as this is personal preference and does not cause any trouble to use for more than one cycle. For $40 and a 2.5 year warranty I'm positive I will be happy in the long run. – Adarbonne
A Digital Tire Inflator
Keeping your car tires properly inflated is an easy maintenance chore that’s vital for your safety. Under-inflated tires build up excess heat as you drive which can result in tire failure. The last thing you want is for your spouse’s tire to go flat on the side of the road. One way to be prepared for this is to purchase a digital tire inflator which can help you in some really sticky and important situations. Consider this tire inflator from Audew.
Positive Review: That is the first time I have the urge to write a review at the moment when I use a device. I always thought anything about the car, just ask the automobile repairer。 As a girl, I have nothing knowledge about the car, therefore, when I encounter the problem of tire pressure which result from the cold weather, my first response is going to the dealer. However, one of my friend told me there has a device which is easy to use. I ordered it from amazon just in Case because the cold weather. My sister told me her tire pressure was low and wanna try it with my device. The only three word i can describe is " easy, easy, and easy". Only three steps, which is insert, set, turn on". They can stop inflation by itself. Easy, it is like a point & shoot cameras. Easy to use. –Bizhen Liu
An AncestryDNA Test
Have you ever wondered where your family really came from? Many people have questions about their background and their ethnic origins. While we may not know a lot about our history, today anyone can discover what their ethnic origins are going back to 500-1,000 years or more by taking an AncestryDNA test. They combine DNA and family trees which provide a tool that can help us answer the questions we have about our story.
Positive Review: I received the new Ancestry kit as a gift and I loved it. It taught me interesting information about my heritage (I'm almost 50% English - I thought it was closer to 20%) and even connected me to a third cousin. Together, we discovered that we are connected to George Washington and Princess Dianna. I highly recommend doing this not only for you but for your family as well. Or give it as a gift! – Michael Johnson
A Planner
There are many reasons you should consider buying your spouse a planner. First, it help with time management. If you feel like there is never enough time for everything, you are not alone. One of the reasons you probably feel this way is because you are not scheduling out your time effectively. One of the ways you can begin doing this is by using a daily planner and organizing your life. One of the major benefits is that it will help improve their productivity. If you’re looking for a planner to start with, consider this planner from Panda Planner.
Positive Review: I ordered this with the low expectations of planners that most ADHD'ers have. With most traditional planners, the dates are all filled in, meaning that if you miss one day, three, or twenty those pages are all lost. Furthermore, most planners only focus on what you are planning to do, should do, and should have gotten done. This planner totally takes a different tactic which makes a huge difference. This planner forces you to not only consider the things you got done, the things you didn't, but also asks you to consider your wins for the day, the things you are grateful for, and includes some built in positivity as well as asking you to consider ways that you could improve. So far, I really love it and have had no issues with the ink or pages that others have mentioned. – Prometheus Lass
A Heated Blanket
Heated blankets are life-changing, especially during the winter months. They are also good for cramps and aches. Also, if you and your spouse are worried about high energy bills, one way to escape the chill is by buying an electric blanket. Generally, electric blankets, which disperse heath through built-in wires, consume little energy. This is something you and your spouse will both love and appreciate. If you’re looking for a quality heated blanket, consider this blanket from Red Barrel Studio.
Positive Review: Unlike heated blankets that I have had before, this one is very plush, thick and warm, even without being plugged in! Shipping was super fast! I would highly recommend this blanket. It is a little higher priced than others but you get what you pay for and this blanket is worth every cent! – Beth
Personalized Calendars
Personalized calendars are a creative way for family and friends to revisit cherished memories and there's nothing your spouse will cherish more than being able to look at those memories daily. If you don’t have enough pictures to create a 12-month calendar, get creative. For your parents or spouse, include your children’s artwork. You can include favorite memes, quotes or words of motivation in the calendar for friends. Many websites offer free templates online for easy publishing for little to no cost. Consider this personalized calendar from Pinhole Press.
Positive Review: I LOVE this calendar. GREAT quality and I love that it is long, very unique. The pictures are printed in great quality and it was super easy to make with the link that the company sent after i ordered. It also got here about a week early!! Anything that comes early is an A++ in my book! :-) –Dreab25
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
If your spouse loves music or enjoys listening to books and podcasts, noise-cancelling headphones will be a game changer. You probably won’t know the benefits until you try them. Quality noise-cancelling headphones eliminate almost all sound around so this will really help them tune into what they’re listening to and may come in handy when they need some sounds during work. Many noise-canceling headphones are expensive, but these from Tao Tronics are quite affordable compared to many on the market.
Positive Review: I've been using TaoTronic BT buds for a couple years and they are my favorite over several other BT buds. I wanted some traditional earphones that would cover the ears to block sound and to try out Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), which would be a new feature for me. These would be for noisy activities like mowing the lawn I already use full ear covers for anyway. Result - they connect easily, sound great, are comfortable, do protect my hearing from environmental noise, and the ANC does seem to have a positive effect. –Fritz Merkel
A Foldaway Step Stool
Step stools are incredibly useful. There may be something your spouse needs in a high cabinet or on top of the refrigerator that may be difficult to get without a little extra lift. If your spouse is a little on the shorter side, having a foldaway step stool around can be a game-changer. It’ll make accessing things around the house easier and they won’t have to keep bugging you when they need something. Consider purchasing this folding stepping stool from Handy Laundry.
Positive Review: Being the shortest person at work has its advantages....until you need something from the top shelf! I am CONSTANTLY looking for stools at work whenever I need to grab something as I am often alone when I need this task done unfortunately. I also needed something portable being that I am all over a hospital throughout the day dealing with medical supplies on all different kinds of levels...literally I found this one and I am so very thankful for it! I fold it up and put it on my cart and cart it around with me wherever I go. No need to ask for assistance....I got dis! ;). It supports a good amount of weight and it stays put..no sliding around or anything, Then it stores away super easily and onto the next job :). -Ashley
A Reusable Water Bottle
Forget plastic bottled water, reusable water bottles are definitely the way to go. While many people claim to buy bottled water for convenience, filling up a reusable water bottle for a day is more convenient and cost effective than finding a store that sells bottled water and paying for each time. Whether your spouse is at work or on a run, these bottles definitely come in handy. Consider this bottle from Simple Modern Summit.
Positive Review: I ordered 2 of the small ones for my 6 and 9 year old and a larger for my teen. We live in Honolulu and there is no AC in the schools so it gets quite hot. I needed something to keep their water cold all day. After buying cups from a local box store that claimed to keep drinks cold for 16+ hours and failed miserably I ordered these. My kids are so happy! They filled these with ice and water at 7am and when they came home at 3pm the cups were still over 1/2 full of whole pieces of ice. Keep in mind with the smaller cups they are refilling 2-3+ times a day. My oldest still had almost the same ice she left with. This was all day in 80+ degree temps. The small water bottles are the perfect size for little hands. So far I'm extremely happy with this purchase. – Pen Name
The way to make the romance in your relationship stronger is by fully engaging in it. One of those ways is through gift-giving because it shows how much you care. Being romantic isn’t much work, and savoring romantic moments will strengthen your bond. Consider purchasing these gifts not only during special holidays like Valentine's Day and Christmas, but any day of the year.