Giving gifts really isn’t the easiest thing to do. Sure, you’ll feel all fuzzy inside because it’s better to give than receive, but how do you go about it for your significant other? Do you go all out and buy the diamond earrings, or do you save some dough and make something yourself? It’s a thin line to tread without becoming nervous, thinking you’ve picked the wrong thing.

Human relations junior Sam Holmes has been dating her boyfriend Glen for one year and three months. Like other couples, she’s had to decide just what to get her guy while keeping it kosher with the amount of time they’ve spent together.

“I think that giving gifts has a lot to do with what kind of person you are dating and how long you have been dating the person,” Holmes says. “Like for our one month anniversary? He got me a Nerf gun and we had Nerf battles at his house. It was awesome.”

Holmes likes to give little gifts to either help Glen through his day or just to remind him she cares. But when it comes to holiday gift giving, well, that’s a little more difficult.

“Last Christmas, Glen and I had been dating for about six months and things were starting to get more serious,” she says. “I ended up getting him a medium-sized box from Hobby Lobby that had a picture of like a map or globe-looking thing on it – our dream is to travel the world together.”

This gift, she says, corresponded with something unique about them as a couple as well as their time together. She also believes it doesn’t hurt to go with something practical.

“On the more practical side, I also got him a nice dress shirt and other little things that I knew he needed around the house. Like socks, his always had holes in them,” she says.

According to Holmes, no matter if your guy is the kind who collects electronics, plays a lot of Xbox or loves sports, there is no problem with getting them a little something unique and practical.

For couples who have been together for a much longer time, the formula doesn’t differ from newer couples. Daniel Jones, microbiology senior, is engaged to his fiancée, the woman of his dreams since high school. Jones says he tends to buy bigger, more romantic gifts as relationships grow and age.

“The key has always been creating a gradient over time, only improving upon previous gifts,” Jones says. “Start small and get bigger, that kind of thing. Oddly enough, I thought in advance the whole time, which I had never done before, and it seems to have definitely paid off. I fear the engagement ring can’t be topped, though.”

Jones is planning on buying his fiancée Aimee Dilley something of the more material variety this holiday, something he tends to do on birthdays and anniversaries.

“Traditionally, the type of gift I get her depends on the occasion,” he says. “When we first started dating, I wanted to keep the gifts small yet sweet like a picture and frame, or even a couple of paintings. When we had our one year (anniversary), I made her a big collage of pictures from throughout the first year and some flowers.”

Dilley thinks Jones’ gifts are romantic and thoughtful, which isn’t a feat too hard to accomplish. Dilley says it all comes with getting to know your significant other.

“As we have grown together and gotten to know each other, I think we have gotten better at gift giving. I love surprises and Daniel hates surprises,” Dilley says. “Now we have learned. He always tries to surprise me and I just try to figure out what he really wants. I let him pick out his own gifts now.”

Whether relationships are new or old, couples always have options when it comes to shopping. According to both couples, romance is always a key piece to the gift. And if they are too picky, take Dilley’s advice and let them pick it out themselves. It’s all about their happiness, right?