If you read most stories about gift giving, you’d think men have one of the most impossible jobs in the world. So many articles focus on helping guys pick a gift for a woman.

Of course, women can have it tough too, as we guys aren’t always successful in providing hints. And since most guys aren’t looking for highly romantic gifts on Valentine’s Day; something practical or fun will work just as well, which can further complicate things. Here are a few suggestions.

Alcohol Connoisseur

If your significant other enjoys a drink after work, you have quite a few options for an under $40 gift for Valentine’s Day. If your guy likes microbrews, many liquor stores allow you to mix and match different beers in six-packs, giving you a nice assortment to try.

We’ve collected some good deals on beer pub glasses at Ben’s Bargains that would make a great gift to add to your basement bar.

If you’re looking for hard liquor options instead, the Homemade Gin Kit is an interesting idea, allowing you to make up to 750ml of gin at home. You provide the vodka, and the kit will help you create gin.

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Golfer

Golf balls are a great under $40 Valentine’s Day gift, but understand that many golfers are very picky about the brand and model of ball they use. (And, yes, most of us understand we’re not good enough players for the golf ball brand to matter much, but we’re still picky.) If you want to make sure to buy the right brand of golf balls, check your husband’s golf bag and see which type of ball he uses most often.

For a golfer who could use some help with his swing — even if he can’t admit it — we’ve collected some nice bargains on swing training devices that are worth considering.

If your husband likes to golf in all kinds of weather, a jacket that he can wear that doesn’t inhibit movement is a handy option, such as the Under Armour 1/4 Zip jacket. The lightweight fabric also keeps you warm, and it’s available in seven colors.

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Handyman

For men who like to tinker around the house and work on projects — sometimes even finishing them successfully — a gift of tools and hardware is perfect. We’ve found several good deals on mechanics tool sets, for example, which is a must-have for any handyman who doesn’t have a lot of tools yet.

If he has a battery powered circular saw, maybe a new saw blade would be an appreciated gift; just make sure it matches the model of and size of saw he owns. Working with a newly sharpened saw blade can make a big difference in finishing a project quickly.

One of the most difficult aspects of purchasing tools for a gift is ensuring you aren’t buying something your man already has. So instead of another tool, consider buying hardware that can help him work more efficiently, such as an LED headlamp. Our favorite in this price range is the GRDE Zoomable model, which has a rechargeable battery. And it can be worn on the head or attached to the waste, making it versatile.

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Outdoorsman

Depending on how much your significant other loves the outdoors, there are quite a few inexpensive gifts you can find for camping, hiking, grilling, and other activities.

Something that most men probably won’t buy for themselves are camping chairs. But having a nice set of camping chairs can make the trip much more comfortable for him (and for you). We at Ben’s Bargains have collected several deals on really comfortable camping chairs.

And everyone who loves the outdoors can use a really nice Swiss Army pocket knife. It’s impossible to beat the classic design, which can be found for a reasonable price in dozens of styles and colors.

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Rec Room Gamer

You can find plenty of reasonably priced gifts for the video gamer. Look for a game or a new controller that matches his system. You may have to go with a game that’s been on the market for a few months, because it will be available at a discount to a newly released title. We’ve collected some great deals on games to fit in that sub-$40 price range.

Some rec rooms are more about the food and drink experience than the actual gaming. If this is the case for your significant other, try some of the alcohol gift ideas we mentioned earlier.

If you have a small rec room, a dart board is a great option. Electronic soft-tip dartboards are great for dart novices, as they keep score for you and the plastic-tipped darts won’t put holes in your walls when you miss the board (unless you throw darts as hard as Aroldis Chapman throws fastballs). A reasonably priced, yet versatile electronic dartboard is the Fat Cat 727, offering 18 games with 96 variations and six soft-tipped darts.

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Techie

For those guys who appreciate tech-related gifts, headphones are available in a variety of shapes and sizes now, meeting different audio needs. We’ve put together an extensive list of deals on headphones at Ben’s Bargains for you.

If you’re ready to cut the cord from your cable or satellite TV provider, a streaming media stick, such as Amazon Fire, is available in the sub-$40 price range.

And it never hurts to have a portable power station available, allowing him to charge all of his personal tech devices when traditional power sources aren’t available. Our favorite in this price category is the Villain 20000 mAh portable external battery charger, allowing for powering multiple devices at once. And it has LED lights for working in the dark.

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Weekend Warrior

If your significant other fancies himself a weekend warrior athlete, purchasing a set of ice packs for the inevitable pulled muscles probably isn’t a gift that will be well received. Instead, use your $40 to hire a neighborhood kid to do the outside chores at your house for a weekend or two, freeing up your husband for a couple of days to enjoy whatever sport he chooses … hopefully injury free.

For the runner, a new pair of running shoes is always appreciated. You will have to shop around to find a pair as a sub-$40 gift for Valentine’s Day, but low priced, quality shoes are out there. We’ve put together a list of good bargains on running shoes for you.

A weekend warrior who’s playing beach volleyball or softball, or who is a runner or cyclist, can make use of a nice pair of sunglasses. We like the Duduma Polarized Sports Sunglasses at this price point, which features 10 styles/colors and an unbreakable frame. The lenses offer protection against UVA and UVB rays too.

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Off the Wall Romantic Gifts

If you’re looking for something a little different this Valentine’s Day — and something that has a bit of romance to it — try these final three ideas.

Is your significant other a Lego fan? And does he have all of The Lego Batman Movie kits already? Try the Lego Valentine Cupid Dog kit. It’s definitely different.

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Another fun option is the Love Lotto book, which contains 100 scratch-off “lottery” tickets with romantic winning messages. Pair it with some new lingerie — in your size, not his — and you have a gift that he’s sure to enjoy.

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Finally, nothing says you can’t use flowers or fancy chocolates as a Valentine’s Day gift for men. Or maybe your significant other would appreciate a non-flower bouquet that contains candy bars or cut up fruit. Flip the tables and send him a Valentine’s gift like this at his office for a change of pace that’ll almost certainly catch him off guard.

8 Valentine’s Day Gifts for Dudes Under $40

Wait just a minute, is Valentine’s Day actually easier for guys than we think? According to the results of our Valentine’s Day survey of 1,500 consumers, the answer is yes. Here’s why:

• The Plan: Nearly 7 out of 10 women would prefer to make Valentine’s Day plans as a joint decision rather than simply doing what men organized for the night. Less than 50 percent of men thought the same. While men still need to bring some ideas to the table, simply having a chat with your significant other can significantly reduce the stress of planning a romantic night.
• The Bill: While nearly two-thirds of men believe it’s their duty to pick up the check, more than 40 percent of women believe that the couple should split the cost of all Valentine’s Day expenses right down the middle. Once again, a quick conversation about splitting the dinner bill before going out on Valentine’s Day night can help reduce stress over the budget.
• The Date: A night out for dinner was the top choice among both men and women when we asked what they wanted on Valentine’s Day, so you really can’t go wrong with a night out on the town. In addition, more than 70 percent of women indicated that they either like or love Valentine’s Day compared to only 40 percent of men. Even if men don’t like the holiday, just making an effort can go a long way to making their significant other happy.

Successfully Avoid These Common Mistakes

It’s obvious that guys are probably assuming too many responsibilities for Valentine’s Day, thus the stress builds. A little communication will probably go a long way to reducing that stress. However, beware of some potential minefields such as:

• The Benjamins: Don’t assume that she will spend the same amount of money that you are planning to spend on her. According to our survey results, approximately 38 percent of men are planning to spend over $100 on Valentine’s Day, more than 10 percent over $200. Alternatively, only 20 percent of women will be spending over $100 and 46 percent will spend less than $50. If you do chat about splitting the bill, make sure you talk about budget as well.
• The Perfect Gift: Think about what she actually wants and would make her happy. If you are thinking lingerie, think again. First off, that’s a gift enjoyed by men. Secondly, it ranked at the bottom of our survey results along with impersonal gift cards and electronics. A card and a thoughtful gift will go a long way and avoid the situation depicted by Saturday Night Live in the video here.

• The Perfect Gift, Part Deux: Don’t assume that she will purchase what you really want for Valentine’s Day. According to our study, the Valentine’s Day gift that’s most sought after by men, after a night out, was electronics. Unfortunately, only 4 percent of women are considering electronics as a gift this year. In other words, drop some hints.
• The Admiral Ackbar: Did she tell you that she didn’t want a gift this year? You should probably play this on a loop for the next hour.

Plan the Day like a Pro

If men really want to impress their significant other, you can knock it out of the park by focusing on two areas, the flowers and the dinner. Everything else will fall into place.

According to our survey data, women want flowers nearly as much as a night out. It beat out receiving a card, candy or jewelry, so here are a few tips on the floral front.

• The Florist: If you have time, visit your local florist and buy local. Florists are likely to take the best care of flowers, compared to warehouse or grocery stores. While prices may be higher, there’s usually room for bargaining at a locally owned shop.
• The Speed Test: When buying online, fast shipping is vital. Roses, for instance, are kept in refrigerated chambers, typically less than 36 degrees. The moment that they are removed and shipped, you want to receive them ASAP to avoid wilting. Use online deals on the flowers to help offset the cost of fast shipping.

• The Options: Don’t assume that you have to get roses. There are plenty of other flowers in season and the money you spend on flowers will go much further. Flowers like orchids, jasmine and hyacinth tend to be cheaper during February. You can always pick up a single red rose and deliver it during the date.
• The Right Color: If you do go with roses, you need to buy red. Not pink, not orange, not white. Not lavender, not coral, not peach. And if you purchase yellow roses, just pack up your things and get ready to set sail into the friend zone. While whoever assigned these arbitrary meanings to rose colors was probably a sadist, it’s impossible to ignore at this point. Just buy red.

[table caption=”Valentine’s Day Flower Deals” width=”620″ colwidth=”5|20|65|10″ colalign=”center|center|center|center”]

,Store,Deal,Price

1,Living Social,$30 1-800-Flowers Credit,$13

[/table]

So you’ve got the flowers down? Let’s move on to dinner. Here are a few tips to help plan your night.

• The Empty Wallet: If you are light on funds, consider cooking dinner for your significant other. Better yet, plan the entire menu and ask her to help you cook. You can go a long way with candles on the dinner table and a home-cooked meal. If you must go out, consider opening up a bottle of champagne or wine at home first in order to offset the additional cost of alcohol at dinner.
• The Packed Joint: If you haven’t booked a place yet, you need to book now. A week or two in advance is best, but you might be able to get away with a few days. In any case, you won’t be able to make a reservation on the morning of February 14. You can also try OpenTable’s mobile app to search for last minute openings. In addition, beware of special menus since many restaurants increase prices on Valentine’s Day.

• The Ambiance: Trying to book a reservation at the trendy, expensive spot in town? Why bother if it’s loud? Look for a place where you can have a conversation without yelling over the noise. That will help in the romance department as well.
• The Home Run: Combine dinner and flowers into a one-two punch. Many restaurants will agree to special requests like bringing a large bouquet of flowers to the table when you arrive or at the end of the meal. If you are light on funds, consider dropping off your card at the restaurant early and having the waitstaff tuck it into her menu as a surprise.

In conclusion, stick to the game plan above and you will have a stress-free Valentine’s Day. There’s really not that much to stress out about if you stick to the basics.

This is why guys shouldn’t dislike Valentine’s Day