So what do 30-year-old grown-up men love to get on their birthday? Read on for the perfect gift to give your guy as he says goodbye to his 20s.
Whether he’s a colleague, a friend, your boyfriend, or your husband, you can stop wracking your brain trying to figure out what to get him for the big 3-0. We know that this can be an important milestone in his life, and you want to make it as special for him as you can. Here, we give you a list of 20 specific gift ideas that you can get for him on his 30th birthday.
Something for his stomach
Of course, the way to a man’s heart is still through his stomach, so why not give him something that will satisfy his huge appetite? Cook him something fancy for a birthday dinner *and make yourself the dessert*, or why not satisfy his own penchant for grilling or cooking?
#1 Make it 30. Whether it’s through kinky cupcakes or lingerie-shaped cookies, you can rub in the fact that he’s leaving his 20s behind by getting him 30 of something.
#2 Saucy and hot. Does he have a favorite barbeque sauce, hot sauce, or buffalo wing sauce that he really likes? Why not make some for him and bottle it? Then personalize the bottle by adding your own birthday message on the label.
#3 Feast. Any guy would love to celebrate his big day by eating. A lot. Take him out on the town to his favorite restaurant or rib place, and treat him to a foodgasm. [Read: 13 very romantic dinner date ideas for two]
#4 Home-cooked. Whether it’s a fancy dinner or an afternoon barbeque, prepare a party for him and his closest family and friends at home. Make the menu full of his favorite dishes, and he’ll definitely appreciate all the effort that you put into his day.
#5 Basket case. Who says you can’t give guys a basket of goodies? One of the best things you can give him is a basket of his favorites—whether it’s cold cuts from his favorite butcher, some sausages to grill, the best cheeses to pair with his wine, or a mix of everything, a basket of these goodies will definitely leave him wide-eyed and happy.
#6 Craft beer. Who isn’t drinking craft beer these days? If your man is into craft beer *or just any beer, for that matter* give him a beer kit complete with his favorite brand of beer, a crafty beer opener, and even a beer mug. Maybe you can also throw in a book on how he can make his own beer at home, just in case that’s something he’d like to try going into a new decade of life. [Read: How to think like a man and impress your guy]
#7 Personalized wine. These days, there are many companies that offer customized wine concoctions, which can be great for your wine-loving man. From white to rosé to red, there’s no limit to your choices. If that is too pricey for you, you can just choose a bottle of his choice wine and put your own customized label on it to greet him to his 30s. [Read: Creatively cheap: 12 date ideas to have fun on a budget]
Something for his man cave
Men are cave men through and through, but these days, we’re just referring to their man caves. Almost every guy has one—whether it’s a basement space in their house, their own room, or their whole bachelor pad. You can give him a huge smile on his birthday with these gifts for his man cave.
#8 Leave him hanging. Frame something that is dear to him to hang in his man cave and remind him of how well you know him. Whether it’s a soundwave print of his favorite song, a signed poster of his favorite band, some prints of his travels, or what-have-you, just frame whatever he likes and he’ll definitely be proud to hang it somewhere on his cave wall. [Read: 24 romantic things you should do for your sweet boyfriend]
#9 Pillow talk. Just because he’s all tough and manly doesn’t mean you can’t see through to his soft side. Gift him a trendy, comfy pillow to make his couch potato and TV-surfing hours extra cozy. Or better yet, go all-out with a bedroom set of manly linens and sheets.
#10 Misplacer. If he’s the type who always has to ask you where he left his stuff, then get him something to organize all his junk, from his glasses to his keys, cufflinks, and jeans. Find something that is more his style and goes well with his space, or even something he can put on his office desk. [Read: 13 annoying boyfriend traits and how to avoid them]
#11 Cocktail commando. Get him some bartending gear to make the life of the party even happier, especially on his birthday. From fun coasters that fit his personality to a full-on cocktail set, this can fix him up real good.
#12 Work tools. His man cave does have an extension to his workplace, you know. So give him something that he’ll use for work, such as a functional and ornamental paper weight, a clock, a planner, a pen, or just anything that he will find helpful and functional as he goes through his workday. [Read: The pros and cons of dating a guy who’s handy]
#13 Feed his passion. Whether he is a music lover, a football fan, or a child at heart with his Lego collection, you can definitely make him beam with delight once he unboxes your gift for him. Get him something he can add to his collection or hang on his “shrine.”
Something for his techie side
Your guy may know more about computers and the world-wide-web than you, or he may just be a fan of everything gadgety. So feed that fire by getting him something from this list of techie gifts.
#14 TV couch potato. These days, there are many technologies and gadgets that can make him go gaga, especially if he highly values his TV time. Get him something for his home theater, a set of badass speakers, or an all-in-one smart control that will take care of all of his toys at once.
#15 Workstation wonder. Help lighten up his workload *plus, that means he gets to come home early and spend more time with you* with a few more nifty gadgets. Try a notebook, a tablet, a new smartphone he really likes, a keyboard case, or get him anything off crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo to help him with his productivity. There’s a lot of new, fun, and interesting stuff being churned out through crowdfunding platforms these days. [Read: 6 ways to stop glorifying busy and start living instead]
#16 Audiophile much? If he’s so much into music, you can also get him one of the best sets of headphones around. Find those that cancel out ambient noise and have great reviews online—those are your best bets.
#17 Game nerd. If you want to bring tears to the eyes of your gamer man, then get him something that will fulfill his wildest gaming fantasies. These days, there are many tools and gadgets that suit many gamers’ needs, so you’re never going to run out of ideas in this department for sure. [Read: How to deal with a boyfriend who’s addicted to video games]
Something stylish
Your man’s taste may be questionable, or maybe he’s just as dapper as the Great Gatsby. Whatever the case is, you can always add something to take his style up a notch with these ideas.
#18 Watch it. What’s his style? Is he into naturalism, sports, classic looks, or anything practical? Find out his style and get him a watch that will reflect this. Get it right, and your gift will never run out of fashion.
#19 Body care. Having good hygiene is always in style, whatever the season is. Get him gift sets for body care, or grooming sets for his beard and mustache. You can also consider getting him a shaving set in his favorite scent, or simply get him his favorite cologne *or the scent you want to smell on him*. You can always be sure that your man will look and smell stunning *and clean!* [Read: 6 disadvantages of dating a man with a mustache]
#20 Get up. You can give his jeans-and-tee wardrobe a makeover by adding some classic yet stylish statement pieces. You can also get him some shoes or sneakers, if he’s a fan of footwear. If he’s into practicality and function, get him a pair of hardy jeans or shoes. Or, you can splurge on your man by buying him fancy clothing items that you’re likely to end up tearing off his body at the end of the day, anyway.
[Read: Gifts for your man: 10 things you should never get him!]
Getting a gift for a guy at any age can be challenging, but when your man hits a special milestone, it can be even trickier. But as long as you know him well enough and you have thrown in some good thought and planning, we’re sure you won’t go wrong with these 30th birthday gift ideas for your man!
