Valentine Gift Giving

VALENTINE'S DAY PRESENTS BASED ON RELATIONSHIP LENGTH (Cosmopolitan)

• Less Than 3 Months: If you've just started dating, keep your gift casual. At this point, anything expensive or too personal will send a scary I-like-you-a-little-too-much message. Plan to spend around $20-$25 on something simple but sweet, like a DVD of a movie he really liked -- or a book by one of his favorite authors (A Michael Crichton novel was just published). For a different route, bake him a batch of chocolate chip cookies (step away from the heart-shaped cookie cutter) -- they're a guaranteed guy-pleaser and he'll love that you made them yourself.

• 3-6 Months: This is a tricky in-between phase: You're an official couple, but are still getting to know each other. Impress him by finding something creative that's totally him. For example, if he's always taking pictures, get him a gorillapod. Of if he's into craft beer, pick up a Brooklyn Brew Shop Kit. You'll probably shell out slightly more (around $25-$50), but don't go overboard with a fancy present. The point is to show that you put real thought into it.

• 7-11 Months: Okay, things are starting to get serious (even if he's yet to admit it). A fun gift for this stage in the relationship is an experience you can have together, so you'll build more shared memories. Try tickets to a concert (The Black Eyed Peas and Bon Jovi are touring in February) or an NBA or NHL game. You can also plan a surprise date. Make it an all-day thing: Tell him you'll pick him up on Saturday afternoon and that he should bundle up. Then go ice-skating, get spiked hot chocolates after, and finish up with dinner at a cozy restaurant.

• 1-2 Years: You've crossed over into the long-term commitment zone, so this is a great time to commemorate your relationship or show off how well you know him. Frame a cute picture of the two of you (have it printed out nicely, in black and white), or find something that will remind him of a fun time you had together. For instance, if you took a trip to Cape Cod, get him an antique map of the town you stayed in. Looking for a more straightforward gift? You can spend a bit more now that you're pretty serious ($100-$200, depending on your budget) on a big-ticket item. Here's a really cool idea: ballpark cuff links made from the stadium seats from his favorite team.

• More Than 3 Years: After years of birthdays and holidays together, it gets tougher and tougher to come up with surprising gifts. A lot of women just grab stuff he needs, like socks or new button-downs, which is nice and all ... but boring. Instead, get him a present where he'll learn something new. Yeah Like the knowledge network…on a new 50” LED TV