When you’re in a new relationship, it’s often difficult to know what kind of gift to give for a birthday or other special occasion. The key is to show thoughtfulness without being over the top and buying a gift that makes your sweetheart feel uncomfortable or indebted to you in some way. The most common mistake that many make is to go out and buy something extremely expensive in an effort to show they care but, although their intentions may be good, the end result is often anything but.

The key to successful gift giving is not about the price tag, but rather the amount of thought that has gone into purchasing the gift itself. When you’re in a new relationship, you may only know a limited amount of information about your partner. Following is a list of 7 gift ideas for anyone in a new relationship and, in most cases, they are sure to find a place in most people’s daily life.

A writing pen. Whether it is a check at the grocery store, jotting down a store list, marking off days on the calendar or some type of paperwork, everyone writes. How many times have you looked for a pen only to find that there’s none in sight? If you give someone a nice quality gift-boxed writing pen, it shows that you are practical, but not overly personal.

A watch. Time is precious; as is the gift of a watch. If you choose to give someone a watch, you are likely correct in the assumption that time is important to them in some way. Everyone needs to know what time it is and a watch fits into every lifestyle, career choice and is the perfect gift for anyone. If you want to be really creative without being overly pushy, you can include a card that says “I’m having a wonderful time with you” or “I enjoy all of the time that we spend together.”

Event tickets. Does your sweetheart enjoy a certain music group who just so happens to be in town or maybe it’s a sporting event that he/she just has to see? If you know of an event that your new love interest would enjoy attending, it’s perfectly fine to purchase event tickets. The best way to do this without being overly presumptuous is to purchase two tickets, give them to your partner and let him/her choose who to invite. In most cases, it will be you. But, perhaps he/she would also enjoy taking a friend or relative and will appreciate the gift.

Artwork. Photographs, paintings and drawings are all considered artwork and are a fun way to show someone that you are thinking of them. Even if you don’t know whether or not your mate likes artwork, it’s safe to assume that he/she has an interest in a subject that may be depicted in the artwork. If he/she is a dog lover, a painting or photo of a cute K9 will be more than fine. If it’s a dolphin that catches their eye, it’s easy to find artwork featuring these underwater beauties. You get the idea. Choose an image that you know your partner likes and you can be assured that the artwork will have a good home.

A book. If you know of a particular interest that your sweetheart has, a book will be the perfect gift. Perhaps he likes NASCAR or she likes to collect glassware. Whatever the interest, there is likely to be a book published on the subject.

A DVD movie. Everyone has a favorite movie or, in some cases, one that they have been anxious to watch. If this is the case, pick up a copy for your significant other. This, too, is perfect for new relationships as it shows thoughtfulness without being too much.