Any man who has ever shopped around for that elusive thing known as the ‘perfect Valentine’s Day gift’ will know the pitfalls involved in this delicate balancing act! Simply put, it is a tall proposition, and a real tough challenge. His gift reveals as much about him and the depth of his relationship as it does about her. A great gift is half the battle won as far as being a success on Valentine’s Day is concerned.

Before you head for the stores, ready to break a bank to make that all-important impression on your sweetheart, stop to think and assess a few things. How long have you known her? A few months? A year? More than that? Where do you see this relationship headed, say, five years down the line? The answers to these questions are your guides to choosing that perfect gift for her.

This ready reckoner on just what to give her on Valentine’s Day fits any girl you know – from someone you’ve just met to your wife of many years!

• The perfect Valentine’s Day gift for someone you have recently met