Some ideas

Looking for a birthday present for your dearest lover?

Maybe you can copy one or two of my past presents to my boyfriend and x-boyfriends:
1. A cross-stitched picture of the two of you (or some cartoons that represents you both) and some personal cross-stitched name and message below the picture. (I really wish I took the picture of it first before I gave it to my x-boyfriend)
2. A plane model (because my boyfriend likes airplanes)
3. A wallet (I've given 2 of these and they loved it. My x-boyfriend said that it's surprisingly exactly the one that he wished to buy a few weeks before I gave it to him. And my boyfriend, well, he has to like it just because I bought it :p)
4. A watch (because he needs it)
5. A jacket (just because I wanted to buy him one.. and that he'd like the model)
6. A home-made towel cake
7. A surprise private party (dinner ordered from a restaurant but decorated personally by me)
8. A blue dice doll (when I have no extra budget)
9. A Japanese lucky-cat (to help his business to grow)
10. Homemade chocolates (for Valentines)
11. A bottle filled with capsules with messages on it
12. A sport bag (because my x-boyfriend joined a basketball team)

And you also can try the presents he gave to me:
1. A necklace, bracelet (basically jewels)
2. A big doll, little doll and a bunch of other dolls
3. Homemade cheese cake
4. Paper flowers (yes... you read it right)
5. A homemade star hanger (Because I like stars)
6. A dress
7. A clock (yellow and rubber one.. so cute)
and just for a record.. for those of you who really love your girlfriend and loved back by her.... I'll tell you a little secret. She really wants a ring. Not necessarily a diamond ring, but just a simple ring. It can be a silver one, a titanium one, a gold one, even one made from a plastic or stainless.. but she does want a ring.

Well, those only my ideas based on what my boyfriend and x-boyfriends like. This is my way to buy a present:
1. Know what he likes
2. Know what he doesn't like
3. Know what he needs right now
4. Know what he wants
5. Check your budget
6. List some selected items based on your budget and your analysis
7. If there are few things that has almost the same price and you don't know which one to buy, go back to the first step and decide which one he'll like best.
8. If you don't have money to buy a present, just make it personal like the surprise party (because you'll just have to pay for the food), the doll or towel cake. He wouldn't like it as much as if you bought him a real present, but hey... it's a present anyway.