Here's a list of things to keep in mind when you are next picking out a date gift for the special someone in your life:

1. Keep it in perspective. It's a date gift. It's not Christmas. It's not a birthday. It's not even a delivery from the Easter Bunny. It's just a small token to be given to someone you're taking on a date. Don't think about it being something that your date will want to treasure as a keepsake forever -- it's possible that they will, especially if the relationship matures into something more permanent -- at the moment all you're doing is giving them something nice to remember you by after the date is over.

2. Keep in a reasonable budget. Again, this is a perspective thing -- it's just a date gift. A small box with Cartier on it is not appropriate! Actually, any box containing jewelry isn't appropriate as a token gift to be given on a date. The more expensive the gift, the more expectation you are inadvertently putting onto your partner. They may feel obligated to you because of an expensive gift. They may also feel awkward because they didn't buy you anything and so the date is not going to flow as it might otherwise have done. A small gift on the other hand will let them see that you appreciate the time that they're spending with you, without putting any other pressure on them.

3. Keep it light. A small fun gift that makes your date smile is going to be much more appreciated than a serious one that feels more personal. That's why there's such a big demand for those cute fuzzy bears-- there's nothing offensive about a teddy bear, even if your date isn't really a teddy bear person they'll still smile at the gesture. Buying a bottle of perfume or something equally personal only works if you've been dating this person for a while, otherwise it could mean that your date feels you are making assumptions about getting onto a more intimate level with them.

A date gift should be something that's easy to hand over without a lot of ceremony. If you are giving it to your partner on the date itself, it needs to be easily transportable -- a corsage rather than a bouquet for example. Consider where you are going on your date, and keep that mind when you purchase the gift -- it may be that you'd be better sending it to them as a "thank you for the date" gift rather than a gift for the actual date itself if you are going somewhere that they are not likely to take a purse big enough to hold a box of chocolates.

A date gift is a lovely idea but make sure that when you're choosing one for your date that you take the above information into account and buy a gift that will make your date smile with appreciation rather than squirm!