Been married only 4 months and looking 8 months ahead as any consummate planner does I am not sure what to offer my new bride for our wedding anniversary; can not go the standard roses routine since I already did that for our wedding day.

What should I get my wife for our anniversary? A free calendar from work contained a list of anniversary gifts, listed by the length of the marriage. According to the calendar's list, the traditional gift was paper, while the more recent gift indicated was clocks. Since I am something of a traditionalist, does that mean I should get a paper clock for my wife?

Should you get china, cotton, or leather next year? There just doesn't seem to be any good answer. Your florist will be glad to suggest a dozen long-stemmed roses for your anniversary, since those cost him $1 to grow and sell for $150.

Lists of traditional anniversary gifts usually skip from the fifteenth anniversary to the twentieth. But what do you do in between? I fear that most people, after having been together for seventeen or eighteen years, have let their sizzle fizzle and resort to giving each other appliances and other "practical" household items as gifts.

A "practical gift" is one that hardly seems worth gift wrapping, like a light bulb or a dust mop. You will never get a romantic embrace after giving a practical gift. However, such gifts let your wife know that you know that your home needs and are willing to take the time and effort to get it yourself rather than add to her duties.

Or if you're out of money, and time, you can always belly up to the free sticky notes available at your office and make the "love coupons." This coupon is good for one... fill in the blank here, back rubs and doing the dishes are two popular choices. This is the romantic equivalent to the "practical gift." It shows you but at least some thought into her gift and most women like that.

Maybe some of my ideas have inspired you to decide what to get for your honey for your anniversary. Anyway, I've made up my mind. I'm ready to spend what it takes, and I'll be getting my wife the best. Roses.