At four months into my marriage, I still consider myself a newlywed. However, I believe in always being prepared. Already I am contemplating the anniversary gifts I will bestow on the love of my life. Roses immediately come to mind, however that seems much too mundane. Besides, I showered her with roses at our wedding.

Stuck on what to get for the upcoming wedding anniversary? I checked out a free calendar from my place of employment and found that it also listed anniversary gifts by year of anniversary. This year, it turns out that my wife should be expecting clocks (yes, plural) for our anniversary. Alternately, if we lived in olden times she could look forward to a gift of paper. I'm an old-fashioned kind of a guy so my wife is receiving a paper clock this year, the lucky woman.

But what about next year? China? Cotton? Leather? The list goes on and on. If you talk to florists they would be the first ones to tell you that nothing says "happy anniversary" like a dozen long stem roses, that no doubt, cost them pennies to your $150.

There are no wedding gifts listed for anniversaries between the fifteenth and the twentieth. Why not? What makes a good 18th anniversary gift? By that time, the magic of marriage has faded quite a bit, leaving you with the dreaded "practical gift" as the most likely choice.

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.

A much more economical choice for an anniversary gift is making a batch of "love coupons." Grab some kind of paper and create coupons good for a massage or household chore to be done by you without grumbling, redeemable any time. While still practical, this homemade gift proves that you put enough though and time in to show that you really care.

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.