How much should I spend on an anniversary gift?

Anniversaries reward specificity over spend. The amount only matters when paired with the right type of gift. Most couples don't need more objects — they need a reason to spend time together.

For non-milestone years (1, 2, 3, 4, 6–9, 11–14): $50–150 is appropriate. A nice dinner out, a bottle of something memorable, or a small personalised item that nods to your shared history.

For milestone years (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50): $100–300 is the right range. This is where experience gifts pull ahead — a weekend away, a tasting tour, a hot air balloon flight, or a meal at a restaurant they've been wanting to try.

The traditional anniversary materials list (paper, cotton, leather, crystal) is a useful prompt, not a rule. A leather-bound journal for the third anniversary works only if your partner is the journal-keeping type. Otherwise, skip the gimmick.

The strongest anniversary gift is almost always shared time presented as a gift. An experience booked, planned, and reserved by you removes the cognitive load from your partner — that's the actual present.