The one time I've ever bought merchantellery for a grrrl:
Grrl: live-with girlfriend of 3.5 years back when we were students/postgrads
Situation: dirt poors, so nothing expensive could ever be bought. (I did give her $300 for driving lessons for her birthday..)
Separated: when we got serious about a life together, but her Fundie Christian Parents found out I was without God.
10 years later: traveling around the country; and she lets me crash at her place for a fortnight. My only real expense to her was the food I ate (I did most of the cleaning up, helped with cooking, etc.) ..and she knocked back any ideas of 'rent'.
Insight: I remembered that when I was about 11 thinking that one day I'd be buying merchantelry for a Girlfriend, having just found out about Opals at the time.
..so I found a store selling Opal earrings, put down $100 for a Doublet-style pair, and then gave them to her as a thank-you gift (at least that's what I said) for letting me stay.
Thank you for reading this poor lonely Anon's life story and the only time he's ever bought an expensive present for a girl.