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GREENSBORO — We have a long history of gift-giving disasters, going all the way back to high school: buying things the other already has, giving the exact same gift, having our gifts lost in the mail for weeks.

This year, as we celebrate our first Christmas as a married couple, we have a better idea of what the other really wants or needs. We thought we’d make our shopping lists early to avoid the rush.

Feel free to use a few of these ideas for your own holiday shopping. We’ll gladly take credit for your success. For your failures, we have just two words: gift receipt.

THE SPLURGE

Amanda’s choice: Motorola CLIQ

* $199 with T-Mobile two-year contract. Available: www.t-mobile.com.

Even though I sometimes lose my husband to his gadgets, a man needs a good phone. And his current one has been more trouble than it’s worth.

This puppy has all the phone features he covets — the slider, the QWERTY keyboard, video capability and a touch screen. Plus it has a sturdy look and feel, hopefully making it harder to lose and break.

Joe’s choice: Canon Powershot 12.1 megapixel digital camera

* $149 at Best Buy. Also available at other stores.

My wife’s the photographer in our family. But she’s been making do with the camera I bought back in my single days — small enough to slip into a shirt pocket but not particularly powerful. This one has optical image stabilization and motion and face detection to better serve her inner shutterbug.

THE PRACTICAL GIFT

Amanda’s choice: Registration in the N.C. Marathon’s 5K race on March 20

* $30 at www.ncmarathon.org

Joe’s bored with the gym. What he needs is some motivation! How about a race — just a few months away — to get him going? The marathon, a half marathon and the 5K will be held in High Point. Training classes are available if you need help getting started.

Joe’s choice: Conair lighted makeup mirror

* $20.99 at Target. Also available at other stores.

In the mornings, I watch my wife struggling to get the lamp near her mirror at just the right angle as she applies her makeup. These can be epic battles, and frankly, she doesn’t need any challenges to her dexterity first thing in the morning. This should make her life a little easier, and that’s what a practical gift is all about.

FOR THE TECH LOVER

Amanda’s choice: Radio Bookmark

* $39.95 at www.radiobookmark.com

Joe’s an NPR lover, so the radio bookmark is ideal.

It’s a keychain-size gadget with two buttons. If he has arrived at his destination but doesn’t want to miss the rest of the NPR story he’s listening to on the radio, he can just click a button that will record the time and date. Later he can plug the gadget into his computer, and it will launch a Web page that brings up the story.

Joe’s choice: Sandisk Sana Clip+ in red, blue or black

* $43.90 at Walmart. Also available at other stores.

Our first Christmas together, I bought my wife her first MP3 player, but I did it all wrong. She wanted something small and simple she could use while exercising.

I bought her the larger, more expensive one — the one that also plays video and doubles as a voice recorder. In short, I made the mistake of buying the one I would have liked. This one is much more her speed: It’s small, simple and clips on when you’re jogging. And she can even listen to — and record — NPR on it.

SOMETHING UNEXPECTED

Amanda’s choice: Indoor skydiving

* $69 holiday special at Paraclete XP SkyVenture. Available: www.paracletexp.com or (888) 4SKYFUN.

Joe has a sense of adventure. But let’s face it: If he decided to live on the edge, I might have a heart attack. Instead, he can have a little safe excitement at the SkyVenture indoor skydiving experience in Rae­ford. Almost anyone can do it — even young kids — because a flight instructor helps you.

The holiday special package includes a training session, T-shirt and DVD of your first flight.

Joe’s choice: “The Middle Man” complete series DVD

* $29 at Best Buy. Also available at other stores.

Before we were married, my wife and I both had an unfortunate habit of falling in love with TV shows that were doomed: “Pushing Daisies,” “Firefly,” “Wonder Falls,” “Doll House.” The list goes on and on.

This wacky sci-fi comedy is the first one we fell in love with together, so of course it lasted just one season. This four-disc DVD set brings together every episode with all sorts of extras for the show’s 12 hard-core fans.

SOMETHING ROMANTIC

Amanda’s choice: Pocket watch by Relic

* $55 at Kohl’s. Relic watches also available at other stores.

Here’s a snazzy way to dress up your husband — and casually remind him to be punctual.

Joe’s choice: Gift Certificate to Balance Day Spa, 2138 Lawndale Drive

* From $25 to $1,000 at the spa. Gift certificates also available at other spas.

My wife has a stressful job. She also has to put up with me. Every now and then, a massage and a facial are in order.

FOR THE HOME

Amanda’s choice: Portable speaker system by Phillips

* $19.99 at Target. Also available at other stores.

These speakers are tiny, but they put out an impressive sound. They will amp up the volume on Joe’s laptop and allow him to share the tunes on his MP3 player with friends.

Joe’s choice: Parlor Palm house plant

* $54.95 at Jordan House Flowers, 709-B Milner Drive in Greensboro. Also available at other stores.

My wife has decided to become a plant person. Neither of us has what you’d call a green thumb, but I’m backing her up nonetheless.

Watching her talk to and fret over our lone ficus has been a little strange, but I think giving the plant some company might help.

This parlor palm will be able to thrive in the indirect sunlight of our apartment — as long as it can survive our cat.

STOCKING STUFFERS

Amanda’s choice: Bath Fizzers

* $2-$3.95 at Pier 1 Imports.

Joe loves a nice, relaxing bath from time to time. Why not make it more memorable with some bubbles?

Joe’s choice: Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares (various flavors)

* $3.50 per 5.25 oz. bag at Harris Teeter. Also available at other stores.

You can’t go wrong with chocolate. At $3.50 per bag, several flavors will stuff the stocking and cover all the bases.

MONEY’S NO OBJECT?

Amanda’s choice: 2009 Vespa S 150 in dragon red

* $4,199 at Scooter Nerds or find a dealer at www.vespausa.com.

Joe needs new wheels. If I had the cash to get him something that would serve that practical need and be cool at the same time, I would get him a scooter. And this model tops out at 59 miles an hour, so I wouldn’t have to worry about him going splat on the highway.

Joe’s choice: Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Notebook

* $1,413 online at www.buy.com. Also available in stores.

My wife has been making do with her current laptop, a huge HP, for a few years since her last one was stolen. It’s too large to carry around comfortably, and the battery is finally all but dead, keeping her anchored to a plug. This smaller, sleeker and tougher notebook is what I’d buy for her if we were rolling in cash.