Do you have a friend, co-worker, family member or significant other who has an upcoming birthday? But you aren't sure what you should get for him or her? If that's the case, then read these suggestions and you should have a better idea of what you could get.

The first thing to think about, is if the person has dropped any hints about what they may want? For example, if you've had a friend tell you recently how he is tired of his old golf clubs that might be a hint that he wants some new clubs. However, often people are more subtle and that may make buying gifts for them more difficult. Try to think about their hobbies and interests. If they enjoy music, consider buying them a CD or an mp3 player. Even better, you could keep an eye out for upcoming concerts and if one of their favorite singers or bands are coming, then you could give them a couple tickets to see them live. Also, what kind of activities do they take part in? If they like sports, you could think about giving them a new pair of athletic shoes or other clothing apparel. If they have a favorite local sports team, you could buy them tickets for an upcoming game. Finally, you might want to consider the person's personal situation. Are they going through a hard financial time? If so, then giving a gift of money or a gift certificate would be a nice sign of generosity.

If you don't know much about the person you are buying the gift for, there are many common things you could consider giving as gifts. For example, if you feel it's necessary to buy a birthday gift for a co-worker, but you don't really speak to them outside of work and don't know much about them personally, you could think of some things they might use around their office or work cubicle. Some common work-related items might include a desk calendar, a paperweight, a desk clock or a set of nice pens.

If the birthday gift is for a significant other, such as a girlfriend, you might want to consider giving a birthday gift which is a little more romantic in nature. In this case, a nice piece of jewelry, such as a watch, necklace or bracelet, would make a great birthday gift. You could also take them out for a night on the town.

Finally, as with most other occasions where gifts are given, if you aren't sure what to give, you could always consider simply giving cash or a gift certificate. Cash and gift certificates work great for birthdays, because that way you know the person will be able to get something they want or need.

Hopefully these ideas have made your birthday gift decision making a little easier.