Gifting
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
If you find a durable item your kid likes, buy ten copies in different colors and the next size to save hassle.
You will save so much hassle.
one person who lived it
Gift an electric blanket or mattress pad to save on heating costs during winter.
It helps when heat is kept low or broken.
- Best for cold areas.
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Tell the recipient you bought them something they asked for and let them guess three times to reveal their desires.
You get three things they want.
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Parents should assume they will be the primary caregivers for their child's pet and only get one if willing to handle all costs and care.
Children cannot pay for these expenses, and parents are realistically responsible for the care.
- This also applies to elderly people living with you.
3 people, independently
- Only get a pet if you, the adult, want one and are prepared to be the primary caretaker, not because a child asked for it.1
- Do not rely on children to take primary responsibility for pet care unless they are remarkably mature.1
Make jam to fill multiple jars for gifts and leftovers.
It is cost-effective for creating multiple presents.
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gift, gifts, recipient, items71
Avoid giving presents that force the recipient to spend additional money to use them.
Gift extension cords and long (6 or 10ft) phone charging cables for dorm rooms with limited outlets or lofted beds.
Dorm rooms often lack enough outlets, and long cords help reach lofted beds.
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Give parents a gift for themselves, such as beer or wine, to help them relax.
Parenting is difficult, and items they covet but lack time to stock provide release.
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Focus on finding gifts the recipient never knew they wanted, such as insightful, hard-to-find, or luxury items they wouldn't buy for themselves.
A great gift goes beyond fulfilling a wish list.
- Attempting to find something else instead of a requested item can result in the recipient hating the gift.
2 people, independently
Buy an expensive version of an item that is normally very cheap, such as high-quality napkin rings.
People prefer high quality small items over cheap larger items at the same price point.
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Give store gift cards (e.g., Target, Walmart) so parents can buy necessities like diapers, formula, or future-sized clothes.
Parents know what they need and when better than the giver does.
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Sign up for Similac or Enfamil rewards programs.
They send samples and coupons to help reduce costs.
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Give consumable gifts like flowers, food, or supplements to recipients who are hoarders or dislike clutter.
It does not make their clutter worse.
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Create separate Pinterest boards for significant people in your life to save gift ideas.
One person uses this method for their spouse, child, and nephews.
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Seal the squirt holes on bath toys with hot glue to prevent mold.
It prevents mold growth.
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Buy non-toxic wood blocks as long-lasting toys.
They are great toys that children can use for years.
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Gift baby socks to keep little feet warm.
Little feet get cold.
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Gift bath toys, as they are often overlooked by other gift-givers.
No one else buys them, making it a great gift.
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Look for craft beers with the least stock on the shelf at grocery stores, as they are likely good stuff.
It's probably good stuff.
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Give lottery tickets as a gift if you are trying to be petty.
Most of the time it gives nothing but false hope.
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Talk to people before buying gifts to prevent unwanted items.
- In some places, asking is considered rude or lazy because it implies you didn't listen or put in effort.
- Some people prefer surprises as they are more fun.
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- Begin the gift-guessing game with one or two items you know the person needs before proceeding.1
- Avoid giving presents that force the recipient to spend additional money to use them.3
Ask for consumable gifts like fancy food, drinks, or event tickets to avoid clutter in small living spaces.
Receiving physical items can become a chore of finding space for them in a small house.
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Avoid telling someone you already bought their gift if there is a risk of missing the deadline.
You cannot explain forgetting if you claimed to have purchased it in advance.
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Use televisions from two or three generations ago as monitors for less demanding games.
They can handle those games with ease and serve as speakers.
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Give practical gifts that align with frugality, such as containers for meal prepping.
It helps save money on lunches.
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Buy an affordable case and a guide to build a PC together, adding components slowly over time.
Building it together was reported as the best part.
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Print photos from social media or personal collections and place them in small frames as a gift.
One group considered it one of their favorite presents.
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Provide a detailed list with links to desired items for family members who insist on buying physical gifts to ensure they get something useful.
It is pragmatic to buy something the recipient will use rather than random junk.
- This may be necessary if the family wants many things, making it impossible to guess correctly.
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Give DIY kits for making consumables so the result is used up and the process is fun.
The item gets used so it won't have to be stored permanently, and even if the result isn't loved, the making process is enjoyable.
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Buy gifts throughout the year when you see something specific that reminds you of someone, rather than waiting for shopping season.
These considered purchases tend to be the best gifts.
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If the recipient is on a tight budget, avoid DoorDash gift cards and opt for supermarket or gas cards instead.
DoorDash is considered a luxury when money is tight.
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Fill a cheap pocket notebook with favorite traits or meaningful memories about the recipient.
Recipients may keep it to read and cheer themselves up after bad days at work.
- One person found the idea completely useless, predicting it would sit in a box or junk drawer until lost or ruined.
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Set up automatic bi-monthly transfers for a child's stipend to simulate a paycheck and teach money management.
It helps start money management skills by mimicking a regular income cycle.
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Host small sleepover parties with a few friends instead of large birthday celebrations when children are old enough.
You avoid costs for party favors and decorations while still covering food.
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Give a good ebook as a gift.
It is cheap, requires little time, and provides a topic for conversation later.
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Avoid giving consumable essentials like shampoo, makeup, or toiletries as gifts for special occasions like birthdays or Valentine's Day.
It can come across as unthoughtful.
- Perfume is an exception.
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Do not guess what gift you are receiving before opening it.
Correct guesses ruin the surprise, while incorrect guesses may signal to the giver that you prefer other items.
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Frame and mat the wedding invitation to preserve it as a keepsake.
One person reported still loving the framed invitation 30 years later.
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Spend 20 minutes researching the exact type of gear your partner has or wants to ensure any accessory you buy is compatible and not obsolete.
To ensure the gift won't be obsolete with the next upgrade
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If you know few interests about the recipient, search for 'Vintage' items as a starting point.
Nostalgia is powerful.
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Avoid guessing on hobby-related gifts; either ask directly so it is not a surprise, or give a gift card.
Guessing is a recipe for disaster
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Include a gift receipt with any physical gift to allow easy exchanges for different sizes or brands.
It makes it easier for the recipient to exchange the item if needed.
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Give high-quality self-care products, such as bath sets or hand creams, particularly to men who may not focus on purchasing nice personal care items for themselves.
Men often have fewer nice choices available and may avoid them to prevent ridicule.
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Give gifts that provide joy rather than utility, specifically avoiding items the person would buy for themselves.
If they would have bought it themselves, you are just saving them cash rather than providing a thoughtful gift.
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Gift a decent lunchbox and containers, such as a bread-shaped box, to prevent sandwiches from getting smashed.
To keep food intact during transport.
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Assign guests specific baby age ranges to buy gifts for to ensure variety.
One person found this approach genius for avoiding duplicate items.
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Accept that recipients may only use gifted clothes out of politeness rather than genuine need.
Recipients might wear the clothes a couple of times solely to be polite, otherwise they would not have bought the item themselves.
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- Wash clothes before gifting them to spare the recipient extra laundry.1
Ask if the recipient needs new glasses and offer to pay for them.
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Gift household staples like toilet paper, laundry soap, dish soap, and aluminum foil to those in poverty.
Being fully stocked on essentials like toilet paper is relieving.
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Replace something the recipient complains about with a sturdier or improved version.
Solving a tiny problem makes the gift feel thoughtful.
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Give succulents or terrariums, optionally painting or mod podging the pots to make them one-of-a-kind.
Succulents are cheap, pretty, hard to kill for non-gardeners, and most varieties aren't toxic.
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Have regular conversations about general products with the recipient so you can catch mentions of things they lack and buy them later.
They will inevitably forget mentioning it, allowing you to surprise them.
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One approach that helped: search for discarded toys on garbage days in wealthier neighborhoods, particularly near apartment complex dumpsters, to repaint and repair so they seem newer.
The recipient never noticed or cared that the toys weren't new.
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Focus on gifts that demonstrate you remembered a specific detail from past conversations over practical items the recipient would likely buy for themselves.
It creates a meaningful surprise when the recipient realizes you recalled something they mentioned long ago.
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Combine practical daily items with luxury items that the recipient cannot justify buying themselves.
The luxury item gives permission to spoil oneself.
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Check school rules about allowed appliances before gifting items like hot plates or microwaves.
Some schools forbid certain appliances, such as hot plates.
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Identify an everyday item the recipient uses often and upgrade it to a slightly more luxurious version, such as a nice notebook and pen instead of basic replacements.
It is much more memorable than the 'need replacement' they would have gotten themselves.
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Check the parents' registry for items within your budget or contribute to a larger item listed there.
Parents select items they actually want and need; ignoring registries often results in gifts that are unused or require returning.
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Verify that purchased moss balls are genuine and not fake products wrapped around styrofoam.
Some big box stores wrap other moss types around styrofoam.
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Gift little mittens to prevent babies from scratching themselves.
Babies scratch themselves.
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If a loved one lost a specific favorite item, search for the exact replacement (even if used) to avoid the disappointment of receiving a different version.
It avoids the disappointment of receiving an item that isn't quite the same as the original.
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Gift items related to the recipient's small secondary interest rather than their main hobby.
People rarely treat themselves to their secondary interests, making these gifts highly appreciated, whereas gifting for main hobbies is risky if you do not share that hobby.
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Directly ask the recipient what they want if they value practicality over surprise.
Surprise is overrated; asking solves problems.
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Regift items you do not use to people who would genuinely enjoy them, such as passing knickknacks from a parent to a mother-in-law.
- You may feel a little bad about regifting.
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Explain your specific reasons for rejecting certain gifts to help gift-givers remember your instructions.
People are more likely to remember your instructions if you provide the reasoning.
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Gift a leather padfolio to someone entering business or interviewing for jobs.
It is very useful for those purposes.
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Use free community spaces like school gyms for children's parties so they can run around.
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Contribute towards a specific need the recipient has mentioned, such as work shoes.
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Give a set of spice jars containing salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, turmeric, chili powder, and saffron as a humorous or thematic gift.
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Use gifted money to upgrade essential tech if your current devices are not functioning smoothly, such as getting a laptop, smartphone, bike, or spare monitor.
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Take a picture of the recipient's bookshelf to identify authors they like and avoid buying duplicates.
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Spend gifted money on recreational equipment that helps you exercise, such as a gym membership, kayak, or bicycle.
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Organize low-cost activities such as paper airplane competitions, Lego stations, or shadow play with a flashlight for kids' parties.
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Keep a drawer of generic gifts and cards to quickly handle significant dates or birthdays without tracking every specific occasion.
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pet, pets, animals, care39
Do not surprise people with live animals, especially during holidays like Easter or Christmas.
Choose to take in animals from rescue organizations rather than purchasing them.
Many animals are put down daily because they fail to find homes, while breeders keep producing pets that might face health issues or mistreatment.
- If you do not adopt, find a reputable breeder and avoid pet stores.
- Most shelters charge an adoption fee.
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Account for end-of-life costs such as vet bills and cremation when considering small pets.
Putting a hamster to sleep can cost under $200, and cremation is even more expensive.
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Work out your living situation, work schedule, and social habits to ensure they are compatible with pet ownership before getting one.
Incompatible lifestyles are unfair to the dog.
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Reframe dying plants as a natural cycle that frees up space for new attempts and provides compost material, rather than viewing them as failures.
It allows you to move on and try something new.
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Do not surprise people with live animals, especially during holidays like Easter or Christmas.
It involves a long-term commitment of time and money; an unexpected obligation makes for a poor gift.
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- Avoid giving animals as surprise gifts, particularly to people who have recently lost a pet or have not requested one.8
Do not give a pet to someone else's child without the parents' explicit permission.
Pets are not gifts and doing so causes anger.
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Ensure you can financially afford a pet before acquiring one, as they are luxuries that require extra money beyond basic bills.
Pets cost a lot of money, including potential medical attention and higher housing costs if renting; getting one without funds risks dumping it at a shelter.
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Be aware that many puppies are given up for adoption or euthanized after Christmas when owners realize they cannot handle the care.
Owners often find out they can't or don't want to look after them.
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- Wait until January to adopt pets, as shelters are inundated with surrenders after the holidays due to impulse gifts.4
Do not take single birds from group-housed environments at pet stores.
Removing one bird is devastating to the remaining group.
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Do not give pets to people who treat them as toys rather than living beings.
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- Treat pets as family members deserving of consistent care, not as toys to be discarded when boredom sets in.1
- Treat pets as living creatures and family members, not products whose existence depends on whether the recipient wants them.2
Verify the recipient has the resources for proper housing, equipment, and fees before gifting a pet.
Even small pets need filters, heaters, and space; owners must also pay adoption and vet fees.
2 people, independently
Be aware that gifted pets may be returned if the recipients are unprepared.
Pets purchased as gifts have been returned multiple times by separate families.
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Confirm the recipient has enough space for the pet to run, especially for active breeds.
- Avoid giving high-energy dogs to people in apartments or small yards.
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Buy pet items from reputable pet stores rather than dollar stores.
Dollar store items are low quality and can be hazardous.
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Keep cats indoors to protect them and native wildlife.
Shelters often deny adoptions if owners plan to let cats out due to harm risks; house cats are not natural in introduced environments.
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Avoid gifting pets unless you are prepared to assume full responsibility for their daily care and costs.
An obligation is not a gift if it cannot be discarded.
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Involve children in setting up and caring for pets to spark interest in science.
Tasks like testing water and researching tank setups can engage them.
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Account for the significant time commitment required for dogs, including walking, training, and play.
Dogs require substantial time for walks, play, feeding, and planning your life around their needs.
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Avoid gifting large animals like horses or goats unless you are certain the recipient has the space and resources, as they can become burdens.
They can become a burden if the recipient lacks proper care capacity.
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- Avoid gifting pets or items requiring ongoing subscription fees unless specifically requested.1
Ensure the recipient knows how to properly train and care for the animal before gifting it to avoid behavioral issues.
Lack of training and effort, such as only giving treats, leads to constant barking, whining, and jumping.
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Do not release foreign or non-native animals into the wild.
It causes significant problems.
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If gifting a living thing, choose plants or cut flowers instead of animals.
Plants and cut flowers involve less commitment for the recipient than animals.
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Recognize that recipients who are not committed may abandon the pet.
Many people simply abandon unwanted pets instead of rehoming them responsibly.
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Do not gift baby animals based solely on their cuteness.
Initial attraction may fade, leaving the recipient stuck with an unwanted living creature.
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Do not give pets to children who have a history of neglecting previous animals, such as ignoring them until they die or leaving them in dangerous conditions.
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Do not give pets unsolicited to friends or neighbors, as this imposes a huge, lifelong responsibility involving time, effort, and money that they did not sign up for.
Pets require significant resources and commitment.
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Surrender a pet to a rescue organization rather than listing it as 'free to good home' online.
Rescue organizations can properly screen potential adopters.
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Consider cats as a more economical and apartment-friendly option than dogs.
Cats are generally lower maintenance, do not bark, and offer a high 'cute and cuddly' factor relative to their cost.
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Thoroughly check breeders before buying a pet, and report any excessive pet farming you discover.
Animals in farm breeding operations are often treated appallingly.
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Volunteer at animal shelters after the holidays to help manage the influx of unwanted pets.
Shelters need extra volunteers during this period.
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Discuss and plan pet adoption together over months before going to a shelter, rather than surprising the recipient.
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Consider using a fake pet simulator that requires feeding and walking to teach children and parents about pet care responsibilities.
It serves as an eye-opener to the reality of the commitment.
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Give pet supplies or a donation to a humane society instead of the animal itself, so the person can choose if they want one.
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Before adopting or buying an animal, determine if you will keep it despite changes in your finances, job, housing, or relationships.
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baby, baby's, clothes, babies25
Calculate the season the baby will actually wear the clothes, not the current season.
A baby born in June will be wearing 6-9 month clothes in December, making summer items inappropriate for that age.
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Gift a handmade set of unique items, such as tie-dyed onesies for every size through 2T, to create a keepsake journey.
It allows the family to track growth and see how the child has changed.
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If your baby is born small or grows slowly, request newborn clothes despite general advice to skip them.
One person's baby wore newborn size for four months because she lost weight and did not grow fast.
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Choose your baby's first outfits yourself if it helps you bond with them.
One person found that choosing little outfits was part of their bonding process.
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Focus on essential needs: a car seat, diapers, food, clothing, and love.
Most other items are merely useful or icing on the cake.
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Buy only a week's supply of newborn diapers initially to determine the correct size.
Babies vary in size and may need a different size immediately.
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Review the contents of the Finnish Baby Box as a guide for essential newborn items.
The box contains government-provided essentials for starting life and can serve as the baby's first crib.
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If you gift quilts, give permission to use heavy stain removers, acknowledging babies will soil them.
The giver noted the quilt is cotton and already washed on the hottest setting, so it can handle aggressive cleaning.
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Provide home necessities like laundry detergent, trash bags, and dish soap.
It helps cover home necessities when struggling.
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Buy pants for baby girls, as dresses are over-gifted and less practical.
Girls often receive many frilly dresses, leaving a shortage of pants, especially for colder months.
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Focus on functional clothing over excessive cute outfits since babies spend much of the day sleeping.
Babies receive too many clothes despite spending a lot of time sleeping.
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Use standard free and clear laundry detergent instead of specialized baby detergent.
It avoids the 'baby tax' and works just as well.
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Gift practical pharmacy items such as cotton buds, rash cream, thermometers, and nail clippers.
These are essential items that new parents often do not know they need until after the baby arrives.
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Thrift for Carter's onesies, specifically dresses, as they are easier for diaper changes.
Dresses make it easier to change diapers than onesies.
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Buy mix-and-match onesies, footie pajamas with zippers, and hoodless sweatshirts instead of elaborate outfits.
Hoodless sweatshirts are safer for naps, and zippers (especially those starting at the foot or 2-way) make dressing easier.
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Create a baby registry even if you do not have a shower.
You can use the associated retailer discount.
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Check the local hemisphere and seasonal timing before buying clothes for specific age ranges.
Relatives may send items suited for their season, which might not match the baby's upcoming season.
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Buy basic, versatile clothing items like onesies and pants rather than fancy outfits, as outfits are often worn only once.
They never wear them. Parents like to buy their kids’ “special” outfits themselves.
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Avoid buying baby clothes with offensive or inappropriate sayings.
Sayings like 'Mr. Steal Yo Girl' or 'Ms. Flirt' are considered awful or inappropriate.
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Avoid giving disposable diapers to parents who cloth diaper.
Disposable diapers can clutter the home and annoy cloth-diapering parents.
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Reuse gender-neutral or opposite-gender baby items regardless of stereotypes.
Babies don't care about gender roles, and reusing saves money.
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Avoid giving blankets unless necessary.
Parents often receive many blankets that go unused, and babies cannot always use them safely.
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Choose neutral, boring baby items to save money.
Neutral items are generally cheaper.
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Do not reveal the baby's gender early to encourage practical gifts instead of gender-specific clothing.
Withholding gender led to registry items rather than only clothes; one person also noted it sparked family debates over the registry.
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Try elimination communication to protect your baby's skin.
It is described as a lifesaver for baby bottoms.
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restaurant, reported, gift, person10
Pay close attention to casual comments your partner makes about liking specific items during outings, then buy those items later for a gift occasion.
Spend time with the recipient by having a picnic or simply talking and listening together.
If you are close friends, your presence may be all they want.
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Gift your time by cooking a meal together (buying ingredients and cleaning up) or learning a new skill jointly that neither of you knows.
So they don't feel burdened.
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Do housework or cook a meal without being asked.
One person reported it was a huge turn-on when their husband cooked dinner and cleaned up after himself.
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Pay close attention to casual comments your partner makes about liking specific items during outings, then buy those items later for a gift occasion.
The recipient is often happy and touched that you paid attention, even if they wouldn't have bought it themselves.
- Never buy appliances or house items unless specifically asked.
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Gift items related to shared interests, or use restaurant gift cards if unsure.
Who doesn't like free food?
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Create handmade coupons that allow the student to request delivery food while studying, with you covering the cost.
It helps when they are craving fast food during study sessions.
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Give a gift card to the recipient's favorite restaurant.
For adults with partners or families, it provides a free date night.
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Create homemade coupons for experiences or acts of service tailored to your partner's preferences.
One person reported their partner adored this gift and requested another set every year.
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Request contributions to a honeymoon fund or cash equivalents by stating that presence is gift enough but monetary contributions are appreciated.
Cash is pragmatic; however, some prefer indulging relatives who enjoy shopping over receiving cash they do not need.
- Some people prefer to indulge aunts who enjoy shopping rather than receive cash they are not hurting for.
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One person reported getting vouchers for a favorite restaurant and using them for lunch deals.
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Keep fancy goldfish in tanks of at least 55 gallons and long-bodied goldfish in tanks of at least 75 gallons.
They produce much waste and require significant filtration and space.
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Avoid gifting turtles to those with small spaces, as they require large tanks (e.g., 90 gallons) and significant maintenance that may exceed apartment limits.
They are not easy pets and can outgrow living spaces.
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Include duckweed and java moss in your planted tanks.
They are described as 'your friends'.
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gifts9
When on a tight budget, make homemade keepsake boxes or gifts using supplies from a dollar store.
Homemade gifts can be special and work well when funds are limited.
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Hand-make greeting cards instead of buying them to show care without spending money.
Buying cards is seen as a primary way people feel forced to spend money to show they care.
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Give a handmade card with a sincere note if you cannot afford a gift.
Real friends will be touched by the gesture.
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Give greeting cards with kind poems, optionally accompanied by candy or baked treats, for people you do not know well.
A kind poem can brighten someone's day.
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Give random, small flowers in a vase unexpectedly rather than only for occasions.
Unexpected gifts can mean more than those bought for specific occasions.
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Make homemade peppermint bark.
It is better homemade and unique to the Christmas season.
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Ship local products like smoked salmon, coffee, or chocolate to family and friends instead of baking and mailing treats.
Baked goods sent by mail have uncertain safe arrival, whereas everyone loves a snack.
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Apologize privately via message about your financial situation if you cannot bring a gift.
A good friend will likely understand.
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Give progressively larger candy bars as daily Secret Santa gifts, starting from bite size up to a monster novelty candy bar.
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Avoid Gerber products if you wish to avoid Nestlé ownership.
Gerber is owned by Nestlé.
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