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
Use an alum block to stop shaving cuts quickly and benefit skin.
It stops bleeding quickly and benefits skin as a whole.
- It burns like hell if you cut yourself.
2 people, independently
Save all spare change annually to fund Christmas presents.
It's like free money.
one person who lived it
Buy used books, games, and puzzles from charity shops or apps like Vinted.
It is frugal and green.
one person who lived it
- Ask participants to buy secondhand books for exchanges to find unusual and interesting items.1
Buy mugs, dishes, and other household items from thrift stores instead of buying new ones as gifts, but avoid buying chef's knives this way.
They last forever.
- Do not buy chef's knives from thrift stores.
one person who lived it
Tell the giver what you bought with their cash gift to make it feel more personal.
It transforms the transaction from a funds transfer into a present and makes the giver feel better.
- Some givers do not care how the money is spent and may prefer not to know.
2 people, independently
- Send a photo of the item purchased with a cash gift to the giver.1
inexpensive, everyone, easy, avoid18
Make and can homemade mango chutney in mason jars for a bulk gift.
Everyone loves them.
one person who lived it
Avoid making divinity candy when it is humid.
One person reported it was a big flop due to humidity.
- Do not try making divinity when it's humid.
one person who lived it
Use a sticker to remove stray bits of adhesive residue.
It is described as the best way to get it off.
one person who lived it
Carry a reusable travel mug with coffee to reduce the temptation of buying coffee out.
Having coffee already makes stopping less tempting.
one person who lived it
14 more on this
Make solid lotion bars.
Simple DIY beauty product.
one person who lived it
Make fudge and package it in thrifted tins, ramekins, or small boxes.
It is easy to make quickly and customize.
one person who lived it
Give cut crystals to hang in a window.
They are small, inconspicuous, and dynamic.
one person who lived it
Keep a backup version of a child's favorite worn-out toy to rotate for cleaning or loss.
- the child may call the backup an 'imposter' and still prefer the original
one person who lived it
Make leather key chains using rivets or hand stitches.
They are easy to make and have many iterations requiring minimal effort.
one person who lived it
Use dollar store shopping bags as reusable gift wraps.
everyone loved them
one person who lived it
Make honeycomb candy using corn syrup instead of honey as a cheap, quick gift for people in unexpected difficult situations.
It is inexpensive and fast to prepare.
- Do not attempt this recipe when it is humid.
one person who lived it
Make bath bombs with lavender.
Consumable gifts like these avoid giving someone more clutter.
one person who lived it
Replace low household supplies like trash bags or ibuprofen with full ones of the same brand to avoid suspicion.
A full pantry is obvious, but replacing specific items under the sink or in bottles is less suspicious.
one person who lived it
Purchase small tubs of condiments from Asian grocery stores.
They are cheap and last forever.
one person who lived it
Give a mesh tea infuser with loose tea.
It is better than cheesecloth for recipes requiring non-powdered-seasoning infusions that need to be removed later.
one person who lived it
Make homemade bath bombs and body scrubs.
They are easy, inexpensive, and impressive.
one person who lived it
One approach that helped: make salted caramels and wrap them in baking paper; they are inexpensive and well-received.
They hardly cost anything and everyone loved them.
one person who lived it
Choose Ozark Trail products over Yeti items.
Ozark Trail is solid quality, whereas Yeti is considered overpriced branding.
one person who lived it
costs, throughout, year9
Buy generic gifts on clearance throughout the year to stockpile for future occasions.
Set a budget of $5 to $10 for White Elephant exchanges to keep the pressure low.
It prevents people from feeling cheap or stressed and keeps the vibe relaxed.
one person who lived it
Buy dried fruits throughout the year to keep Christmas baking costs minimal.
to cut down on cost at Christmas
one person who lived it
Bring a large framed picture of yourself to a White Elephant exchange to ensure you win.
It is hilarious to watch someone receive it.
one person who lived it
Give tickets to concerts, plays, or sporting events to create memories.
Make a memory
one person who lived it
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Use store credit from returned gifts to purchase future presents throughout the following year.
This can help cover costs when funds are low and allows you to pay it forward later.
one person who lived it
Check for assistance programs for heating and power bills, such as budget billing or winterization programs.
Budget billing keeps monthly costs the same.
one person who lived it
Order food delivery from a restaurant, paying for everything including delivery and tip, and schedule it for when you know she is home.
It provides a surprise with enough food for leftovers.
one person who lived it
Create a video compilation of recorded messages from family members who live far away.
It is described as super easy and super cheap.
one person who lived it
Buy generic gifts on clearance throughout the year to stockpile for future occasions.
2 people, independently
gifts, gift, items, recipients40
Cook dinner for your mother as a Mother's Day gift.
Buy tools or supplies for hobbies rather than finished goods, or gift cards to specialty shops if recipients are picky about materials.
With tools, you can make things you want or need; gift cards allow picky hobbyists to choose their own supplies.
- Some hobbyists, like knitters, are very picky about specific materials like yarn.
one person who lived it
Write a letter expressing gratitude for what your parents have done, as letters are kept longer than physical gifts.
One person noted keeping all their letters but none of their $20 blouses.
one person who lived it
- Include handwritten cards expressing appreciation, as they are often kept and remembered longer than physical presents.1
Gift an e-reader like a Kindle if your mother reads frequently, but avoid this if she is averse to technology.
E-readers have non-backlit screens that are less tiring on the eyes than tablets and require less frequent charging due to lower power demand.
- It may annoy mothers who are averse to technology.
one person who lived it
Say thanks for a gift but avoid offering physical services like back rubs in exchange.
Offering back rubs as payment can come off as weird.
- This applies even in the US context.
one person who lived it
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Cook dinner for your mother as a Mother's Day gift.
The thought and gesture count more than the item itself.
2 people, independently
Call your mother more often, as she will likely appreciate the connection more than material gifts.
She'll appreciate that more than anything.
one person who lived it
Avoid giving mix-in-a-jar gifts to people who may be concerned about the cleanliness of the giver's kitchen.
Recipients may discard the gift if they do not know how clean the preparer's kitchen was.
one person who lived it
Return unwanted gifts to convert them into cash or store credit for essential expenses like food.
Keeping unused items creates clutter, whereas exchanging them allows you to buy things you will use.
one person who lived it
Cross out last year's names on gift bags or hunt for bags with existing labels to reuse them.
It is described as a good system.
one person who lived it
- Reuse gift bags by finding ones that already have the correct recipient's name on the tag.1
Have children make a craft for their mother's stocking by telling them Santa is busy and needs help.
It is a low-cost way to show care.
one person who lived it
Bake a cake or make dinner for her, prioritizing the thought and gesture over the item.
The thought and gesture count more than the item.
one person who lived it
Keep a running list of items a child mentions throughout the year to buy as gifts they will appreciate.
Children feel appreciated when they see you paid attention to their specific wishes.
one person who lived it
Offer acts of service instead of gifts, such as babysitting for an evening, cleaning a kitchen or bathroom, or holding a baby so the parent can shower or nap.
These acts were described as huge helps.
one person who lived it
Bottle honey with a Christmas bow and greeting card for coworkers.
Even if many people receive the same gift, nobody cared and everyone was pretty pleased.
one person who lived it
Accept gifts with a simple thank you and do not expect anything in return.
Gift-giving is about showing care, not tit-for-tat; expecting reciprocity is childish.
one person who lived it
Limit the number of gifts you give in an exchange to match the number of gifts your own children receive.
one person who lived it
Do not give pets as surprise gifts.
Recipients may be unprepared for the care required, leading to animal distress or neglect.
one person who lived it
Donate to a recipient's favorite nonprofit in their name.
Recipients may be tickled if this has never been done in your family before.
one person who lived it
Refuse to give or accept gifts entirely if the practice causes you stress.
One person reported sleeping better during the holiday season after adopting this approach.
one person who lived it
When asked for gift ideas, request cash and specify a high-value item you are saving for.
This guides the giver's contribution and eases their decision-making.
one person who lived it
- Diplomatically ask gift-givers with different tastes to provide gift cards instead of physical items to prevent wasted generosity.1
Accept that even small or handmade gifts are valuable because they show the giver thought of you.
Being acknowledged makes recipients feel appreciated.
one person who lived it
Write down experiences to share with nieces or nephews on paper squares instead of buying toys.
It controls spending and provides quality time together.
one person who lived it
Avoid giving personalized decor unless requested, as styles may not match.
Personalized items often end up unused if they do not fit the recipient's style.
one person who lived it
Buy gifts the recipient actually wants rather than what you prefer.
This reduces returns and prevents cluttering their home with unwanted items.
one person who lived it
Choose one nice present over piles of cheap items.
One person reported preferring a single quality item to share rather than multiple low-quality ones.
one person who lived it
Avoid elaborately folding cash bills into shapes for gifts.
Folded bills can become impossible for banks to count.
one person who lived it
Include practical utility items like tape in children's stockings, as they may value the function over novelty.
Children may express appreciation for gifts that serve a useful purpose in their play.
one person who lived it
Label regifted items with the date received to track expiration.
Items like lotion can deteriorate or food packets can expire after a year.
one person who lived it
Fill stockings with simple, cheap items like hot cocoa mix, flexible straws, character band-aids, small toys, and candy.
Recipients may warmly remember these odd and inexpensive gifts.
one person who lived it
Organize a post-holiday gift swap where participants trade unwanted items and donate leftovers.
It helps divert items from the landfill.
one person who lived it
Opt out of gift-giving if you are injured or unemployed, as friends and family likely prefer you focus on recovery rather than spending money.
One person noted they wouldn't expect a gift from someone in this situation; another shared that their family celebrated without gifts during a difficult year.
one person who lived it
Gift assorted popcorn flavors.
People rarely buy them for themselves.
one person who lived it
If you must return a gift, handle it discreetly and thank the giver politely.
Discretion preserves social harmony.
one person who lived it
If regifting mass-produced jewelry, ensure the recipient is not the original giver by tracking who gave it to you.
Mass-produced items are less likely to be recognized by new recipients.
one person who lived it
Gift warm socks, especially for menopausal women who suffer from cold feet.
Menopause can affect circulation, making cold feet common during or after the transition.
one person who lived it
Only give gifts when you find something specific that you genuinely believe the recipient will love.
one person who lived it
Consider stopping gift-giving to adult relatives who rarely acknowledge receiving them.
one person who lived it