c/gift-ideas

Why does nobody talk about how bad gift cards are for close friends

Last month for my buddy's birthday I got him a $50 gift card to this BBQ place we both love. He just stared at it and said 'thanks I guess' and I felt like a total idiot. Gift cards are basically just cash with extra steps, they don't show you actually thought about the person. I'd rather get a weird homemade thing or even a stupid gag gift that shows someone knows me. Has anyone else had that awkward moment where a gift card just fell flat?

Vent: My aunt's homemade candle almost burned down my living room

I was at my aunt's place in St. Paul last month for her birthday party, and she handed me a candle she made herself as a gift. She was all proud of it, said she used some special wax from a craft store. I took it home, lit it on my coffee table, and within 10 minutes the flame was like 4 inches tall and the glass started cracking. I had to dump water on it and toss the whole thing outside. Now I'm stuck with this awkward situation where she keeps asking if I've used her "gift" and I have to make up excuses. Has anyone else gotten a homemade gift that was more of a hazard than a nice gesture?

Can we talk about that $80 heated blanket I bought

I picked up one of those heated throws from a big box store back in November, figured it'd be nice for cold nights. Honestly it worked great for the first two months, kept me warm and the auto shutoff was handy. Then last week the controller started flickering and it just stopped heating altogether, no warning or anything. I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue or if I just got a bad unit.

Homemade cookies vs bakery gift basket was a split decision

For my neighbor's 60th birthday party last month I had to pick between baking a big batch of her favorite chocolate chip cookies or buying a fancy bakery gift basket. I went with the cookies because she always says store-bought stuff feels impersonal. Spent about $12 on ingredients and 3 hours baking 4 dozen cookies. They went fast at the party but I noticed a few people eyeing the store-bought cake from the grocery store. Would you rather receive something homemade or something fancier looking from a bakery?

Bought my sister a $40 candle set and she hated the smell

Last month I got her this three-pack from a shop in Denver that said 'earthy vanilla and pine.' She texted me a photo of them sitting in her bathroom closet, said they smell like burnt plastic. Has anyone else had luck with subscription boxes for fussy family members?

I finally changed my mind about personalized gifts being cheap

For years I thought engraved stuff like mugs or keychains were just lazy, low-effort gifts under $30. Then my buddy in Denver got me a leather wallet with my initials stamped on it from a local shop for my birthday. That thing has held up better than any store-bought wallet I've owned, and I've used it every day for 18 months now. Am I wrong for thinking custom gifts can actually hit harder than expensive generic ones?

Can we talk about regifting that went hilariously wrong for me?

I used to think regifting was fine as long as you kept track of who gave you what, right? But back in 2017, I regifted a fancy candle to my cousin Sarah for her wedding shower, and she pulled out the card from the original giver that I forgot to remove. It said "Happy 50th Birthday, Mom" on it, and Sarah's only 28. Now I just buy a generic gift card for everyone under 30, which feels boring but at least nobody gets a candle meant for their grandma. Has anyone else accidentally left an old tag on a regift?

Stop buying cheap extension cords for outdoor holiday lights, learned that after my $12 string melted on Christmas Eve

I had a string of those green dollar store cords catch fire at the plug last year in Portland, so now I only use 14-gauge cords from the hardware store rated for at least 13 amps, has anyone else had a close call with cheap cords during the holidays?

My sister said 'just get them a gift card' and I pushed back hard

I was talking with my sister last weekend about her son's 10th birthday. She said she always grabs a $25 Amazon gift card for party gifts because kids are picky. I told her that feels lazy and impersonal, and she asked me when was the last time a kid actually got excited tearing into a gift card. That hit me because I realized she was right - kids loove tearing open a box with something wrapped inside. Has anyone else changed their mind about gift cards after a conversation like this?

Hit $500 in gift card sales at my Etsy shop last month, totally unexpected

I started making custom gift card holders as a side thing just to use up some scrap paper I had lying around. Last month I checked my Etsy stats and saw I had sold over $500 worth of them. That caught me off guard because I never even promoted them. Most of the sales came from people searching for unique ways to give cash or gift cards for weddings and graduations. I think the key was adding a pocket for a personal note. What kind of gift packaging ideas have worked best for you all?

My sister told me my gifts always felt like last-minute afterthoughts

She said I'd grab something random off a shelf instead of thinking about what she actually likes. Now I keep a running note on my phone with little things she mentions during the year, and my birthday gift for her last month was a vintage cookbook she'd mentioned back in June.

My wife got me a subscription box for grilling rubs. I thought it was a total waste.

It was a monthly thing, $25 a box. I figured I could just buy my own spices. The first box came with a coffee rub. Tried it on some pork chops. Honestly, it was amazing. Completely changed the flavor. Anyone else get a gift they were wrong about?

Saw my sister get another generic candle for her birthday. It's a total waste.

She has a specific scent she loves, Sandalwood Myrrh from a shop in Asheville. People keep buying her random florals she'll never burn. I learned to check her nightstand for the one brand she actually uses. Anyone have a go-to gift for someone who seems picky about scents?

For my mom's 60th, I had to choose between a big party or a really nice piece of jewelry. I went with the party and it was a mess.

Bought my partner a custom star map for our anniversary, cost about $75.

It was a nice thought, but the print quality was fuzzy and the framing felt cheap. Anyone have a go-to place for this kind of personalized art that doesn't look like it came from a vending machine?

Just realized my 'perfect' gift for my nephew in Phoenix was a total dud

I got him a fancy drone for his 10th birthday, but it was way too complicated and he just looked confused when he opened it. Anyone have ideas for simpler, fun gifts for a kid that age?

I finally realized I was giving terrible gifts because I never paid attention

My friend Mark opened a birthday present from me last year, a generic coffee mug set, and his polite 'thanks' felt totally flat. It hit me then that I'd been buying stuff based on what I liked, not what the person actually cares about. Now I try to listen for hints, like when someone mentions a specific book or a local bakery they love. Anyone else have a moment that made them totally change their gifting strategy?

PSA: I used to buy my wife flowers for our anniversary, now I get her a gift card for a local nursery.

It changed about two years ago when she pointed out the bouquet I got from the grocery store was dead in three days. Now I give her a $50 card to the place on Main Street, and she picks out a plant she really wants (like the lavender she got last year). It feels way more personal and lasts a lot longer. Anyone else switched from giving the thing to giving the chance to pick the thing?

My sister's 'smart' coffee mug gift was a bit too smart for its own good

I got her this mug that heats up and connects to an app for her birthday. It worked fine for a week, then started randomly beeping at 3 AM. I was house-sitting for her in Portland and the thing just kept going off. I had to unplug it and hide it in the garage. Anyone else have a gift that turned into a little tech nightmare?

Bought my dad a $75 'smart' plant sensor that texts you when to water it... the thing died after a week and the app just says 'sensor offline' forever now.

Vent: Finding a gift for my brother's new apartment took me three weeks

I wanted to get him something useful, not just a candle. He's super practical, so I figured a good tool set. I spent hours online reading reviews, got confused by all the options, and went to three different stores. I finally settled on a basic 65-piece set from a brand my coworker mentioned. The whole process, from first idea to buying it, was almost a full month. Anyone have a better system for picking gifts for practical people?

I used to buy my dad the same ugly tie every Christmas

Honestly, for like 5 years straight I'd just grab a random tie from the mall. Tbh, it changed after his birthday last year when he finally said, 'Cameron, I have enough fabric to reupholster the couch.' Ngl, that hit hard. Now I get him a gift card to his favorite fishing spot in Clearwater. Anyone else have a gift they kept giving that was clearly a dud?

My sister called my usual birthday gift a 'cop-out' gift and it stuck with me.

We were talking about her husband's present, and she said, 'You always get people a nice bottle of something. It's easy, but it says you didn't really think about them.' I realized I'd given my dad scotch, my friend gin, and my boss wine this year alone. It hit different because she was right, I was just picking the safe option. What's a good gift you've given that felt truly personal, not just a nice thing from a store shelf?

I thought a custom printed mug was a safe gift until my aunt's reaction

For her birthday, I got a mug printed with a photo of her old dog from a local shop in Austin. It cost about $35 and took a week. When she opened it, she got really quiet and later told me the dog had just passed away a month before, something I didn't know. I learned that even a thoughtful, custom gift can miss the mark if you're not totally up to date on someone's life. What's a good way to check in on someone's current situation without spoiling a surprise gift?

My brother insisted a custom map was a boring anniversary gift

He said it was impersonal, but I had one made of the street where we had our first date. She cried when she opened it. Anyone have a gift that people doubted but turned out perfect?