Tausi Insider

Photo : Ambartsumian Valery ( Shutterstock ) At the end of a year that saw inflation reach a 41-year high , there may not be much (or anything) left in your annual budget to spend on holiday gifts for friends and family. If that’s the case, and you haven’t already done so, now would be a good time to talk to loved ones you usually exchange gifts with, and come to some sort of agreement about limitations—at least for this year. Whether that looks like a Secret Santa or white elephant arrangement, or a price limit on gifts, it’s entirely possible to give someone a personalized, thoughtful present for under $5, using a cheap picture frame and some creativity. Here’s what to know. What to put in the frame This gift involves framing a photo, print, image, or other piece of artwork or ephemera specifically tailored to that person that you know (or at least suspect) they’ll appreciate. There are so many options, you may not know where to start. Here are some suggestions: Something you al...

Photo : TommyStockProject ( Shutterstock ) The subreddit r/GiftIdeas is a gold mine not just for gift ideas, but also for drama. There’s the mother-in-law who rejects every gift , but also rejects the idea of not giving gifts. The “somewhat unpleasant” brother-in-law . The posts that start with “unfortunately, I must still get this asshole a gift.” If you, too, have a somewhat unpleasant giftee in your life, Redditors have suggestions for you. donations “Do a donation in his name, that way he actually gets nothing,” one redditor wrote. This is probably the most diplomatic solution, no matter the person or the issue that you have with them. There are two ways to choose the charity. One is to find something that speaks to the recipient’s interests, so at least it feels like a personalized or relevant gift, even if they’re not happy about it. To quote the same redditor: “Oh you like work in computers so I donated $50 in your name to this organization in your city that teaches kid...

Photo : Lowphoto ( Shutterstock ) Tiny houses—typically defined as any primary dwelling under 500 square feet in size (the average tiny house is about 225 square feet )—have been a thing for a while now. There are even entire TV reality shows dedicated to folks searching for, building, and buying tiny houses. The concept is often sold on two basic ideas: Simplicity and minimalism, because tiny houses require less space and resources and lend themselves naturally to a minimalist lifestyle (because there’s no room for a collection of junk), and cost, because tiny houses are a lot cheaper than more traditional homes . And that’s true—the average cost to build a tiny house is about $45,000 , compared to about $280,000 for a traditional home . That’s a lot of cash! And it’s one reason tiny homes are often pushed as a solution for cash-strapped folks looking for that starter home to get on the property ladder . Sure, tiny homes obviously have other challenges, including fitting your li...

The main challenge of White Elephant is to gift something with universal appeal, considering the nature of the game is that you don’t know who the gift recipient will be. And personally, when it comes to these kinds of organized gift exchanges, the spirit of giving rarely compels me to go beyond 20 or 30 smackeroonies. At the same time, I don’t want to come to the table with something lazy or unwanted. So, how do you find a popular gift that is somehow not boring, but also not expensive? I’ve rounded up the best white elephant gift ideas that are all under $30 (so long as you’re willing to get a little creative with it). Even if the final recipient isn’t thrilled with their bounty, every idea here is decent enough to be re-gifted. And isn’t the ability to re-gift sort of like a gift in itself? https://www.tausiinsider.com/7-of-the-best-white-elephant-gifts-for-less-than-30/?feed_id=331108&_unique_id=64518836dda69

Photo : TommyStockProject ( Shutterstock ) You may not be able to bring real flowers to someone in the hospital, but you can bring a blanket. Obviously, hospitals have their own blankets, and you might think that they’re special, sterilized,, and nonnegotiable... but check in with your loved one’s care team and you’re almost sure to find that they have no problem with you bringing a clean, cozy blanket to help your patient feel comfier. https://www.tausiinsider.com/14-of-the-best-gifts-for-someone-in-the-hospital/?feed_id=328160&_unique_id=641bf18e1b6f7

Photo : BearFotos ( Shutterstock ) Well, well, well. The hour is nigh, and you’re in need of a last-minute gift. It’s too late for even the fastest online delivery, and most viable in-person store options are already closed. All that’s left to do is invent an excuse to get out of the house and proceed to sprint to your local 24-hour drug store. Like a chef turning baskets of mystery ingredients into a three-course meal on Chopped , this category of gifts is all about your innovation. Here are some of our ideas for themed collections, but you can customize at your convenience. Movie night : Popcorn. Funky popcorn toppings . Candy. Hot chocolate. Fuzzy socks. A little slip of paper with your Netflix login. You can’t go wrong with a cozy movie-night theme. Treat yo’ self : Think spa day materials, like face masks, nail polish, and bath bombs. Throw in a candle to help set the pampering vibe. Health and wellness : Browse around for gummy vitamins, supplements, protein powder, and what...