Gift Ideas & Advice
Honest answers to the gift questions everyone actually asks — what to give, how much to spend, and how to make every present count. New advice once a week.
Too Many Toys at Christmas? How to Ask Family to Buy Less
Our spare room became a toy holding area and three bags of plushies lived in the garage. Here's how to kindly ask family to buy less this Christmas.
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Is it rude to share a kids’ Christmas wishlist?
Our far-away auntie and grandparents ask what the kids need, not for a wishlist. Here’s how I’d turn those screenshots into helpful ideas, without pressure.
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The family wishlist app habit that saves birthdays
He wasn't keen at first. Now he keeps his wish list on his tablet's home screen — and the family never has to guess.
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Gifts for 2-year-olds that actually get used
He had Duplo everywhere and a basket of soft toys — and played with a ball, a wooden spoon and the TV remote. Here's what to buy instead.
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Why my 11-year-old asked for a gift card and a water bottle (and why I loved it)
Standing at the gift card wall, my son knew exactly what he wanted. Here's why older kids should build their own list.
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How much to spend on a classmate's birthday gift (without overthinking it)
You're holding a class party invitation and wondering whether US$15 is stingy or US$40 is too much. Here's the simple answer.
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How to politely ask for no toys (or specific gifts) on kids' birthday invitations
You want to write 'no toys please' without sounding rude. Here are the exact words that work — and the one-line wish list trick guests actually love.
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How to make a birthday wishlist your kid actually wants
The toy they begged for last month is forgotten, and grandma is asking what to buy. Here's how to build the list with your kid — in about ten minutes.
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Sustainable gifts: why the best present is one that gets used
A wanted gift respects more than materials. It saves money, time and energy — and means fewer things made, shipped and binned.
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How a gift registry actually works (and how I make mine in minutes)
A gift registry is just a list of what's actually wanted. Here's exactly how I make mine in minutes — and how the family shops from it without a group chat.
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1st birthday gift ideas (that parents actually want)
Every parent knows the joke: they play with the box. Here's how to give a first birthday gift that earns its keep — and the ones to skip.
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What should you actually buy for a baby shower?
Every option in the aisle is adorable. Here are the gifts parents actually used — and the popular ones they quietly didn't.
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How much should you spend on a baby shower gift?
An invitation lands and the quiet question arrives with it: how much am I actually meant to spend? Here's what Australians really give.
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