The best gift anyone has ever given me has been a bag of sea shells. They cost nothing, but it was a profoundly moving moment to realize this person had been saving the sea shells I'd been handing him since I was a child.
One Reddit user asked:
What are inexpensive gifts you enjoy receiving?
and the comments section absolutely reaffirmed what I felt in that moment. It's not the cost that makes a gift great - it's the sentiment and message that the gift conveys. A really good gift tells the person that you know them, you see them, you think of them and appreciate them in some way.
Gold and diamonds aren't the only way to show that. Sometimes all it takes is something little like:
A Tired Nurse and Mother
My husband has bought me expensive jewelry including diamond rings etc.. But one of my favorite things he has ever done for me was when I came home from work to a steak dinner on the table. I'm in nursing school and working as a CNA so it meant a lot to be able to just come home and eat a nice meal that I didn't have to cook.
I also love it when my kids give me anything. When The Minions movie came out I had mentioned that I thought the minions were cute. My oldest daughter was about 6 at the time. We went to McDonald's and she got happy meal with a minion ornament thing and she gave it to me. I hung it in my rear view mirror and there it stays! I've had it for about 5 years now.
My youngest daughter gave me a little coaster thing that has a frog on it that says "mom." It sits on my desk and put my cactus on it.
Socks
spongebob socks GIF
Giphy
I feel like the threshold of adulthood is purely based on whether you're disappointed or excited about getting socks for Christmas.
I'm away on a short break this week and treated myself to some new thick socks for all the walking around we'll be doing (10 miles today BTW). Pulling on new socks every day is wonderful. I also bought new bamboo fabric underwear too. Bliss.
Dude I used to think people were joking when they said this, but man, getting socks gets me so excited, especially bulk packs.
Hand-Made
Anything handmade. I just appreciate the sentiment behind it even if it's cheap you took the time to make it for me time your not gonna get back. So I love when I get handmade gifts
This. Every year, I'll write in my Reddit secret santa that if they're crafty, I'd love something they made. Only ever received one, but it hangs in a place of pride on my Christmas tree every year and I keep the hand painted card on display in my workshop year round.
Professional Gifting
A handwritten card, flowers, nuts, fine-tip pens, a potted cactus, gift card for movie tickets (before this year, at least), craft beer 6-pack, kitchen implements (like nice wooden spoons or really sharp scissors), a handsome journal or notepad, solar phone charger.
I used to be the buyer for all employee gifts at my company, not because I worked in HR or admin, but because I like it and am good at it.
Pick Your Pick
A bulk pack of guitar picks, every person who plays guitar will know how much of a pain in the ass it is to lose a pick.
- Verne_
I buy them by the hundreds - keeps me going for about 5 years, because for every 2 I lose, I find 1.
- squ1bs
I used to lose them all the time. Then I made a DIY transparent one as a joke and of course I've never lost it. I've had it for over 2 years now and still use it...
Mars
A Mars bar. It's my comfort food. My hug to myself. My pat on the back for making it through a hard day. When a friend who knows all this gets me a mars bar it's such a beautiful gesture, I cry every time.
Happy Birthday Jack-o-Lantern
jack o lantern halloween GIF
Giphy
Every year on my birthday (late October) my friend gives me a pumpkin from her garden, and I always use it for my jack-o'-lantern. I love it!
Positively Positive
Home made cookies, a hand drawn comic, even a fancy bar of chocolate is under $7. Clean the kitchen, sweep/vacuum the house, or a foot rub.
Nothing beats positive attention.
- seadecay
Movie Candy
Any kind of those $1 boxes of movie theater candy. I'll take them all!
I once put together a little gift basket of these for one of my kids as part of his birthday. He LOVED it. That was years ago and he has continued to ask for that every year, and to request the same thing in his stocking at Christmas. He always says he doesn't need anything except a $20 Steam card, and boxes of movie candy.
Rocks Rock
Interesting shaped and/or colored rocks people have picked up while outside/on a trip. Find a rock that's purple or looks kind of like a heart? Maybe one that's green with colorful flecks? One made perfectly smooth by water? If you bring it to me I will be happy. (I wish I could afford a rock tumblr.)
I also like rusty old square nails, bits of old broken pottery, and shards of purple glass. I hope someday someone will bring me seaglass or I find some.
And There's Cake Involved
My husband will on his way home from work sometimes at our favorite bakery (the one that made our wedding cake) and bring me home a cupcake. A sweet gesture and there's cake involved. Can't beat that.
A Special Scavenger Hunt
A Starbucks latte always brightens my day, flowers, chocolates and I still love getting stuffed animals even as an adult lol I once woke up to a 'scavenger hunt' of handwritten notes with a clue to the next one and a lovely compliment on each. That makes me feel so special
I actually have to ask not to be given jewelry or clothes because even I struggle finding things I like and it's too much money for the risk lol. Some guys have been legit offended by this? But I'm just being honest
Not Hard To Please
puzzle rubix cube GIF
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Puzzles.
I love puzzles... things like rubik's cube or variations of it, wooden puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, any puzzles.
I'm not a hard person to please.
Before He Needs It
Honestly I find it more fun to find out what those things are for my husband. Like sometimes I'll pay extra close attention to his shampoo brand if it's low and then get him more before he realizes he needs it. Basically if I can take like 5 minutes of my time to make his day way better today/tomorrow, I'm all about those "gifts".
The Card Counts
I personally love getting cards. Even without any sort of gift. I feel like these days we don't really take the time to say nice things to people, particularly not in writing, and cards are a really great way to do that. They can also be kept as a sentimental thing and they're super cheap. You can make your own with just a piece of paper and a pen.
- auditail
Basmati Jeans
Fave from Mom: she took this old pair of Guess jeans that I wore to threads in some areas. She keeps old jeans for patching, projects and the like. 5 or so years on, she had taken the jeans and sewn them into one of those microwavable rice bags, you know for when you have an achy neck.
It smells like basmati, it's my old jeans, and she sewed a belt loop on the top for hanging even....melted my heart, and I'll have it forever.
Thought Of You
Anything that comes with the person giving it to me saying, "I saw this and thought of you!" Whether it's a drink or a treat, or a little flamingo or cat thing, or a cool pen... just the fact that someone thought of me and knew it was something I'd like really means a lot.
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When a friend insists we travel to certain cities because we would "just love it," they're setting the bar pretty high.
And a city can also boast a rich history or an attraction that makes us curious enough to find out what makes it so appealing.
But, alas, when we finally reach the destination, it's never exactly what we thought it would be.
Curious to hear from strangers online, Redditor tshirtguy2000 asked:
"What city is overrated?"
These are not officially real cities but they do have a rotating population.
It's Always A Party There
"Party city."
"As a former slave associate at party city. I 100% agree."
Lotsa Crime
"Cabot Cove, the murder capital of the world."
"Sure, the murders are all solved, but would you really want to live in a city with that much, easily solved, crime?"
– Andvare
Neighbor To Springfield
Shelbyville. Those f'kers steal trees from neighboring cities.
the simpsons episode 25 GIFGiphyThese were once considered destination cities but their popularity eventually took a nose dive.
Not Pair-A-Dice
"Atlantic City. Venture a few blocks off the boardwalk and it's incredibly depressing. Very clearly an area exploited by the big casinos while the locals have been driven to absolute poverty, while they still force a smile to work the shops that are required for the tourist traffic."
– juanzy
Lots Of Water
"Niagara Falls, Canada. I grew up there. Mayor pumps most of tax $ to casinos and tourism with flashy vegas-esque attractions."
Meh Beach
"Myrtle Beach. I'm not even saying that it has a good reputation, I'm just saying that any shred of positive thinking about it makes it overrated."
Where A Creek Is An Exciting Attraction
"Lamb's Grove, Iowa. It's not the paradise on earth that people always say it is. Don't get me wrong, it's got great Chinese food but the motel 6 is meh at best."
– shah357
Impressions for these cities fell far below expectation.
Do-Bye
"Dubai. It's the clickbait of the world. 'We have the biggest/tallest/most expensive YOU WON'T BELIEVE when you see THIS...' It's hot as f*k, everything's a man-made tourist trap; labor exploitation and racism are rampant, and they try so hard to prove to the world how modern and Westernized they are. Really, it's just government propaganda."
Truth be told, many cities can be overrated.
It just depends on a person's experience, or a resident's perspective about what it is about the location they live in that is nothing worth writing home about.
If I had to choose, I would say Las Vegas is overrated, but that's because there is nothing in Sin City that is of personal interest to me.
I may be severely judged for my opinion, but that is a gamble I'm willing to take.
Redditor William84000 asked:
“Women of reddit, what question do you have of men that you'd really like an answer to?"
His question started an informative thread for women to ask men the questions they've been wondering and receive honest, real-life answers.
Ouch...
“How long does it take to recover if you've been hit in the balls?” Snowy-avocado
“Anywhere from 5 minutes to literally turning to dust like we were Thanos snapped.” secondhand_organs
dust whirls GIFGiphy“The Big Dumb Object...”
“I've always wanted to know: why do you like loud machinery so much? For older men it's mowers, leaf blowers and such. For younger men, it's modified cars and motorbikes. What's the deal with the loud machines?” marshmellow_bunnyx
“Power and tools. Tools are a thing that gets stuff done, and they are loud because they contain the natural essence power of violent explosions and fire. Most men like powerful things, instead of powerful people.”
“In sci-fi, this is called 'The Big Dumb Object', and is pretty much a trademark of sci fi books written by men” Connect-Zebra7173
To shave or not to shave?
“Does body hair on a woman bother you that much?" reillydean28
“Leg/arm hair? Don't even notice. Armpit hair? Not my thing but not my choice/decision. Pubic hair? I'd prefer not, but it's not going to stop me from getting the job done." wHUT_fun
It’s a power and control thing...
“Why send a d*ck pic?" stavinlawrence
“I think for most men it's a power dynamic thing. Either it gets them off or it just makes them feel in control."
“Then I assume there's the added bonus of if she likes it she might send a nude back. But these losers have a greater chance of buying a "get bigger penis pills" that actually work before a girl appreciates an unsolicited nude." InertialEclipse
"Do you notice the little things?”
“Do you notice the little things about women like a new hair cut, when they wear makeup or a nice outfit?” xforeverlove22
“I can't speak for everyone but for me, nope. Not at all. My uncle had a moustache for like 20 years and one day decided to shave it off. I didn't notice it. I noticed there was a weird atmosphere around me like ‘come on, say something’, so I small talked with him.”
“A few hours later after he left they asked me if I seriously didn't notice that his moustache was gone. My answer was ‘What moustache?‘ And makeup would definitly fly over my head.” PleaseTakeThisName
Lets just not touch people without permission...
“What things have women done that make you uncomfortable?" charloget
“Had a few grab my junk at random. Even had a couple that just forced a kiss on me. I don't usually experience women trying to pick me up, but the few times I did was never great. It was either negging, overly sexually aggressive and always in a group." bahamabanana
On today's episode of sink of float...
“Do penis' float like a buoy? I heard they do but have never been able to verify it.” TheFantasticV
“I mean it's buoyant but it can't really do much besides lazily sorta half float there. Still amused the f**k out of my wife to learn.” secondhand_organs
GiphyEveryone just wants to be loved...
“What makes you feel loved?” linedizzy
“A compliment, a hug or a kiss we don't have to initiate.” Nuitari8
Plastic surgery?
“Do guys care if women get cosmetic procedures done?” dookieconductor
“I don't necessarily care about the work itself, I'd be more concerned about understanding why she felt like she wanted to get it done and help her feel body positive for whatever work has been done or if she feels like she needs work.” -notjosh-
Math will kill a mood everytime...
“What does it feel like when you're having sex and you're trying not to 'get there'? Is it frustrating? What do you do/think about to keep it from happening?" uhohoreolas
“I sometimes do math like 333*3... But often I am fine with just controlling things to focus mostly on her pleasure instead of mine. Tho sometimes she is excited and ends up moving in unaccounted ways while I am a hair away and there is no stopping it. I definitely don't find it frustrating. It is still very enjoyable." Fkire
Some of these Q&A's were unexpected but now we know! This important thing here though is knowing it's ok to ask questions sometimes.
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