Extremely practical gifts most people would appreciate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]A portable/runs on car lighter (or wherever they call that now) tire inflater. Perfect to top off tires whenever needed without having to find an air pump at a gas station and can do bike tires too. [/b]

A Pinch Provision kit- has actually come in handy multiple times. Cute enough to feel like a treat while still being practical.

I got one of these for DH this year. He is going to love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Salt grinder and Himalayan salt

This is something I would like. I would like a really fancy, expensive pepper grinder more.

[Anonymous]

I have a battery daddy. It was an impulse purchase but I really like it! My kid loves to take it out and put away or pull out batteries as needed.

What about...a battery daddy ALREADY STOCKED with a few essential batteries? I am not saying fill the thing up, but like, a pack of AAA, AA, C and DD.

I will note that the battery daddy is not great for atypical sizes, and I do have a few of those on hand for key fobs etc so they sit awkwardly in the box. Maybe there is another one that accommodates those sizes better.

[Anonymous]

Umbrella. You can never have too many, and there will always be rain.

[Anonymous]

Do the people who hate crap from TJ Max also hate handmade things? I am the weirdo who would make you an afghan. Does a handmade gift also count as clutter?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My mother is the Queen of practical gifts, and two of her best have been a really good travel toothbrush holder (just plastic, but more attractive and well-made than most), a pottery colander in a small size that’s perfect for one container of berries, and a pretty drawstring bag that had all the essentials for mending (small foldable scissors, felt piece with 5 or 8 needles, thimble, and maybe a dozen extra-small spools of thread). The key was that they’re genuinely useful and were much nicer versions than a person would generally buy for themselves.

Things that came up on here that I can second based on experience: tool kit with basic tools (got a very cheap version at age 18, used it for all my young adulthood, and still use it now when I’m lazy because it’s easier than digging out our better tools) and very good metal scissors (I use a pair that I stole from my mom in 1989, think she bought it in the 70s).

My biggest successes as a giver:

“Swedish dishcloths” — $10-20 for a set, reusable and easy to wash, come in cute patterns or more simple colors, the thicker more expensive ones are best

Nice, heavy wooden cutting board from an Etsy seller

Key hooks to hang near the front door — either a fancy/elegant/modern one (which can be hard to find) or something adorable like the squirrels my mother hangs by her door

Cleaning materials from Thrive Market — it’s a membership model store, but you can quit after a trial month, last I knew they had a great duster with a washable cloth, nice super-thick dish towels, and attractive glass spray bottles that you can use to hold DIY or dilute-your-own spray cleaners

Marvis toothpaste, a fun luxury if they like strong mint (ideally with a cool-looking toothbrush if I can find one)

If you know them well enough to know they have a cheap version of something practical they use often, find a fancier/better-made version. The key is knowing it’s something they already use.

That’s all junk and stuff I would trash. I think you should get something like a nice set of crystal salt/pepper shakers or a pretty vase for flowers.

You sound like a peach. Nothing PP mentioned was “junk” - seriously, you would trash Swedish dishcloths? What will your maid use to clean the dishes?

And salt/pepper shakers and vases are practically the definition of useless clutter.

Hey now. I think the shakers and the vase are lovely gifts! And practical.

Don’t get me wrong, they’re lovely gifts if you know the person and know that they would use them. But this thread is about gifts with basically universal appeal, and many of us have zero use for these things (and if we do have use for them, unless we’re new college grads, we already have them).

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Tile or airtag. I need one for my keys.

Doesn’t everyone has push button start by now? I don’t touch my keys for months at a time.

Even for your house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the people who hate crap from TJ Max also hate handmade things? I am the weirdo who would make you an afghan. Does a handmade gift also count as clutter?

OMG. I would love it so much if someone made me an afghan. I would probably sit under every night forever, even if it were the most ugly thing ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]A portable/runs on car lighter (or wherever they call that now) tire inflater. Perfect to top off tires whenever needed without having to find an air pump at a gas station and can do bike tires too. [/b]

A Pinch Provision kit- has actually come in handy multiple times. Cute enough to feel like a treat while still being practical.

I got one of these for DH this year. He is going to love it.

Coincidentally, my DH has actually asked for a portable tire inflater this year. The things he likes to receive are the epitome of practical, non-frivolous items.

[Anonymous]

A wireless Bluetooth meat thermometer.

[Anonymous]

Stasher bags.
Those baggy bags or knockoffs — washable shopping bags that fold up into tiny squares. So useful.

[Anonymous]

For the people looking for. Towels….the lands end premium pima cotton towels are the nicest I’ve ever seen. They run sales all the time so you can typically get them 40% off if you wait.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Decorative items for the home! You can get really nice stuff at Home Goods and Ross!

Um, no. Decorative is the opposite of practical. And please, please do not bring that Ross junk into my house! NO RAY DUNN!

I think decorative items are practical!! You have to decorate a home! You must have a plain Jane home

NP. I don’t care for Home Goods junk. It would go straight to the thrift store.

Well you must be an outlier. Everyone I know loves decorative items

Hate to break it to you, they are just being polite.

No one would ever describe my mom as polite, I got her a shiny silver figurine of two dashound dogs laying together from HomeGoods and she has it on display in her living room shelving for a few years now

I have a few things I just put out when the giver comes to visit...makes them feel great!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I hate all of these ideas. My parents or MIL have given us most of them and we have returned or donated their bomba socks, first aid kits, decorative crap, bidets and a lot of other suggestions I see here. We are adults. We have first aid kits. We will NEVER use a bidet. I don’t want those overpriced socks.

Know the person you are buying for. A practical gift I’d use is a case of toilet paper, method cleaning spray, tooth paste… something consumable that the family goes through a lot. Please don’t clutter my house with stuff you think I need.

You’ll never use a bidet? Gross. How do you properly clean yourself? Dry tissue doesn’t clean it all!!!!

By taking multiple showers a day like most people? How can you clean only part of yourself and call yourself clean?? Gross.

You are nasty - that’s why you have crusty skidmarked undies.

People who don’t use water or wipes are gross

People who use wipes have dark souls. You're destroying the environment! Just buy a spray bottle of Clorox and use a reusable cloth you disgusting person.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The OXO y-peeler is a good suggestion. Got one several months ago and could not believe what an improvement it was!

OXO is the best. They have consistently high quality materials. I love buying their kitchen stuff. Just got some fridge organizers from them and they're amazing.

Ooh, strongly disagree. I hate how much space they take up! Maybe in a suburban house with a half-acre kitchen, but in my itty-bitty city house, I can't have one spatula taking up the space of four normal implements.

Most of DCUMAD lives in McMansions in MoCo or FFX. Sorry you are still stuck inside DC.

Who hurt you to make you so rude?