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Cara's avatar

My ex husband gave me a record album (vinyl, because this was the 70's) by an artist he loved, but I had never heard of. Didn't wrap it; and brought it home as excited as could be. It was a kind of music I very much don't love. I don't remember the singers name.

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Jolie Kerr's avatar

Ahh so he bought *himself* the album and pretended it was for you, a tale as old as time!

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RA's avatar

My high school boyfriend was a sweet idiot but a brilliant musician. He made me a mix cd as a gift for my birthday with the BB King song "The Thrill is Gone" on it and I, age 38, still have not gotten over that choice.

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Amy Goldfine's avatar

My ex’s dad’s gf used to give us the “nice, practical gifts that young people would never buy/splurge on”: thick flannel sheets, fluffy towels, heated mattress pad, etc. Such great gifts. I just used the heated mattress pad last night and it was glorious. I would also definitely gift someone those Frontgate Resort Towels that Wirecutter is always recommending. They are amazing. My boy toy took a shower here and he was like “wow this is a nice towel” which is a big endorsement because guys never notice those things.

Also everyone could use a good multitool, I have like 3 Leathermans (one is in my car, one I think actually belongs to my ex, but you know, statute of limitations) and they are clutch.

Oh a very sweet and practical gift my boy toy gave me is a great flashlight for walking the dog when my neighbor was being a creep. It’s a Streamlight Wedge. It’s USB rechargeable, super bright, and it has a mega-bright setting for blinding said neighbor if necessary.

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Amy Goldfine's avatar

Oh also my fam knows I always appreciate a Container Store gift card. I moved right around my last birthday and of course needed all sorts of things. I spent my birthday morning having a shopping spree in my happy place and it was glorious.

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Kat S's avatar

One for people you have to know VERY well: upgrade their hangers (because you pretty much have to have see their closet to know what style and how many to get). Those slim velvet ones are stupidly helpful both for maximizing space and keeping garments in place. One you don’t need to know folks well for: get them a decent box cutter that stores its own replacement blades and doesn’t require a tool to change out the blades. Pretty much everyone is using a dull knife and I’m convinced most people would be secretly relieved to have one more box cutter than they currently own so it is easier to find one when they need it - plus you can get something really nice for under $15. Decent all purpose scissors for the junk drawer are the upgrade version of this gift.

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Robin's avatar

The Gleener fabric shaver is so good, it's sold in my local knitting shops! I got the compact one and take it with me on trips. There's a big pad and smaller ridge that you can change abrasion levels. I'd recommend always swapping the small ridge back to the gentlest option after use. I was using the pad in a hurry on a silky top, and the ridge snagged the cloth.

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Annika Dukes's avatar

My parents gave me a typewriter for my 16th birthday (this was 1989, so it was a practical gift not a cool retro one). It was supposed to help me with my college applications, but it was NOT fun.

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Jolie Kerr's avatar

Ohhhh noooooo! And on your 16th, too!!! (Not to play Birthday Suffering Olympics but for my 16th ... my mother offered to get me a nose job. True story!)

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Amy's avatar

My husband will never live down getting me personal training gift cards when I was a working mom with a 1-2yr old. He's a big gym guy and truly sees it as self care but WOW was I mad/angry.

He's also overall just bad at gift giving so adult wishlists are now our solution.

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Jolie Kerr's avatar

I just inhaled so sharply I choked. Oh man, your husband is lucky he's still alive!!! I do see the love and care behind the idea but yup, wow, nope!

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mjm's avatar

This kind of gifting is exactly my speed, not least of all because I am newly obsessed with Ouai North Bondi.

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Jolie Kerr's avatar

OMG yes the North Bondi!! I ended up with a sample of detangler in that scent and I fell so in love with it I bought the perfume, hand to God. When Dedcool's PR emailed me about the collab I was like SEND ME ALL THE OUAI DETERGENTS I'LL EVEN TAKE THE DRYER SHEETS

I've been hovering over the buy button on the OUAI Hand Wash but I can't quite bring myself to spend $32 on hand soap :/

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mjm's avatar

$32 is a steep ask when the small EDP fragrance is $26. Who knows how these prices are set!

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J.V.Anderson's avatar

Interested to read about the Great Jones sheet pans. Not to be a buzzkill but are they PFAS-free? Went to their website but didn’t see any info.

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