Ideas for gift suggestions to avoid junk

[Cranky]

My mom got me some fancy King Arthur Flour baking mixes and a bottle of vanilla (I know why it's so expensive, but why is vanilla so expensive?!)

Artificial vanilla is chemically the exact same molecule (vanillin), doesn't have any negative environmental impacts, and I bought an 8 oz bottle yesterday for $1.50.

Not a great gift idea, as Dollar Slice said, but far preferable for everyday use imo.

FTR I use artificial vanilla most of the time too (I'm cheap!).  But if you put it up against real vanilla there's a pretty clear taste difference.  Vanillin is the predominant one, but is only one of a whole host of chemicals that make vanilla taste like vanilla.  If you make a cookie with real vanilla vs artificial vanilla and eat them back to back . . . you will be able to pick out the real vanilla.  My wife and I did this when I kept insisting that the fake stuff was the same.  :P

(Also unfortunately not the same - minced garlic in jars vs the annoying whole cloves that you have to peel and chop up.  Shockingly different flavour in cooking.  Sucks.  I hate chopping garlic.)

One of the big cooking magazines did blind taste tests and found that people couldn’t actually tell the difference between real and artificial vanilla in baked stuff.

I buy a big bottle at Costco once/year and it’s not too expensive spread out over a years worth of baking.

[Dollar Slice]

(Also unfortunately not the same - minced garlic in jars vs the annoying whole cloves that you have to peel and chop up.  Shockingly different flavour in cooking.  Sucks.  I hate chopping garlic.)

If you want to do another taste comparison side by side... I buy garlic cloves in large-ish bags and put them in the freezer to stay fresh. Then I grate them into the pan with a microplane, which is easy when it's frozen solid. No muss, no fuss. Very easy to clean when it's frozen, it isn't sticky and smelly on your fingers. But does freezing it degrade the flavor?

[Tasse]

Here's a source for 3 different useful/consumable gifts (coffee, soap, and socks) that donates 100% of after-tax profits to the global health charity Partners In Health: good.store/collections/all

[Thrallama]

My mom got me some fancy King Arthur Flour baking mixes and a bottle of vanilla (I know why it's so expensive, but why is vanilla so expensive?!)

Artificial vanilla is chemically the exact same molecule (vanillin), doesn't have any negative environmental impacts, and I bought an 8 oz bottle yesterday for $1.50.

Not a great gift idea, as Dollar Slice said, but far preferable for everyday use imo.

Yes, artificial vanilla is chemically the same and is neck and neck with "real" vanilla extract in professional tastings, but it is mostly derived from petroleum so definitely has some environmental impact. It comes down to weighing the impact of vanilla bean farming/harvesting/curing vs oil extraction, I suppose.

My bottle of fancy vanilla will probably last me 8-12 months, depending on how much baking I do. I prefer its taste over the artificial stuff.

[Dollar Slice]

Here's a source for 3 different useful/consumable gifts (coffee, soap, and socks) that donates 100% of after-tax profits to the global health charity Partners In Health: good.store/collections/all

A couple of my friends have gotten stuff from there (soap and socks) and they both really liked them (enough to tell me about them).

[vand]

Without any hint of sarcasm, I genuinely love receiving socks as gifts.  Not totally black ones that you can't easily pair up after a wash though - that drives me nuts. They should have some distinguishing colour or pattern on them that easily lets you pair them up. That shows real consideration when someone ticks those boxes.

[JupiterGreen]

Without any hint of sarcasm, I genuinely love receiving socks as gifts.  Not totally black ones that you can't easily pair up after a wash though - that drives me nuts. They should have some distinguishing colour or pattern on them that easily lets you pair them up. That shows real consideration when someone ticks those boxes.

Good idea, socks need to be replaced often enough just be sure the person is not high maintanance. I love receiving socks too, but I am picky. I can only wear cotton socks and I prefer thicker ones since I am on my feet all day at my job. Someone kept buying me those fun (maybe acrylic?) socks and I had to ask them to stop because I can't wear them. Some of us can't wear wool either (even smart wool irritates me). I just found out the nice work socks I normally buy have been discontinued. So if anyone has recommendations on thicker mostly cotton socks, please share.

[Tasse]

Without any hint of sarcasm, I genuinely love receiving socks as gifts.  Not totally black ones that you can't easily pair up after a wash though - that drives me nuts. They should have some distinguishing colour or pattern on them that easily lets you pair them up. That shows real consideration when someone ticks those boxes.

Interesting. I now refuse to use patterned socks that only have one match because losing one makes two unusable. Whereas losing one sock from an identical 12-pack leaves you with 11 usable socks.

Sorry this has devolved into off-topic, but FTR, I edited my claim that artificial vanilla doesn't have ANY negative environmental effects. However, from my very quick research, the issue is more about the catalysts used than the sometimes-petroleum precursor--that mostly seems to be using up a byproduct of oil production that's already happening. If demand for oil falls enough that artificial vanilla demand is propping it up, then I'll buy that argument. As for the catalyst, chemists are actively working on greener production methods, though it will probably be a while before they're widely used. Personally I think all that is still preferable to deforesting fragile ecosystems, but I take the point that it's not utterly black and white.

[GuitarStv]

I only buy socks every few years.  Always the same colour and size - when they all start wearing out it's time to replace.  This way there's never a need to find and match up socks after doing laundry.  If someone were to buy me socks it would be annoying because it would fuck up the system.

[BlueHouse]

Without any hint of sarcasm, I genuinely love receiving socks as gifts.  Not totally black ones that you can't easily pair up after a wash though - that drives me nuts. They should have some distinguishing colour or pattern on them that easily lets you pair them up. That shows real consideration when someone ticks those boxes.

Interesting. I now refuse to use patterned socks that only have one match because losing one makes two unusable. Whereas losing one sock from an identical 12-pack leaves you with 11 usable socks.

I try to do the same.  I do have a small bin next to my other socks though that is labelled "orphans" and when I can't find a match, it goes there.   It's astounding when you have a place to keep orphaned socks, how many get reunited eventually! 

[BlueHouse]

 I'm giving a canister of defensive bear spray with a matching holster.   
 Merry Christmas. 

[GuitarStv]

I'm giving a canister of defensive bear spray with a matching holster.   
 Merry Christmas.

I'd rather spray an aggressive bear than a defensive one.



Just sayin'.

[Metalcat]

My mom got me some fancy King Arthur Flour baking mixes and a bottle of vanilla (I know why it's so expensive, but why is vanilla so expensive?!)

Artificial vanilla is chemically the exact same molecule (vanillin), doesn't have any negative environmental impacts, and I bought an 8 oz bottle yesterday for $1.50.

Not a great gift idea, as Dollar Slice said, but far preferable for everyday use imo.

FTR I use artificial vanilla most of the time too (I'm cheap!).  But if you put it up against real vanilla there's a pretty clear taste difference.  Vanillin is the predominant one, but is only one of a whole host of chemicals that make vanilla taste like vanilla.  If you make a cookie with real vanilla vs artificial vanilla and eat them back to back . . . you will be able to pick out the real vanilla.  My wife and I did this when I kept insisting that the fake stuff was the same.  :P

(Also unfortunately not the same - minced garlic in jars vs the annoying whole cloves that you have to peel and chop up.  Shockingly different flavour in cooking.  Sucks.  I hate chopping garlic.)

I use freeze dried chopped garlic. Still not as good as fresh, but several times better than jarred stuff IMO.

[BlueHouse]

I'm giving a canister of defensive bear spray with a matching holster.   
 Merry Christmas.

I'd rather spray an aggressive bear than a defensive one.



Just sayin'.

I think I'd rather go up against a bear than some of the teens that live in my city.  They're completely irrational with no fear of accountability and no understanding of mortality.  At least bears try to avoid danger. 

[GuitarStv]

My mom got me some fancy King Arthur Flour baking mixes and a bottle of vanilla (I know why it's so expensive, but why is vanilla so expensive?!)

Artificial vanilla is chemically the exact same molecule (vanillin), doesn't have any negative environmental impacts, and I bought an 8 oz bottle yesterday for $1.50.

Not a great gift idea, as Dollar Slice said, but far preferable for everyday use imo.

FTR I use artificial vanilla most of the time too (I'm cheap!).  But if you put it up against real vanilla there's a pretty clear taste difference.  Vanillin is the predominant one, but is only one of a whole host of chemicals that make vanilla taste like vanilla.  If you make a cookie with real vanilla vs artificial vanilla and eat them back to back . . . you will be able to pick out the real vanilla.  My wife and I did this when I kept insisting that the fake stuff was the same.  :P

(Also unfortunately not the same - minced garlic in jars vs the annoying whole cloves that you have to peel and chop up.  Shockingly different flavour in cooking.  Sucks.  I hate chopping garlic.)

I use freeze dried chopped garlic. Still not as good as fresh, but several times better than jarred stuff IMO.

I do not understand how the garlic from a jar can taste so radically different.  It's the same damned thing!

[iris lily]

My mom got me some fancy King Arthur Flour baking mixes and a bottle of vanilla (I know why it's so expensive, but why is vanilla so expensive?!)

Artificial vanilla is chemically the exact same molecule (vanillin), doesn't have any negative environmental impacts, and I bought an 8 oz bottle yesterday for $1.50.

Not a great gift idea, as Dollar Slice said, but far preferable for everyday use imo.

FTR I use artificial vanilla most of the time too (I'm cheap!).  But if you put it up against real vanilla there's a pretty clear taste difference.  Vanillin is the predominant one, but is only one of a whole host of chemicals that make vanilla taste like vanilla.  If you make a cookie with real vanilla vs artificial vanilla and eat them back to back . . . you will be able to pick out the real vanilla.  My wife and I did this when I kept insisting that the fake stuff was the same.  :P

(Also unfortunately not the same - minced garlic in jars vs the annoying whole cloves that you have to peel and chop up.  Shockingly different flavour in cooking.  Sucks.  I hate chopping garlic.)

I use freeze dried chopped garlic. Still not as good as fresh, but several times better than jarred stuff IMO.

I do not understand how the garlic from a jar can taste so radically different.  It's the same damned thing!

It might be the variety of garlic in jars to consider. There are many cultivars.

[Metalcat]

My mom got me some fancy King Arthur Flour baking mixes and a bottle of vanilla (I know why it's so expensive, but why is vanilla so expensive?!)

Artificial vanilla is chemically the exact same molecule (vanillin), doesn't have any negative environmental impacts, and I bought an 8 oz bottle yesterday for $1.50.

Not a great gift idea, as Dollar Slice said, but far preferable for everyday use imo.

FTR I use artificial vanilla most of the time too (I'm cheap!).  But if you put it up against real vanilla there's a pretty clear taste difference.  Vanillin is the predominant one, but is only one of a whole host of chemicals that make vanilla taste like vanilla.  If you make a cookie with real vanilla vs artificial vanilla and eat them back to back . . . you will be able to pick out the real vanilla.  My wife and I did this when I kept insisting that the fake stuff was the same.  :P

(Also unfortunately not the same - minced garlic in jars vs the annoying whole cloves that you have to peel and chop up.  Shockingly different flavour in cooking.  Sucks.  I hate chopping garlic.)

I use freeze dried chopped garlic. Still not as good as fresh, but several times better than jarred stuff IMO.

I do not understand how the garlic from a jar can taste so radically different.  It's the same damned thing!

A lot of things that are chopped up and sit in liquid for a long time lose the compounds that give them smell and flavour. This is why perfume is added to orange juice. After sitting in a vat long enough, all orange juice tastes extremely bland. Interestingly, the perfume added in the US is very different than what is added in Canada, because Canadians and Americans apparently have a very different concept of what oranges smell and taste like.

The freeze dried garlic has better flavour because the compounds that smell and taste like.garlic are preserved better and then it's only in liquid briefly to be rehydrated, so it's tastes and smells more similar to freshly chopped garlic.

[Tasse]

Today I lost my lengthy and valiant attempt to avoid owning a "squishmallow," a type of stuffed animal collectible that DH's family are obsessed with. I don't have anything against them, really, but I had no interest in owning one and they take up a lot of space.

Can't expect much better when the 5 year old insists on picking out presents for everyone. I pray we are not gifted a second one anytime soon.

[Villanelle]

Today I lost my lengthy and valiant attempt to avoid owning a "squishmallow," a type of stuffed animal collectible that DH's family are obsessed with. I don't have anything against them, really, but I had no interest in owning one and they take up a lot of space.

Can't expect much better when the 5 year old insists on picking out presents for everyone. I pray we are not gifted a second one anytime soon.

LOL.  The person who motivated me to start this thread is the reason I own a unicorn squishmallow. (IDK if it's real or a knock off.)  We got it a few years ago and I do still own it because it is very soft, so we just use it as a throw pillow on the sofa to lean against or ball up for comfort. 

[Dicey]

Lol, I've given my older two grandkids each one (a unicorn and a shark) new with tags on. They love them. Fortunately,  I got them ay my favorite thrift store :-)

ETA: the younger one also got a pair of shark pajamas with his squishmallow, also new with tags on, that I got free from a score at the town dump's store. Squee!

[Tasse]

I have nothing against gifting a squishmallow to someone who wants them. It's just that I do not want them.

[GuitarStv]

I realized that my wife gas a dozen or so pleather belts in various state of cracking and disrepair . . . so I got her a nice dress belt and casual belt.  Both are full grain leather, so if they hold up like my leather belt (which dad got me in grade eight) that should permanently fix the belt problem.

[Villanelle]

I have nothing against gifting a squishmallow to someone who wants them. It's just that I do not want them.

I definitely didn't want mine, though given that I still own it, I suppose it was semi-useful.  Not the worst give I've received, but still not a good one, and certainly a waste of money. 

[Cranky]

There is actually a robust secondhand market in squishmallows, with a bunch of people specializing in them.

[Tasse]

There is actually a robust secondhand market in squishmallows, with a bunch of people specializing in them.

Does this mean we could make money on ours? 😂

[Villanelle]

UPDATE:  The person in question sent a shipment from Omaha Steaks.  Certainly not the least expensive meat and sides, or the best quality, but it is a useful, consumable gift so I consider it a win. 

[ringer707]

Great surprise gift I received from my mom and stepdad this year- gravel for our driveway! Dump truck showed up and spread it the other day. Great gift especially considering we have a long driveway, so quite pricey as well.

[Just Joe]

DW and I focused on our recent kitchen renovation as our gift to each other. And then she bought me a nice backpack as my current one is not getting the job done any more.