TresSugar

8 Cute Ways to Dress Up Your Gift of Cash

Emily Co — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:12 PST

If you're not convinced by these four reasons of why it's better to give cash than gift cards, perhaps these eight creative ways of dressing up your dollar bills might change your mind. Consider giving cash as a gift this holiday season, and remember, cash does not always have to be cold, hard, and unappealing!

The Dangers That Lurk in Your Easter Basket!

PetSugar — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:34:26 PDT

It's almost Easter weekend, and that may mean baskets of goodies around the house. But beyond the risks of sweeteners and chocolates, there are plenty of threats looming in any sweet-looking Easter basket. Even though paper "grass" is not as dangerous, the shiny, pastel bits seen here can lure in a curious cat (or pup), but pose the same problem as tinsel - strands can't be digested, get stuck in their intestines, and totally mess up the digestive system.

What other hazards lurk inside? Dig deeper and

On the subject of digging, decorated hard-boiled eggs may taste fine to a pet now (dyed shells and all - yuck!) but, if he decides to bury it in the backyard and retrieve it later, he can get very sick from eating those rotten eggs. For the fake front, plastic eggs often smell of the treats inside tempting a pooch to take a nibble. And, if those treats are jellybeans, forget about it. Jellybeans are hard for many children to chew and can cause a choking hazard, so imagine what it'd do to a pup!

Lastly, small children's toys may also look like toys to a pet, but these fragile knickknacks can wreak havoc on a pup's delicate tum. They're definitely not gonna hold up to his chompers and, if he gets plastic bits stuck inside, he may have to have surgery. Not a great way to celebrate any holiday. Be on the safe side and don't leave gifts for the two-legged family members unsupervised from the furry friends. And, if you are hiding treats around the house, keep pets in another room and total up all the prizes after they're found to make sure none have been hidden too well for a person . . . but not for a doggie's powerful sniffer!

Do You Prefer "Experience" Gifts or Physical Presents?

Emily Co — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:44:29 PDT

I was talking to some pals about "experience" gifts vs. physical presents that you can keep and it seems that everyone has a different opinion. Some think "experience" gifts (like a nice dinner out) create memories which will last you a lifetime but others prefer physical items to have and to hold.

I see the allure of having physical mementos as memories fade more easily, but it's all a matter of preference. And then, there are some that prefer both! What about you - what type of gift would you prefer to receive?

Here's Why You Shouldn't Give Your Friends Designer Gifts

Emily Co — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:10:53 PST

If you think you're doing your friend a big favor by buying a really expensive item that she's been lusting over, there might be one drawback that you probably didn't know about. It's called the "aesthetic incongruity resolution" and it gives people the urge to buy things to match up with the nicer item, according to the Boston Globe.

For example, if your closet has no designer pickings, getting a brand-new Balenciaga from your pal might upset the balance. You might use it as an excuse to get a pair of expensive Manolos to "even things out" in your wardrobe.

There are plenty of gifts that won't cause this designer distortion in your friend's life. If you want to gift your friend with something meaningful, consider experience gifts such as tickets to the theater or crafty presents like scrapbooks or framed pictures.

Do You Expect a Valentine's Day Gift?

TresSugar — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 13:00:59 PST

Valentine's Day presents can be as ridiculous as a cuddle pillow or as thoughtless as a heart-shaped box of candy. But they can also be romantic, thoughtful, and really, really nice. I'd never deny a good gift!

Let's forget gift quality for now (we'll talk about that after Valentine's Day), and let's talk about whether you actually want or expect a gift on Feb. 14. A lot of women could not care less while others expect it like a birthday present. Which are you?

What's the Best Way of Getting Rid of Excess Birthday Presents?

Leta Shy — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:00:58 PST

You plan the perfect birthday party for your tot and invite the whole class. Then, after the day of eating cake and running around, mom is left with a mound of presents for her lil birthday boy or girl.

While birthday gifts are appreciated, the loot can be hard to accommodate. Some mamas have been known to regift the goods in a different social circle after their tots choose the ones they want to keep, while others end up donating the excess to charity. Others save guests from expenditures by telling parents that the party is a no present affair! Whether it's to help your children learn a valuable lesson on being conscientious consumers, or because you don't have room for all the toys, tell me, how do you get rid of excess gifts?

Did You Get or Give More This Christmas?

SavvySugar — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 06:00:13 PST

It's hard to put a cost estimation on presents sometimes, because the thought and effort that goes into picking or making a gift can be priceless. The thing is, you don't want to go overboard with buying something that's too expensive or the recipient might feel obliged to return the same favor. And, you have to factor in your personal budget. Therefore it's always safer to go with "experience" gifts, which include handmade coupons for things like a girls' night out or offering to cook meals. Handmade presents are a good choice as well.

But what was this Christmas like for you - do you feel like you gave more than you received, or do you feel that you received more than you gave?

What’s the Worst Gift You Ever Received?

Annie Scudder — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 04:00:28 PST

Maybe a not-so-romantic pair of slippers from your new boyfriend, or an ugly sweater from your great-aunt who doesn't appreciate its ironic value makes your not-so-merry Christmas present hall of fame. Or perhaps it's a gift that proves someone hasn't been paying attention at all, like a box of candy from a co-worker who knows you're diabetic, or tickets to see a band your boyfriend should know you hate.

I hope Santa brought you everything you wanted this year, but what presents of Christmas pasts have caused you to hold back a cringe while opening?

Why People Hate on Gift Cards

Emily Co — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:50:34 PST

I was amused to read an article in Slate about the evils of gift cards because I coincidentally recently talked to a friend about her gift card fiasco. I've also previously talked about the ways cash trumps gift cards and suggested some cute ways to dress up your present of cold, hard cash. So if you're thinking about giving someone special a gift card for the holidays, read some of the arguments against them before buying one.

Spend More: Most people tend to go over the limit, because sometimes the amount is not enough for what they actually want from the store or they're buying something they won't necessarily spend money on just to use up the gift card.
Dose of Guilt: If your gift card expires, you'll feel a healthy dose of guilt about wasting money and maybe blame yourself for forgetting.
Bothersome Hiccups: Be aware that you'll face bumps that you won't get with cash. My friend suffered a bunch of hiccups because the salesman accidentally rang the card up twice. She then proceeded to have to go through customer service, who said they couldn't do anything about it. This resulted in going back and forth between the store and the gift card issuer, which took up a lot of time and energy.

FabSugarTV’s Holiday Gift Guide!

FabTV — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:35:05 PST

The holiday season may be in full swing, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to find the perfect gift for all your style savvy friends. We’ve rounded up our top fashion picks for both guys and girls and included our suggestions for fashionable stocking stuffers. From Shashi friendship bracelets, to La Mer watches- watch to see what you need to get your friends for the holidays!