SavvySugar

Pricey Perfume, a Snowmobile, and Other Unexpected Splurge-y Gifts

Tara Sharp — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:00:00 PDT

For her 31st birthday, Jessica Simpson received a $15,000 Birkin bag from fiancé Eric Johnson. While many of us probably don't own purses that cost as much as a car, I was curious about what your most over-the-top present was. We asked our Facebook fans what was the most extravagant gift they received, and some of the answers were pretty unexpected. See them below!

"One-quarter ounce of perfume that cost $450." - Beth
"Snowmobile! Love it!" - Lisa
"My Canon Rebel T1i from my parents. They have gotten me a lot of really nice things over the years, but that is one of the most extravagant!" - Kirstin
"I am not one to like extravagant things, but the best gift I received has to be a beautiful Disney Dooney and Bourke Tote my husband bought me for my 21st birthday!! I adore it!" - Ariana
"My Kitchenaid mixer, I LOVE it!!" - Rebecca

Ask a Savvy Bride: Do I Bring a Gift If I Was Only Invited to the Reception?

SavvySugar — Fri, 20 May 2011 05:00:40 PDT

Wedding etiquette can be tricky. If you have a conundrum like the one below, be sure to ask our Savvy Bride for help in the Ask Savvy group. Reader Natty recently posed this question.

Dear Savvy Bride,
My cousin recently had a "destination wedding". During the planning it was made very clear that it was going to be a small wedding and that no one but immediate family was invited. I recently learned that nearly 40 people attended the wedding, (including some co-workers). My feelings are hurt since he is more like a brother than a cousin.

During the months building up to the wedding, the bride would not even talk with us about the wedding details. When my sister asked her about the wedding dress, she rudely responded, "Ugh! I don't even want to talk about it!" So, 1. we're not invited to the wedding, and 2. we can't even ask about the wedding!?!?! Come on!

Next month, they are having a reception. I'm not sure what to do for a gift. My cousin is very close to me and I'd like to do something nice for him, however my feelings for the bride leave something to be desired. My sister tells me that since we were not invited to the wedding, we do not have to give a gift. Is this true?

Can anyone offer suggestions for a gift idea? I don't feel like giving something off her greedy gift registry.

To see the Savvy Bride's advice,

read more. Savvy Bride says: I'm sorry to hear that you and the rest of your family were shut out from your cousin's destination wedding - while it might not make sense to you now, I'm sure there were some ground rules that they had to stick with to make it fair to both the bride and the groom and their guest lists. It's pretty clear that you still have hurt feelings, and while you're entitled to have an opinion about your cousin's new wife, she's not going anywhere so I advise you to overcome what happened during their planning process. Now that they are husband and wife, think of them as a package deal - if you want to do something nice for him, it'll be impossible (and not very nice) to exclude her from the equation. I'm a firm believer in never going to a party empty-handed, especially a wedding, so if you're headstrong about not buying something off their registry, you should at least bring a bottle of wine or a small celebratory gift. Hope this helps! Ask anything budget-, etiquette-, or planning-related - well, almost anything - by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group, and I'll find the right expert to help you out. If you are planning a wedding, already happily wed, or still looking for Mr. Right, start sharing your big day with our community. Don’t forget to check the wedding content box on your post.

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?

Reader Asks: Is This Normal? My Friends and I Don't Exchange Presents

Savvy Community — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 03:05:02 PST

This anonymous posting comes from my Savvy Confessions group:

I'm just wondering if this is normal...my friends and I never give each other Christmas presents because we have this, "I won't give you anything, if you don't give me anything for Christmas." We do give each other presents on birthdays, but we just don't want to spend more money on yet another gift. Some people might think we're scrooges or totally ruining the Christmas spirit, but I think we're just being very practical moneywise. I must mention that we do call each other to wish Merry Christmas or meet up for a quick drink. One big bonus out of our "money pact" is that we have an even bigger budget for presents for family. I'm OK with having this type of arrangement with my friends, but I'm just wondering if this is normal!!

Want to spill a secret about work or money? Join our Savvy Confessions group and share it with us - your identity will be safe with you! These posts will be kept anonymous.

10 Lovely Stocking Stuffers For Under $10

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:00:33 PST

Holiday shopping can get overwhelming, and overwhelmingly expensive, but you don't have to go high priced to get someone a pretty gift that feels luxurious. I've rounded up 10 gifts that still show thought, class, and an eye for aesthetics. They'd be great as stocking stuffers or as small individual gifts - and they're all less than a 10 spot.

Are You Buying a Gift For Yourself This Christmas?

Emily Co — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:00:33 PST

We're always talking about what to give other people (and we have all these great guides on SavvySugar), but what about treating yourself? According to a retail survey, 57 percent of shoppers are gifting themselves this holiday season, and that's four percent up from the previous year, The Washington Post reports.

As the economy is slowly rebounding, consumer confidence is picking up as well, which may be why more people are self-gifting this year. Are you adding yourself to your Christmas shopping list, and if so, what are you buying yourself?

Source: Flickr User mmlolek

How Do You Drop Gift Hints For the Holidays?

Colleen Barrett — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 04:00:16 PST

We've been dropping gift suggestions for everyone in your life, but what about little, young you? Unsurprisingly, research reveals men are terrible at picking up women's hints, so let's see what we're doing wrong.

To combat this holiday tragedy, body language expert Professor Geoff Beattie identified four types of hinters. Find out what they are below.

5 Cute, Quirky Hostess Gifts

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:00:00 PST

Staying with friends or family over a holiday and need to bring a present for your kind hostess? It can be hard to think of what would delight someone, especially a relative you may not spend that much time with. Which is why I put together these five pretty, quirky gifts for every price range. They're sure to bring a smile to even the most harried hostess's face, so click through to check them out.

Brilliant or Baffling: USB Necktie Cooler

Emily Co — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 06:00:40 PDT

Is this another ingenious Japanese invention or just another crazy one? All you need to do is plug the necktie cooler ($88) into a USB port and feel immediate relief from the heat when your tie starts blowing at you. Hmm, would this be a potential gift for your significant other or do you think you'll receive a weird look from him?

Peter Som Creates a Beauty-Filled Makeup Bag

BellaSugar — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:00:42 PDT

A few years back, Peter Som's P.S. Kiss lipstick collaboration with Lancôme was one of the year's most coveted shades. This year his partnership with Beauty.com is probably also going to rock some worlds. Buyers who spend $100 or more at the website right now are getting a Som-designed bag full of luxe goodies. "I love prints," he says. "This particular one captures the essence of the Peter Som woman - feminine, individualistic, and with a touch of bold whimsy." Inside, there are products from Korres, Philosophy, and Perricone MD, among others. If you're a big spender or were stocking up anyway, it's a stylish little freebie.