Tis The Season for Giving

Tis’ the Season for Giving Presents By Julia Romano

Can you guess what the common practice is that takes place during the holiday season amongst families and friends throughout the world? Well, here’s a hint in case you are stuck - the chubby man with the thick, white beard and bright red suit is best known for his role in this ancient tradition.

If your answer is ‘ ying through the night sky on a sleigh led by eight reindeer, one with a ashing red nose,’ sorry, but that would make you a bauble brain (ha, ha). If, however, you guessed ‘spreading holiday cheer by blessing others with glorious gi s as his primary purpose,’ you would be right on the money!

And, speaking of money, if you don’t budget wisely when you’re spreading your own Santa cheer, you will be spending all of your ‘gingerbread’ on whatever is in those packages under your Christmas tree, and thus, soon a er the holidays are over and the ‘tidings’ come rolling in, ‘yule’ likely feel “not so merry.”

Here are some suggestions that will help you to not ‘snowball’ into bankruptcy when purchasing presents. Since it’s likely your bankroll is not as bountiful as that jolly man who employs a crew of elves at his North Pole home, it would be wise to rst make a list and then, check it twice. ink back on the past year, and remember who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, and ‘yule’ be able to decide who gets kindness and who gets coal. en, ask yourself how many ‘bells’ you can a ord to spend to bring joy to those you’ve chosen to bestow with your good cheer. Next, keep in mind that when choosing that perfect something for that special someone, you don’t have to be a scrooge, but, don’t be a fruitcake, either, by overspending. When all else fails, just follow that old saying of ‘it’s the thought that counts,’ and the ones you’re blessing on that list will undoubtedly think you’re an angel!

In wrapping it up, keep in mind that the gi s given at Christmas are meant to be symbolic of the tributes made to baby Jesus by the ree Wise Men a er his birth, during the story of the Nativity. Furthermore, the true meaning of the holiday season is not supposed to center around making donations to the government to reduce their budget de cit (ha, ha), but, instead, it’s about acknowledging the blessing of the birth of baby Jesus. To help you stay on-trend and this season with ideas and good tidings for everyone on your ‘nice’ list, and to ensure your wallet is not swept up in the ‘yuletide,’ Good Housekeeping has come up with the following, as the most popular and reasonably priced Christmas gi s of 2022.

Mini Pocket Projector - e

lucky recipient of this gi can easily connect their iPhone or Android phone to watch movies, give presentations or games on the big screen. ere’s a built-in rechargeable battery and speaker.

Cloud Slides - Like pillows for your feet, these extremely comfortable cloud slides are all over social media - and for good reason. ey’re lightweight, supportive, easy to clean, and versatile enough to wear around the house or while running errands.

DIY Slushy Maker - All you have to do is refrigerate this cup for four to ve hours, pour in their drink of choice, and squeeze the cup for a few minutes - and bam, you have a delicious icy beverage. 14 KT gold hoop earrings - Simple and stylish, these lightweight and hypoallergenic hoop earrings have racked up more than 30,000 ve-star reviews on Amazon. ey’re available in rose, white, and yellow gold, as well as four di erent hoop sizes so you can easily nd the perfect pair for her.

3D Moon Lamp - Be transported to another galaxy with 16 color transformations, four ash modes, and a dimmable feature - all easy to control with the included remote. Makes a great night light or decorative lamp for anyone on your list, especially your tween or teenage girl.

Dino Dig Virtual Reality Science

Kit - Let the kids travel back in time and learn about the largest land animal to ever exist, the dinosaur. is virtual reality game o ers eight immersive VR experiences, plus they’ll have the chance to excavate and build their own T-Rex fossil.

Sculpting Bodysuit - e Skim’s Sculpting Bodysuit is meant to support her chest, hold in her core, and li her butt. It’s shapewear, but it’s also designed for everyday use. She can throw jeans and a cardigan on top or wear it under a form- tting long-sleeve dress.

Shiatsu Massager - Super

portable, this neck and back massager is a great gi for literally anyone. ey’ll love the eight kneading massage nodes, infrared heating and three adjustable speeds — all super easy to control, and at such a great price!

Hair Dryer Brush - If she doesn’t have this yet, she’s seriously missing out on bouncy, frizz-free hair. With three heat and speed settings, the Revlon original hair dryer is so easy to use. And, with a price tag like this, it’s no surprise it was rated as the best value option by expert beauty testers.

Mini Waffle Maker

-A best seller, this mini wa e maker is super easy to use. It heats up within minutes and can also cook hash browns, cookies, or even eggs. Plus, there are more than 15 colors and patterns to choose from.

Build - Your - Own Play Fort - Let their imagination run wild! Your kids will never get bored building space ships, castles and cozy caves that are perfect for movie nights you’ll just need to supply some extra sheets and blankets.

Weighted Eye Mask - It’s like a weighted blanket, but for the face. Rest assured, whoever receives this eye mask will love that it soothes migraines, eases anxiety, and promotes better sleep.

Backpack Cooler Chair

- It’s a backpack, cooler, and chair, all packed into one - making it a super creative gi for anyone who loves camping, hiking, or spending time at the beach. If you’re still unsure, ve-star reviewers nd that it’s lightweight and easy to use. Beard Trimmer - Chances are he already has a beard trimmer, but does he have one like this? ere’s a so touch grip and faceted body to give him more control and prevent his hand from slipping as he shaves. Plus, it o ers eight hours of cordless power and the blade repels dirt.

Compact Air Fryer - Voted

the best air fryer for one person by experts, this compact fryer takes up less space on the counter (perfect for dorm room and apartment dwellers). ere are ve stylish colors, including white, red, and aqua.

Weighted Blanket

- Give the gi of better sleep with this weighted blanket! Temperature-balancing technology will keep them warm (but not too warm) all winter long and the removable cover makes it easy to clean. ere are 12-, 15-, 18-, and 20-pound options; buy the right one by calculating eight to 12 percent of their body weight.

Extra Thick Yoga Mat - Yoga mat’s textured foam construction creates traction so it stays in place through an entire workout and the thickness provides a ton of cushion. Plus, there are elastic straps to keep it secure and a shoulder strap for easy carrying.

Always Pan - is best-selling pan is designed to replace eight traditional pieces of cookware. It braises, sears, steams, strains, and more. Choose from gorgeous color options, including azul, spice and sage.

3 - in 1 Charging Sta-

tion - Highly recommended, this easy-to-use charging station is the perfect nightstand accessory. Help to keep AirPods, Apple Watch and iPhone (or Samsung phone) fully charged and within reach.