13 thoughtful gifts for someone who is hard to shop for

13 thoughtful gifts for someone who is hard to shop for

Some people have everything, while others are not materialistic enough to want anything. However, gifting to the former can feel like an impossible task. When you don’t know a person’s preferred perfume or aren’t sure if they use a specific brand of shoes, it’s time to dig deeper and opt for thoughtful gifts instead. Therefore, we bring you a list of practical unisex gifting items to buy for those who are impossible to shop for.

RFID-blocking card wallet
An RFID-blocking card wallet protects personal data if you use cards, passports, or other items with RFID chips. Moreover, these card-blocking wallets also shield a person from digital theft.

Neck massager pillow
Another gift option for office-goers is a compact and portable neck massager pillow. It has heating functions that relieve aches, knots, and muscle tension and can be incredibly useful for those working long hours at a desk.

Journals and planners
High-quality, hardbound, or leather-wrapped journals and planners look classy, are frequently needed, and are reasonably priced, making them the perfect last-minute gifting items.

Motivational books
Motivational books that guide on topics like time management, mindsets, habits, etc., can add value to a person’s life. So this can be a classic gift even for those who rarely read.

Green tea set
Choose a traditional green tea set if you’re unsure whether the recipient is attempting to go decaf or if they just like tea, in general. The tea set can include an assortment of immunity-boosting blends like chamomile, mint, lemon ginger, and more.

Scented candles gift set
Scented candles are therapeutic and add soothing vibes to one’s home, making them an ideal gift for anyone.

Plants
You can never go wrong with indoor herbs that are air-purifying and decorative. They are easy to care for, add beauty to one’s home, and are suitable for all ages and genders. You can also consider using a small herb garden with a planter box.

Luxury blankets or comforters
The holiday season will bring winter chills, so comforters can make for an all-rounder gift to keep the person warm and cozy.

Handmade bath bombs
Attractive handmade bath bombs are a safe and fun gifting option for kids. They come in vibrant colors and a myriad of shapes and sizes. Alternatively, you can gift a set of assorted handmade soaps to adult recipients.

Suitcase
If you don’t mind going bulky, you can opt for a unisex cabin suitcase or luggage made from solid ABS material with a built-in lock system. Apart from being classy, it is also incredibly resourceful.

Fridge magnets
If you’re visiting a new place and want to get many gifts, fridge magnets can act as perfect souvenirs.

Gift cards
Gift cards from online or offline retail shops give the recipient the freedom to buy exactly what they want.

Cash
When you run out of all options, there’s nothing better than gifting cash in a fancy envelope. It might not be the most creative gift, but it definitely is the most practical and useful one.

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A handy guide to buying the right laptop

Laptops are powerful portable tech that is versatile, compact, and fast, making them the preferred choice. However, the best laptop for you is the one that complies with your needs. Now, there is a plethora of laptops in the market. This makes choosing the right device a daunting task. To help you, here is a guide to help you buy a laptop as per your needs and the best ones available in the market. Plan your budget Thanks to tough competition between laptop brands, you can buy a laptop for as low as $200. But if you can increase your budget, you can buy a quality laptop with better performance and features. Laptops like HP Stream and Dell Inspiron 11 3000 are the least expensive, costing about $150-$200. Laptops costing $900 and above have faster processors, cutting-edge graphics, and powerful resolutions. Moreover, they are lighter, making them efficiently portable. Pick your operating system Do you want a Windows or a macOS? There is no wrong answer, as the choice of the operating system solely depends on your preference. If you are confused, here’s a brief summary of each. Windows 10, Microsoft’s latest operating system, is the most flexible. Moreover, laptops with Windows OS are generally inexpensive and offer features like touch screens and dual graphic chips. On the other hand, macOS Big Sur is Apple’s latest desktop operating system and is expensive. If you are a tech wizard and know your way around an OS, you can also choose operating systems like Chrome OS and Linux. Specifications As per your needs and budget, opt for the most powerful processor, as processors influence the performance and speed of the laptop. Most laptops have an Intel® processor, although some laptops even come with an AMD processor. Inexpensive laptops offer Intel® Atom®, Intel® Celeron®, and Intel® Pentium® CPUs that are good for light document editing and browsing. However, if multitasking and speed are important to you, then opt for an Intel® Core™ i3, or better yet, an i5 or i7. Next, you should check the RAM size. Most offer only 4GB RAM space. However, experts recommend that you opt for a minimum of 8GB RAM. Furthermore, get a laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD) since these are three times faster than a hard drive. Consider buying a laptop with a minimum of 9-plus hours battery life with a 12.5- to 14-inch screen size. Top 5 laptops of 2021 To further help you, here are the five best laptops of 2021: Equipped with an 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor and 16 GB RAM, the Google Pixelbook Go is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a fast and efficient laptop. Along with a great processor and impeccable response rate, this laptop boasts of a touchscreen display that can play 4K videos. If you’re looking to upgrade your laptop, checkout Google’s laptops on sale and save big this shopping season. The Dell XPS 13 offers excellent performance, 3.5K OLED touchscreen, i3-i7 processor, option to choose an 8GB or 16GB RAM, SSD storage, powerful display, and a sleek design. The Apple MacBook Air with the latest M1 chip provides an outstanding 14-plus hours of battery life and lightning-fast processing speed. Next is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 that is powered by the Intel® Core™ i5/i7. It comes with features like touchscreen, top-notch graphics, and up to 1TB SSD storage. Finally, don’t forget to check out the latest IdeaPad Slim 7 by electronic giant Lenovo. The recently-released laptop comes with a 15.6” display, 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processor, 512 GB SSD storage, Dolby Atmos® Speaker System, and a whole lot more. If you find this laptop a bit pricey, don’t worry. There are several fantastic deals on Lenovo laptops right now, and you can grab this one at a lower price from the company’s website.

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6 gift card mistakes to avoid

Gift cards can replace cash, and many businesses offer gift cards to customers as a way to shop for goods and services. Corporate gift cards, holiday cards, and even cash-back cards are offered for redemption online or at the store. But redeeming them may not always be easy, and if done incorrectly, one can miss out on significant savings and incentives. Here are five shopping blunders to avoid when using gift cards: Not treating gift cards like cash It is advisable to treat gift cards like cash and keep them where they are easily accessible and visible, like in the wallet. Additionally, holding off using them is a common gift card mistake, as one can easily forget or misplace the card So, treat it like cash to ensure that it is put to the best use whenever necessary. Forgetting to cash out Many retailers allow people to cash out a small balance left on the gift card after making a purchase. Retailers in some states are even required by law to pay the remaining amount. In certain states, the threshold for the payout is as low as $1. This option of immediate cashback is usually valid at physical stores. Here, one can even combine gift card balances and ask for store credit. It is a good idea to check with the cashier about the gift card policy. Not checking the balance After a few shopping trips, one may have many unused gift cards. These cards still have enough value to be used for another purchase. However, one can only do this if one is aware of the precise value of the cards combined. This is why keeping track of the unused amount is important. While stores may not directly have a system to consolidate different balance amounts, it is also possible to use multiple gift cards on a purchase during checkout at some stores. Getting cards at online auctions Some people receive gift cards that they do not wish to redeem and would rather get cash. So, they put up gift cards for sale at a reduced price on auction sites. While it may seem harmless, this could a huge gift card mistake as the validity of the cards cannot be confirmed. Additionally, before such cards are auctioned, scammers may skim and follow the magnetic data on them. Once the card is activated, fraudsters can use it to take advantage of all the included benefits. So, one should steer clear of auction websites and get cards from reputed retailers. Not taking a picture of gift cards Gift cards without magnetic strips have bar codes and card numbers that are difficult to remember. So, one can take a picture or save the information on one’s phone to ensure one is able to redeem it even if one misplaces the card. Not checking for trusted sellers A retailer can declare bankruptcy while still operating its stores and making sales. The business may only accept gift cards for a certain period or may cease accepting them entirely if bankruptcy proceedings commence. So, one should check the credibility of the seller before buying a gift card. If one’s looking for trustworthy gifting options and a variety of holiday discounts, Yeti is a great brand to check out. Yeti’s official store and retailer sites can offer massive holiday discounts on outdoor gear.

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4 tips that can help you pick the right investment advisor

4 tips that can help you pick the right investment advisor

An investment advisor can be a game-changer. A capable advisor can help solve most of your financial issues and give you the best investment advice so that you can turn market situations to your favor. But, finding the right investment advisor is not easy. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind while looking for the best investment advisor. Know what type of service you need First, you need to decide what kind of financial assistance you need. Do you need help picking investments? Or are you seeking advice on real estate, retirement, or insurance needs? Asking yourself these questions will help determine the type of investment advisor you are looking for. Nowadays, many people use a robo-advisor, which is as competent as a human investment advisor. A robo-advisor is great for investment management and other basic investments. But if you want substantial transformation in your money-situation, a human advisor is the viable option. Choose a fee-only advisor If you’ve decided to pick a human advisor, the next step is to choose the type of advisor: commission-based, fee-based, or fee-only. If you’re planning something big financially, you must pick a fee-only advisor. Such advisors work for and get paid by other clients like you, so they always act in their clients’ best interest.
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Handy tips for retirement-focused investments

Handy tips for retirement-focused investments

With pension plans becoming more and more obsolete, retirement-focused investments have come to the fore in the past few years. Besides helping you fund your future, these valuable assets also provide incredible gains, and in some cases, constant income till the end of life. Since investing for retirement—and planning it—can prove to be challenging, we have put together a list of tips that may be helpful in the process. Assess your options Multiple investment vehicles are ideal for long-term gains and can return a sizable amount by the time you retire. Mutual funds, stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds, cash investments, annuities, and dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) are also good sources of high returns, although they depend on investor characteristics and risk aptitude. Saving money in certain tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k), individual retirement accounts (IRA), and brokerage accounts is also an option. Start early and young No one is ever too young to invest. It’s a healthy habit that can earn serious money in the long term, with even the smallest of investments capable of making a difference a few years down the line. Starting early gives your money time to grow and lets you accumulate more compound interest over a period of time.
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4 popular credit cards for college students

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A good credit score is essential as it can be a criterion for lucrative job prospects or renting an apartment. Moreover, a good credit score is an uncompromisable necessity while applying for a loan that has terms and conditions that favor you. To ensure that you have a good credit score, it is better to start building it young and early. One of the easiest ways to do so is by applying for a student credit card from prominent credit cards companies. Now, there are several credit cards companies that offer lucrative credit cards, making choosing the right one confusing. To help you narrow down your choices, here are some of the best credit cards companies that offer student credit cards. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students: One of the biggest credit card companies in the country Bank of America offers a slew of benefits with its student credit card. With each dollar spent using this card, students can earn 1.5 points. This applies to purchases without any caps. The points can be redeemed as discounts on hotels, flights, rental cars, and vacation packages. There are no restrictions or blackout dates applicable for availing these discounts. With no foreign transaction fee or annual fee, the card allows one to earn nearly 25,000 points on spending about $1000 in the first 90 days.
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What you must know about guaranteed business loans

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If you’re looking for funding your small business with a loan, you’ll most likely come across the term “guaranteed business loans.” People often misunderstand this term as business loans that are guaranteed to be approved. But, this is not what guaranteed business loans means. To clarify the confusion, let’s understand what the term actually means, and discuss the most popular types of guaranteed business loans. What are guaranteed business loans? In simple terms, guaranteed business loans in the world of small business loans refer to loans that are secured or backed by a guarantee. The guarantee can be in the form of collateral, deposit, or an agreement. This essentially means that the lender is guaranteed to receive their money back even if the borrower fails to pay. When we talk about guaranteed business loans, we refer to loans with a personal guarantee or, more commonly, loans guaranteed by the small business administration (SBA). Let’s take a look at both these types. Personally guaranteed business loans As you understand from the term “personal,” when you make a personal guarantee on a business loan, you essentially agree to sell your assets to pay off the loan, if your business is unable to do so.
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Exchange-traded funds (ETF) have been gaining popularity in the investment sector for some time now. Along with mutual funds, they have been one of the most preferred investment options among investors. With investors having pumped in billions of dollars in ETFs by now, these funds sure seem like a lucrative investment avenue. However, financial experts suggest treading this path carefully so as to avoid unforeseeable losses. Here are a few mistakes that you can avoid while investing in high dividend ETFs: Overlooking long-term investment Looking at long-term goals is the golden rule when it comes to any type of investment. However, seasoned investors invest in ETFs on a short-term basis through a type of trading called intraday trade. This type of trading allows the investors to buy and sell stocks and other investments on the same day. However, if not thought out carefully, investing in high dividend ETFs through intraday trading can result in lower returns and higher trading costs. Buying an ETF simply based on its name This is one of the most common mistakes people make when investing in high dividend ETFs. Investors may think that an ETF’s name provides an insight into its investment reach, i.e., whether the ETF has local or/and global investors.
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How to qualify for a reverse mortgage

A reverse mortgage provides the elderly access to equity in their homes and supplements their income. With its flexible repayment option, it gives homeowners more control over their money. However, the government has laid out strict rules and guidelines concerning reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. So, if you’re considering a reverse mortgage, read on to know the reverse mortgage eligibility criteria and the types of reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgage eligibility criteria The first criterion for a reverse mortgage is that the primary homeowner must be at least 62 years of age. If your spouse is under the age of 62, you might still be eligible if you meet other reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. If you’re not 62 or older than 62, then you won’t qualify for a reverse mortgage even if you satisfy the criteria mentioned below. You must be the primary resident of the home you’re seeking a reverse mortgage for. Note that vacation homes or rental properties do not qualify. You must either entirely own the house or have at least 50% equity in it. If you have any mortgage balance remaining while applying for a reverse mortgage, you must be in a financial position to pay off that balance.
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