Category: Business

The digital world has made keeping data simple, but it has also introduced new risks, like cyberattacks and the potential loss of information as a result of manmade and natural disasters. Invoices, company finances, employee information, and customer details are just some examples of the sensitive data that modern businesses deal with every day and must secure.

The easiest way to ensure that you never lose critical data is to make copies of it and store it in at another or several other locations, whether they’re physical or virtual. The loss of data can have far-reaching consequences, including damage to your reputation and the inability to restore normal operations. 

Businesses typically require a lot of storage space, as well as simple access to their data, and most importantly they need all of that to be secure. It can be quite easy to overlook factors like performance and security, leaving businesses vulnerable to data loss, data tampering, and other threats. All of that is due to the complexity involved in data storage and in selecting the appropriate strategy for your situation. Companies need to work out a strong, reliable backup strategy based on the right technology, which guarantees ease of use and a unified interface. 

1. Selecting the Most Appropriate Method of Data Storage 

The two most frequent methods for storing data used by companies nowadays are in the cloud and on storage devices. Keeping backups on storage devices in a safe, off-site location is a good strategy to ensure that your business data is secure. Sensitive information can be safely stored in several different formats and mediums, including hard copies, encrypted flash drives, offline computers, and other devices. A network-attached storage (NAS) device can also be used for off-site data backups. 

You should also learn what is NAS backup and how it combines the best of both worlds, making this method for storing data one of the most secure options. In a way, it’s kind of like having your private cloud at work, only better. By choosing to host your own cloud, you may reap the efficiencies and cost savings of cloud computing without giving up control of your data or any administrative powers. This device can be accessed remotely over the internet by authorized users, and it’s great for scalability since it allows you to easily add more devices to the existing network as your needs grow, by simply adding more devices. 

Cloud storage refers to storing data online. The security guaranteed by different cloud service providers varies greatly. Reliable cloud services provide upkeep, management, backup, and access to customers over a network, usually the internet. Data storage on the cloud typically incurs a monthly cost, and more space can be procured on an as-needed basis. 

2. Find the Right Technology for Regular Data Backup

It’s clear that businesses can’t put all their trust in the staff when it comes to the safety and security of their data, which is why implementing the right data storage technology into your backup strategy is crucial. Keep in mind that human error is one of the most common causes of data loss, so aside from finding the right storage method you should invest in cybersecurity software and use solutions that will automate the backup process.

Hardware solutions like external hard drives and storage appliances are generally quite easy to use, but using backup software is very important because it’s versatile and it provides added capabilities. You can specify the systems and data you want to copy, schedule backups to run automatically, and assign storage media to individual categories of data. 

3. Establishing Clear Guidelines for Safe Data Storage 

Nevertheless, to reduce the likelihood of accidents and security breaches you must make sure that all employees are on the same page about how to handle critical company information. Take care of your company’s data with ease and efficiency by establishing some standards among the personnel regarding the implementation of security measures to protect the data. 

You have to take every precaution to protect the confidentiality of the credentials you use to gain entry to sensitive data. Users should avoid making weak passwords and reusing them across accounts. The company’s private data should be encrypted, and passwords should be carefully monitored. Using multi-factor authentication is a great approach to keep prying eyes out of important files.

Conclusion 

Companies need a solid backup strategy in place for backing up and securing their data. Relying on yourself or your employees to keep your data safe, can be just as inefficient and insecure as keeping data only in one place. These simple steps can help you learn how to choose the most appropriate method for backing up your data.

The cost of living is going up and up thanks to inflation, which rose 7.1% in November compared to the previous year.

If you’ve found some relief at the gas pump recently, you’ve likely still felt the financial pinch at the grocery store and when making other everyday purchases.

If you’re looking to stabilize your rising costs, you’re going to have to think a bit differently about the way you shop.

14 Savvy Ways to Fight Price Inflation

Here are savings tips to help you fight price inflation on everyday purchases.

1. Comparison Shop Before You Head to the Grocery Store

Prices for individual products can vary wildly between retailers, so you can save a lot by switching to the store that charges least for your staples.

After creating a list of your household’s needs, use one of these supermarket comparison spreadsheets or apps to get the most bang for your grocery budget buck — no matter what’s on your list.

Save even more by using an app like Upside to get cash back on your grocery shopping (and when you eat out).

2. Do Meal Prep

Planning out your meals and making grocery lists based on a meal plan means you’ll be less likely to waste money on something that looks good in the store but you never get around to eating.

This expert meal prep advice simply lays out how to get started planning your meals in advance.

3. Minimize Food Waste

When you’re paying more for food, the last thing you want is to let it go to waste. It’s like throwing your hard-earned cash in the trash.

Use these tips to reduce food waste so you’ll never have to toss out moldy cheese or stale bread again.

4. Shop Your Pantry

Before you go grocery shopping, make a habit of checking the shelves of your pantry first. Canned goods, pasta and other pantry staples have a tendency to get forgotten in dark corners.

By taking inventory of what you already have at home, you’ll avoid mistakenly buying multiples of the same item. You might be able to shorten your grocery list (and spend less). You’ll also reduce the chance of food going bad before you remember to eat it.

Try a pantry challenge to use up what you’ve already got at home instead of going out and buying overpriced groceries. Don’t just limit your challenge to pantry items. Check what you’ve got in the freezer and what toiletries you already have before buying more of the same stuff.

5. Choose Store Brands Over Name Brands

Name brand groceries are already priced higher than their store brand counterparts. And many times, you can barely tell the difference between the two.

With prices going up, switch to generic brands to lower your grocery spending. You may even discover a new favorite.

6. Buy in Bulk

While you’ll pay more money upfront for stuff in larger quantities, it’s actually a smart move to buy in bulk. Typically, you’ll pay less per item.

If you don’t need a three-box bundle of cereal or 10 pounds of macaroni noodles, you could always split your shopping haul with a friend or family member. Or you could just use this as an excuse to do less grocery shopping throughout the month.

7. Cut Back on Meat

Cutting back on meat will have a significant impact on your grocery bill, because beef and pork and chicken tend to be some of the more expensive items in the store — inflation or not.

Going meatless a day or two a week and turning to cheaper alternatives, like beans and lentils, can help you cut costs.

8. Save Money on Produce

Even with prices going up, you can still find ways to save on fruit and vegetables — without growing them in your backyard.

Buying from local farmers and community supported agriculture programs, sticking to what’s in season, or choosing frozen over fresh are just a few ways to save money on produce.

9. Buy Reusable Instead of Disposable

Which is better: Buying something for $5 that you use once and throw away, or purchasing something similar for $10 but that you can reuse over and over again?

Reusable products cost more upfront than their disposable counterparts, but they’re usually a better deal because they last much longer. Being better for the environment is an added plus.

These comparisons show how buying reusable instead of disposable can help you save.

10. Challenge Yourself to Spend Less

Sometimes you need a reset on your grocery budget to help you see places where you can save you hadn’t realized before. We challenged ourselves to feed two people for two weeks for $65. Yes, it’s possible, and it doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck eating ramen noodles and peanut butter sandwiches.

Check out this grocery list to feed two people for $33 a week.

11. Share Tools, Equipment and Space

Splitting the cost of something you’ll only use occasionally is a better deal than paying full price for something that’ll end up collecting dust most of the time.

Consider sharing pricy tools and equipment — like a stand mixer or a leaf blower — with a neighbor or nearby friend or family member.

If instead of equipment you have space to share — whether it’s a spare room, an empty garage or a parking space — you could actually earn an extra $300 a month by using a website like Neighbor to connect with your, um, neighbors.

12. Save on Car Expenses

Even if the price of gas has finally dropped a bit these past few months, signing up for a fuel reward program is still a great way to keep more money in your pocket.

In fact, by discovering savings on your car-related expenses, you’ll have more money to put toward items that are still pricer thanks to inflation.

And let’s face it, regardless of inflation, your current car insurance company is probably overcharging you.

Instead of wasting your time hopping around to different insurance companies looking for a better deal, you can use a website called EverQuote to see all your options at once. It could save you up to $610 a year. 

13. Get Free Things from a Buy-Nothing Group

Getting free items from a local Buy Nothing Group, means you can bypass high prices at a store — and you don’t even have to offer up anything in exchange. These groups focus on donations rather than trading or bartering.

Join your local Buy Nothing Group on Facebook.

14. Fight Shrinkflation

“Shrinkflation” is a term coined to describe when companies reduce the size of a product but keep the price the same — it’s companies’ way of still carving out a profit when their production costs rise.

You can beat shrinkflation by simply paying more attention while shopping and be willing to change up your habits to become a savvy shopper.

Nicole Dow is a former staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. Deputy editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors updated this post.

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If you’ve had a sneaking suspicion that things you buy are getting smaller, you may be right.

• Angel Soft toilet paper used to be 425 sheets per roll. Now it’s 320 sheets per roll.
• A bag of Doritos used to be 9.75 ounces. It’s now 9.25 ounces.
• Dial soap was 21 ounces, and now it’s down to 16 ounces.
• Gatorade bottles were once 32 ounces, but are now 28 ounces.
• Even Ben & Jerry’s recently reduced their pints of ice cream.

The size of the product has dropped, but the prices stayed the same — and even increased in some cases. What’s going on at our grocery stores?

Those are just a few of many, many examples of “shrinkflation” — a term coined to describe when companies reduce the size of a product but keep the price the same.

Though shrinkflation is more prevalent now with growing inflation, it’s actually been going on for years, according to ConsumerWorld.org founder, Edgar Dworsky who’s been following shrinkflation since 1995.

Shrinkflation can be so subtle that you don’t notice it. So how can you spot shrinkflation at the store and make sure you’re getting the most out of what you buy?

6 Ways to Beat Shrinkflation

Beating shrinkflation starts by simply being a savvy shopper. You’ll need to pay more attention while shopping and be willing to change up your habits. Here are some ways to do just that:

1. Buy the Store Brand

Don’t hate on store brands. They’re cheaper, often just as good and sometimes even better than name brands.

When it comes to shrinkflation, store brands also have another advantage: They’re usually the last brands to reduce size.

Shrinkflation experts like Dworsky say to look to store brands, or even other name brands, if you notice your favorite brand has started to shrink its product’s size.

2. Compare the Price Per Ounce

This is called unit pricing. You simply divide the total price by the quantity to determine the unit price.

For example, if a carton of soup is 12 ounces and costs $2.40, the unit price on the soup would be 20 cents per ounce. This hack isn’t just for groceries though. Look at the price per ounce or per item for toothpaste, baby wipes, razor blades and many other consumer goods you buy.

Most stores include the unit price next to the total price on the tagged shelves below the items.

Unit pricing is required to be disclosed in many states, while many retailers still choose to disclose it even when it isn’t mandatory.

3. Buy in Bulk

Buying in bulk from retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club not only helps you save money, but it will also help you reduce the amount of shrinkflation you experience.

In many cases, goods bought in bulk are a better deal because they typically have a lower price per unit. Let’s say a single apple costs 75 cents at the grocery store, and a three-pound bag at Costco containing six apples costs $3. You’ll save 25 cents per apple by purchasing in bulk.

This is especially true with dried goods, which last much longer. The more of these types of products you already have on hand, the less you’ll need to buy from the grocery store — potentially avoiding the back-and-forth waves of shrinkflation.

One great online alternative to buy in bulk is Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program.

4. Consider Other Stores

Inflation has even affected discount stores like the Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and Dollar General. Not everything costs a dollar anymore, as some items have been raised to $1.25 or $1.50.

That said, you can still find a lot of good products, including pantry essentials, for an amazingly low price. From pasta and eggs to cereal, chips and snacks — all for a dollar-ish.

There are deals to be found at other places too. Drugstore rewards programs and plentiful coupons can drop the price of your shampoo or granola bars to little or nothing.

5. Shop Online

Shopping online is more of a timesaver when it comes to shrinkflation than anything else.

You can compare prices and unit pricing quickly without wandering the grocery store and struggling to read the fine print on a price tag. You can also quickly compare prices between stores — or even just other sellers — and brands to see where your dollar will go further.

Then, even if you choose to visit the store in person, you should have a good idea about how it handles shrinkflation.

6. Take Advantage of Discount Apps

Stores like Target and Walmart have apps with an extensive collection of digital coupons to help you save.

Make a shopping list, and possibly a meal plan, then browse through these apps to find which coupons are available for the goods you need. Other apps like Upside and ibotta help you get cash back rewards at many grocery stores.

Robert Bruce is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.

Women, you already know life isn’t fair. It’s the same way with retirement savings, and we’re seeing newly published proof of that.

When it comes to how men and women save for their golden years, new research by retirement giant Vanguard discovered two conflicting trends:

1. Women are more conscientious about joining their employer’s 401(k) plans. Fewer men than women join unless there’s automatic enrollment. The biggest difference is in the $50,000 to $75,000 income range, where 81% of women keep 401(k) accounts compared with only 67% of men.
2. Weirdly, however, men tend to have more retirement savings than women. The average man has $93,500 in his 401(k) account, the average woman $70,000.

How can that be? It’s because men tend to earn more money and because men set aside more of their paychecks for retirement than women do.

So, how can women close the gap in retirement savings? We have seven strategies for you to follow.

What Women Are Up Against

Like we said, life isn’t fair. Here are three reasons why women’s retirement savings tend to lag behind men’s:

1. Working women are more likely than men to interrupt their careers to take care of family members, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. They end up with a work gap, missing potentially years of employment when they could have been contributing toward their retirement.
2. Women are more likely to work in part-time jobs that don’t qualify for a retirement plan, the Labor Department says.
3. There’s a persistent wage gap. For every dollar a male full-time worker earns, women make 83 cents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (There are plenty of contributing factors to this phenomenon, but don’t let one be that you never asked. Here’s how to negotiate your salary and benefits.)

The Smartest Ways to Overcome That Gap

Here are seven strategies women can use to save more for retirement.

1. Get Started, Pronto

If you aren’t saving for retirement, start ASAP. The earlier you start, the better off you’ll be, with your money growing over time thanks to the magic of compound interest.

Here’s a simple 401(k) guide for more information.

If you are saving (good for you!), take a few minutes to check your progress. Are you saving enough for your anticipated needs?

2. Save Enough to Get Your Company Match

Financial advisers recommend that, at the very least, you save enough in your 401(k) to get the full employer match that’s being offered to you. If you’re not doing that, you’re basically passing up free money.

One of the best things about a 401(k) plan is that many employers will match your contribution up to a point. It’s part of your compensation package.

Say your employer offers to match 100% of your 401(k) contributions up to 6% of your income. If you make $50,000 per year and max out the employer match, you’d put in $3,000 and your employer would kick in another $3,000, doubling your savings.

3. Try Saving Even More

Once you’ve done that, see if you can go beyond the employer match. Lots of people do.

The average company match is 4.5%, according to Vanguard’s annual report on investing behavior.

What percentage of their pay does the average person put into their 401(k)? For men, it’s 7.5%. For women, it’s 7%, according to Vanguard’s new 2.5 million-person retirement study.

If you’re reading this and suddenly finding that you’re contributing a below-average amount to your retirement plan, you should strongly consider kicking it up a notch if you can.

4. What If You Don’t Have a 401(k) Plan?

If you don’t have access to a 401(k) plan at work, we have ways to save for retirement on your own.

Not sure how to start? The U.S. Treasury offers the myRA account, which you can think of as a starter retirement account before upgrading to a Roth IRA.

There are also investing apps that will give you free stocks to get started. Robinhood, for example, will give you free stock worth between $2.50 and $200 just for downloading its free app and funding your account.

5. Avoid Dipping Into Your Retirement Savings

Experts strongly recommend that you not dip into your retirement savings before you retire. You’ll pay heavy financial penalties, and you could put a serious dent in your retirement plans down the line.

6. Prepare to Work As Long As You Can

Another strategy for women: Prepare yourself for the likelihood that retirement may not happen until you’re well past 65.

Maintain your ability to continue working past age 65. Keep your job skills up to date or learn new ones. Many employers, community colleges and nonprofits offer classes in the latest technologies and careers.

By taking care of your career, you’ll have a better chance of staying comfortable and secure when it’s finally time to retire.

7. Wait to Take Social Security If You Can

When your 62nd birthday approaches, you’ll have a big decision to make: Should you take Social Security at 62 and accept lower benefits? Or should you delay Social Security to get a higher benefit amount?

The answer to whether taking Social Security at 62 is the right move for you depends on several factors: your life expectancy, whether you’re retiring early and your overall financial situation. By taking Social Security at 62 instead of at full retirement age, you’ll reduce your monthly benefit by 30% for life.

However, if you’re feeling relatively healthy and you wait until you’re 70 to start claiming your Social Security benefits, you’ll end up getting checks that are nearly 80% larger.

In Case of Divorce

If you get divorced, are you entitled to a portion of your spouse’s retirement benefit?

Possibly. In most private-sector retirement plans, you would do this via a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) issued by the court, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. You or your attorney should consult your spouse’s plan administrator to determine what requirements that order would have to meet.

You may be able to take Social Security based on your ex-spouse’s benefits instead of your own, even if you divorced decades ago. However, people with a long employment record will typically qualify for a bigger benefit based on their own earnings instead of a spouse’s. Social Security will give you the bigger benefit, but not both.

The maximum benefit you can get based on the record of a spouse — whether you’re currently married or divorced — is 50% of their full retirement age benefit. Full retirement age is the age at which you qualify for 100% of your benefit. It’s 66 or 67, depending on when you were born.

It’s important to know these things.

Life isn’t always fair, so you’ve got to look out for yourself.

Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

The perfect holiday gift doesn’t have to be something you buy from the store, cover in wrapping paper and place under the tree.

Giving friends and family members an experience gift is just as wonderful — and it’ll create memories that last far beyond the holiday season.

Gifting experiences like concert tickets, a trip to a theme park or an overseas vacation, however, can get pricy. This list of affordable experience gifts will give you ideas for everyone on your Christmas list without having to spend a ton of money.

38 Experience Gifts That Won’t Break Your Budget

Move beyond material presents with these affordable experience gift ideas.

1. DIY Spa Treatment

Recreate a spa day experience at home using ingredients you already have on hand. Make a moisturizing face mask with yogurt, honey or oatmeal. Or create a sugar scrub to exfoliate the feet. Really sell the DIY spa experience by lighting candles, putting on some calming music and serving cucumber water.

2. Cook a Gourmet Meal

Take the burden of cooking dinner off your loved one’s plate for the day. Offer to whip up their favorite meal — or the best dish you make. Make it a truly remarkable dinner by adding an appetizer and dessert. Or set it up as a cooking class, and teach them to make your signature dish.

3. Plan a Picnic

Luxury picnics are pretty trendy now, but you can create your own on a budget. Pack a sampling of your gift recipient’s favorite foods, bring a bubbly beverage and use blankets and pillows you have at home. Choose a location with nice scenery or a place that holds special meaning to your loved one.

4. Make a Charcuterie Board

A charcuterie board is a great gift to bring to your co-worker’s annual Christmas party — or really for anyone who appreciates a nice spread of fancy cheese and meat. This article will show you how to make a nice charcuterie board for under $30.

5. Wine Tasting

Buy a few affordable bottles of wine and invite your friends over for a wine tasting. Share information about each beverage and why you selected it. Serve appetizers or snacks that pair nicely with the wine.

6. Gift a Special Recipe

Share your favorite recipe with a loved one. Bonus points if you give them all the ingredients needed to make the dish.

7. Teach a Skill

Time to tap into your talents and share what you know. If you can play the guitar, decorate cakes, take amazing photos — or whatever your area of expertise is — offer to give free lessons to your loved ones.

8. Teach a Language

DIY your own Rosetta Stone classes. If you’re fluent in another language, offer to teach basic vocabulary words and phrases as a free introductory language class.

9. Clean Their House

Help your friend or family member rid their home of the holiday clutter by offering free house cleaning services. Help them take down all the holiday decor in addition to mopping, vacuuming and dusting.

10. Yard Service

Pitch in to boost the curb appeal of your loved one’s home. Offer to rake leaves, shovel snow, mow the lawn or trim hedges. Your hard work is sure to be appreciated!

11. Beauty Session

If you’ve picked up some styling skills over the past couple years, put them to good use. Offer to give your friend a manicure, style their hair or do their makeup before attending a holiday party.

12. Room Makeover

Play interior designer and offer to renovate or refresh a room in your friend or family member’s house. Check out these tips for how to upgrade a kitchen or bathroom on a budget.

13. Free Babysitting

Give the busy moms and dads in your life a little break by offering to watch their kids. You could give them a coupon book so they can redeem the free babysitting whenever they need. Or set up an arrangement where you take the kids off their hands on a scheduled basis — like every Saturday morning for the next four weeks.

14. Themed Movie Marathon

Whether your friend is into action flicks, ‘80s rom coms or foreign films, curate a short list of movies in their favorite genre and invite them over for a special screening. Don’t forget the popcorn and soda.

15. Day Trip

Gift a travel experience that doesn’t require plane tickets or a hotel stay. Plan a trip to a nearby city less than a day’s drive away. Research notable landmarks to visit and inexpensive things to do while you’re there.

16. Camping Trip

Camping can be a nice low-budget trip — if you do it right. Depending on where you live in the country, this gift might be one your recipient won’t redeem until the weather’s more conducive to sleeping outdoors.

17. National Parks Pass

Gift outdoor lovers with free entry year round to any of the national parks. An annual National Park pass is $80 — or $20 for those age 62 and up.

18. Free Photo Shoot

If you take nice photos, offer to give a free photography session to a friend or family member. Maybe they could use professional headshots for work or perhaps their last family photo is seriously outdated. Send them digital copies from the photo shoot plus print out a couple favorites they can frame.

19. Score Cheap Tickets to a Local Attraction

Offer to take your loved one to a museum, indoor skydiving, an escape room or another local attraction as an experience gift. But you don’t have to pay full price. Sites like Groupon offer discounted admission to local activities and attractions. Your local library may even provide free museum passes to library card holders.

20. ClassPass Gift Card

A ClassPass gift card is a perfect gift for a friend who likes to keep active and try different fitness classes. ClassPass gives people access to thousands of gyms, fitness studios, spas and salons all over the country. It also offers virtual classes.

21. Sign Up for a Race

Surprise a pal who’s into fitness by signing them — and yourself — up for a 5K, 10K and another upcoming race and paying for their registration fees. Make it more of an experience by scheduling time to train with them before the event.

22. Dance Lessons

If you know how to waltz or swing dance or can master all the latest TikTok moves, dance lessons can make for a nice experience gift.

23. Perform a Song

If you’re musically inclined, sing or play a song for your loved one as a gift. Pick a song that has meaningful lyrics or is one of their favorites — or write a song of your own!

24. Scrapbook

The best gifts are the ones that are meaningful and personal. Create a scrapbook for your loved one to reflect on all the memories you’ve had together. Personalize it with photos, mementos, handwritten notes and more.

25. Create Your Own Guided Journal

Buy a blank journal and customize it with daily writing prompts or encouraging words to reflect on each day. This is a gift the recipient can use all throughout the year.

26. Positive Thoughts Jar

Purchase a bunch of popsicle sticks from your local craft store and write positive thoughts, well wishes or affirmations on each one. Decorate the outside of an empty clear jar and then add the popsicle sticks inside. Gift to a loved one with instructions to read the message from one stick each day.

27. Cameo Video

Cameo lets you arrange for your loved one’s favorite celebrity to send them a personal video message. Depending on which celebrity you choose, this gift could get pretty expensive. However, there are some actors, influencers and reality TV stars available to create messages for $25 or less.

28. The Adventure Challenge

The Adventure Challenge is a book filled with prompts to encourage couples, friends, family members or individuals to go on random, fun-filled adventures. It’s scratch-off style, so you won’t know what gift experiences you’ve signed yourself up for until you scratch off the adventure prompt. Each book costs $50.

29. Scavenger Hunt

This idea makes a great experience gift for kids. Set up clues all around the house eventually leading to a treat or small gift as the treasure. Bonus points if you incorporate a pirate theme.

30. Yes Day

Based on the book and subsequent movie “Yes Day,” you can create your own Yes Day where you agree to do whatever the recipient asks of you for an entire day. This would be a perfect gift for the kiddos who are used to having to follow the rules and do what they’re told. For 24 hours, the tables will be turned!

31. Craft Kit

This is a great idea for an artsy or creative person. Gather together materials to create a craft project — like yarn and knitting needles for making a scarf or beads and string for jewelry making — or purchase a craft kit online or at an arts and crafts store. The experience is making it together.

32. Paint by Number Kit

A paint-by-numbers kit is great for someone who is artistic but needs a little assistance to create the masterpiece they imagine. You can find one online or at arts and crafts stores for under $20.

33. Herb Garden Starter Kit

Nurture someone’s green thumb by giving them an herb garden starter kit — a couple of nice pots, potting soil, seed packets and a small watering can. Rather than assembling your own kit, you could purchase one online or from a local home and garden store.

34. Subscription Box

With so many different subscription boxes out there, you can find something for anyone on your Christmas list. There are subscription boxes for foodies, beauty addicts, travel fiends and even murder mystery fans. An annual subscription can get costly, but many subscription box companies will let you purchase one box as a gift or sign up for a shorter subscription, like three months.

35. Mini Golf

You don’t need any real golfing skills to play — and enjoy — a round of mini golf. This activity is typically low-budget. Prices vary depending on location, but you can often play for less than $20 per person — making it a pretty affordable experience gift.

36. Bowling

Bowling is another low-budget experience that’s good for the whole family. Costs vary, but you can usually play a game for less than $20 per person.

37. Skating

‘Tis the season for ice skating — but a trip to the roller skating rink would also be nice.

38. Airbnb Experiences

Airbnb experiences help visitors and locals alike explore something new or interesting in any given city. The prices of these experiences vary by location and type of activity, but you can find options for under $50.

Nicole Dow is a former senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Deputy editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors updated this post for 2022.

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