When Ali Busacca and Dan Belmont wed last summer, they skipped a traditional gift registry. They asked guests who wished to give a gift for cash that the couple could someday use to buy a house. "Dan and I lived together for six years before getting married. If we needed something, we purchased it," says Busacca. They were also preparing to move from a 660-square-foot New York City apartment to an even smaller one in London, leaving little room for more stuff. Plus, they prefer traveling, dining out and enjoying time with friends to acquiring things.
As you choose gifts for couples who are tying the knot this wedding season, consider that many millennials already have the housewares they need (the average age of a bride is 29, and the average groom is 31, according to a survey from wedding site TheKnot.com). They're also transient, and they desire experiences more than sheet sets or fine china. Popular items on Zola, a registry website that allows couples to ask for cash and experiences as well as physical stuff, include gift cards for stays booked through home-sharing service Airbnb, subscriptions to monthly wine club Winc, and meal-kit deliveries from Blue Apron.
If a couple is honeymooning at a resort, see if you can pay for a dinner, excursion or other activity, suggests Kristen Maxwell Cooper, executive editor of XO Group Inc./The Knot.com. At www.honeyfund.com/giftcard, you can buy a gift card redeemable with partners including Delta Air Lines, Hotels.com, Uber, and other travel outfits, restaurants and retailers. Want to boost the couple's investments? Stockpile.com offers gift cards that recipients can use to buy shares of stock. And plain old cash or a check is always an acceptable gift.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
-
Strategies to Optimize Your Social Security BenefitsTo maximize what you can collect, it’s crucial to know when you can file, how delaying filing affects your checks and the income limit if you’re still working.
-
Don’t Forget to Update Beneficiaries After a Gray DivorceSome states automatically revoke a former spouse as a beneficiary on some accounts. Waivers can be used, too. Best not to leave it up to your state, though.
-
403(b) Contribution Limits for 2024retirement plans Teachers and nonprofit workers can contribute more to a 403(b) retirement plan in 2024 than they could in 2023.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up for 2024. Here's what you need to know.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel Procrastinator? No matter. You can pull off a fun and memorable getaway on a moment's notice — without breaking the bank.
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?insurance Instead of relying on rules of thumb, you’re better off taking a systematic approach to figuring your life-insurance needs.
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop on Amazon Prime DaySmart Buying Think twice before getting lured into buying a bunch of stuff you don't need just because it's on sale.
-
When Is Amazon Prime Day?Amazon Prime In 2023 Amazon had two Prime Day events — one in July and another, called Big Deal Days, in October. We expect 2024 to follow the same schedule.
-
How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Stepsinsurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
