Ask the Readers: What’s the Best Gift You’ve Ever Received?

Congratulations to Olivia & Will's Fine Children's Furniture, Peggy Davis, and RazzBari for winning this week's contest!

With the holiday season in full swing, gift giving is under way. Throughout the holidays, you received many gifts that you liked. But chances are there is one gift you’ve received that you absolutely loved and will always remember.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Who gave it to you? What was the occasion?

Tell us about the best gift you've ever received and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Mandatory Entry: 

  • Post your answer in the comments below 

For extra entries (1 per action):

  • Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment telling us you did, or
  • Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

  • Contest ends Monday, December 26th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after December 26th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
  • You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
  • This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
  • You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Note: Due to recent changes in Facebook's promotions guidelines, we have restructured the entry format of our giveaways.

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.

Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


Guest's picture
Jess G.

A set of classic Tiffany's pearls.

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Raina

I liked you on Facebook.

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Raina

I think my favorite gift was a ring with my birthstone from my grandparents on my 14th birthday. It was tradition for the girls to receive this item, and I thought it was just gorgeous.

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rbee

My wifes hand in marriage (along with the rest of her!) twenty five years ago....the gift goes on...

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Awww, that's one of the sweetest things I've ever heard. :)

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Carson M.

I was taken to Puerto Rico for one day the week before Christmas of 2007. Best gift ever, as we flew out of the cold and into sunny, warm weather.

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Christie

As a kid, the best gift I ever received was a doll named Mandie. I still have her, and have passed her on to my daughter. That doll and a sewing machine were the best presents I ever received as a child (still have that sewing machine too!).

As an adult, some of the best gifts have been: an overnight stay at a waterpark hotel for my family, the DVD of the 5 hour Pride and Prejudice (favorite movie ever!), and hugs from my kids every single day of the year. Those hugs are the best gifts in the world.

Guest's picture

My favorite gift of all time was from my wife, early in our marriage. We had succumbed to credit card debt over those first few years, and it weighed heavily on me. When I opened my gift from her, which was obviously a book, she told me to look closely. I fanned the pages and fanned a credit card. "Paid off," she said. I looked further and found another. "Paid off," she added. One after another, I pulled credit cards from the book as she announced that each was paid off. It was the best Christmas, from the best wife, ever.

Guest's picture

that is clearly the best gift ever.

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Now THAT is a great gift!!!

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Keith

the original nintendo!

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RazzBari

After I bought my house, my folks replaced all the ratty cotton rope clothesline in the basement with 4 lovely straight, taut covered-wire clotheslines. And as a bonus, they hung a fluorescent fixture (left over from the previous owners) over the washer. Doing laundry is (almost) a pleasure now!

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Kelli

That's tough! I've received many a thoughtful gift over the years. The ones that stick with me are the ones that time, effort, and planning were required. One that comes to mind in particular is a hand drawn logo of my favorite restaurant. It sounds silly, but my younger brother did it for me, and gifted it to me the same year that the restaurant closed. It is a treasured possession!

Guest's picture
Shannon

My Frye Cowboy boots. They've last for years, are wearable in all seasons, and are worth every penny!

Guest's picture

My best gift is one that's currently on the way: a GIANT stuffed dinosaur! (http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_C...) I am SO EXCITED for him to arrive!!

Guest's picture

I like WiseBread on Facebook!

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blossomteacher

My grandmother bought me the whole set of Little House on the Prairie books when I was seven. I had just been introduced to them, and fell in love. They were the only thing I read for about 3 years, and I still pull them out and re-read them at least once a year. They always make me think of Mamau. I bought a set for my daughter (who is 2), so that when she is ready, she'll have her own set (and I can still have mine!!)

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lostAnnfound

A 6 month-old kitten my husband got from the shelter our first Christmas together after we were married.

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Cute!!!

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Stefany

My favorite gift was a personalized calendar highlighting all of the big moments in my life.

Ashley Jacobs's picture

That's a thoughtful and original gift!

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Jenny

The best gift I ever got was for my 30th birthday. We threw an 80's prom themed party complete with suitable prom dresses & tuxes. My boyfriend was the prom king and in front of everyone, including my family & even my 88 year old grandma, he proposed to me! So my best present ever was a husband! (And the chance to plan a wedding, which I loved doing ;)

Ashley Jacobs's picture

That sounds like an awesome proposal! :)

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Susanna Gardner

I have to say my daughter is my best present ever. After receiving her as our 11th foster child knowing she was the first that was adoptable, my husband of twenty years passed two weeks later. The present was from many supporters including friends, family and the Lemoore Reserve Center staff. There is no greater gift!

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Therese

My best Christmas present was definitely the year my daughter was born two weeks before Christmas :)

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kathleen

best gift of all time was a scrapbook my sister made for me when she was 13. it's the cutest thing in the world, and i plan on making her look through it with me when i see her today!

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Nicholas

That would have to be when I found out that my parents decided to pay for my college education.

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Sarah

A 1927 Underwood Typewriter!

My husband bought it for me for Christmas three years ago, and was so excited when it came that he made me open it three weeks early!

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Sarah

I "like" you on FB!

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Amy B

My undergraduate degree.

Only a couple months before I was to start college, I found out that my grandmother wished to pay for college for me and my siblings. She took care of all the expenses my scholarships didn't cover. An incredible blessing.

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Kristy OT

My husband gave me a surprise vacation as a birthday present. I love to travel! I knew we were going somewhere, but I didn't know where... it was so much fun.

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Rachel Crockett

My 11 piece global knife set. I cook almost every day and my old knives were my school set from culinary classes. I could never ask for such an expensive gift... but there it was one year.

While I use them all the time, no one is allowed to use touch or even wash them but me.

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Crissy

The best gift this year is losing my job, it has made me put more time into my business that I will hopefully have up and running fulltime by 2nd quarter in 2012 and it has also allowed me to spend more time and concentrate more on my 3 kids. I've cooked healthier meals, had more energy to spend with them, it has truly been a blessing in disguise even though it's been a little rough on the bank account, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Blessings in disguise can truly be the best gifts!

Guest's picture
Happy

After we had been dating for a very short timie, my now-husband sold his gun because the expression on my face when he told me about it on our first date told him that I wasn't comfortable with it.

He used the money from the sale to buy a necklace and matching earrings with my birthstone and small diamonds, which he gave to me for my birthday and Christmas. He didn't want anything to get in the way of us being together, and his consideration meant a lot to me.

That was last year. This year we're celebrating our first Christmas together as husband and wife.

Guest's picture
Crissy

I liked your facebook page!

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HighOrderGuiltComplex

When I was very young I asked only Santa for a She-ra Princess of Power Castle. For months my parents tried to get out of me what I wanted and I refused to tell them because I wanted to see if Santa was "real". So one day we called the North Pole and I told him what I wanted and on Christmas day that Castle was standing there next to the tree. Turns out the North Pole was my uncle's house but that gift made me a die-hard Stanta believer for several more years to come.

Guest's picture
KelR1

My dog.

Ashley Jacobs's picture

I love that answer. My dog is definitely one of the best gifts I've ever gotten too! :)

Guest's picture
KelR1

Like you on FB.

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Bryan

My parents opted to give my wife and I a honeymoon in Vegas by paying for our airfare and hotel as our present. Still forever grateful. And I liked your update on Facebook.

Guest's picture
KelR1

https://twitter.com/#!/KelRo1/status/149204571254816770

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Lisa

One of the best gifts I received was bought from a second hand store. It was a high end food processor in like new condition. I love it and use it almost daily. I prefer used or homemade gifts over new because it's a way of making best use of existing resources.

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Betty

I liked you and your post on Facebook.

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Betty

It's so hard to pick one. When my daughter was small, she would make me things and of course, I loved them. Believe it or not, the best material that I liked best receiving was a DunkinDonuts gift card. I stop almost everyday on my way to work. It was so nice to just flash out my card instead of cash! (easy to please!!!)

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Rebecca B. A. R.

As a child when Cabbage Patch dolls became all the rage, I wanted one for Christmas. They were all sold out at the store, so my Mamal found someone who made homemade ("certified" by Xavier Roberts) dolls, and I was so excited to get it. I still have her--her name is Crystal Elaine (after my 'newest' married into the family aunt, at the time).

Guest's picture
Jill

I received a set of RevereWare pots and pans one Christmas from my now husband.
After 26 years of marriage, they're still like new and I use them everyday. He definitely got his money's worth.

Guest's picture
Betty

Responded on Twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/1bets1/status/149262887037313025

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Guest

A gift card to buy paperback books. I love reading good books and can never seem to get enough of them.

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Debra

The best gift I ever received was my daughter. I guess you could say my husband gave her to me. It was a long road to getting pregnant and then to getting her here, but I'm so glad she's here and can't imagine my life without her now.

Guest's picture
Selene

The best present I got was a replacement diamond in my engagement ring. The original had fallen out and was lost. He found the ring and presented it back to me one Christmas. I was totally surprised.

Donna Freedman's picture

My parents gave me a tremendous gift when they modeled hard work and a never-say-die attitude. This got me through some pretty challenging times later on.

Ashley Jacobs's picture

I love that answer Donna! :)

Donna Freedman's picture

Oh, and I like you on Facebook. (And in real life, too!)

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Jason E.

That's easy! The gift of salvation is the greatest gift I ever recieved

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Great answer Jason! :)

Guest's picture

The best gift I received would be from my parents. They gave me a roundtrip ticket to Hongkong. It was my first time to go out of the country with my sister. It was the best since I build memories, friendship and quality time. And now I'm hoping to have another trip with her. :)

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Aaron L

A GPS so I never get lost again.

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Aaron L

i like you on facebook!

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kristina

A really nice food dehydrator.

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shannonmarye

my parents gave me a car this year. super old and rusty, but it does the job.

Guest's picture
Carmen

This may sound cheesy but the best gift I got was my daughter who was born just before Christmas last year.

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Nope, not cheesy at all! Great answer!

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Peggy Davis

The best gift I ever received was when I was in eighth grade. I am a voracious reader and my parent purchased all of the titles in the Piers Anthony Xanth series. I spent the entire winter holiday curled up reading :)

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Joy C.

My favorite present ever was a leather coat which my parents convinced me was a pair of boots, which was by far my second choice. The packaging and wrapping were confusing, but my delight was clear!

Guest's picture

My favorite gift for all time is chocolates!

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Maddy Han

The best gift ever will be this year's Christmas gift. My cat died several months ago. My husband said "no more cats" once he died, but he saw how distraught I was, so he told me that I can pick out a new kitty for Christmas even though he hates cats!

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Awww, that's a great gift. Enjoy your new kitty! :)

Guest's picture
Guest

A large bag of gently used children's books and puzzles after the birth of our first child. Those books have been read and puzzles played with countless times, and now have been passed on to our second child.

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TrishB

I got a parakeet for Christmas when I was 12. He was an awesome parakeet. He got so sick at first, though, I didn't think he was going to make it. But he recovered, and learned to talk, would fly to me when I called him, and was pretty much my best friend.

Guest's picture
Dee Dee

My husband, I know he loves me more than anything else in the world.

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Love that answer!

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Alissa A

I remember when I got my Rainbow Brite doll. At the time, it was a huge deal!

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Jamie

When I was four I received a "little kitchen" for Christmas. My grandfather built and painted it for me, based on a rough sketch my mother had done for him. It has a sink, four burners, oven, drawers, storage space, small blackboard and a corded phone. Over the years I and my family have added on from frugal sources. We collected additional play food, and also acquired secondhand or built other wooden items like a doll highchair, a child-size table and chairs, and a doll bed. These things were saved throughout the years. Now I have a toddler nephew Joey, who was named for my
now-deceased grandfather. Joey spends a lot of time at my parents house so a play room has been set up for him. One corner is devoted to this little kitchen and other items. Joey loves it, and has been shown a picture of me as a small child posing with the little kitchen. My mother has explained to him that this little kitchen, as well as other wooden toys we still have, were made by "Grandpa Joey."

Ashley Jacobs's picture

That sounds awesome! How neat your nephew is named after your grandpa. Very sweet. :)

Guest's picture
Francesca

The best gift I ever received was probably when I was a chubby teenager, and my parents got my siblings and me a Dance Dance Revolution game and a dance pad. I was so delighted when I unwrapped it, and I continued to use it almost daily for over a year, which helped me to lose weight and win a campus-wide DDR competition my first year of college.

Guest's picture

This year I received the best gift ever -- having my whole family with me back at church. My husband and step-son had quit going for a year, and whether they notice it or not, our family life hasn't been so peaceful since then. I really loved being able to see them next to me on the pew yesterday. :)

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Bernardo Estevez

A couple of Christmas ago my wife gave me a Nascar ride-along experience at the Delaware Speedway. That was a very cool experience.