I tried to do all my Christmas shopping at Costco in one trip. Here are the 12 best gifts and deals I found.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Author Terri Peters smiling in front of a Costco
Recently, I found some impressively affordable gifts and hosting finds for my family at Costco.

Terri Peters

3 holiday shopping rules I swear by after two decades investing in small businesses

Tech Insider : Business
A woman uses a computer and iphone to shop and looks down at a credit card to pay.
Slow spending, gift cards, and reviews are the keys to helping small businesses stay viable after the holidays.

Nicholas Shkoda/Getty Images

I spent Christmas and New Year's Eve on a cruise with a few family members. I doubt I'd ever do it again.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Author Erin Yarnall smiling on a cruise in front of a glacier
One year, I spent the holidays sailing past Antarctica on a 22-day cruise with a few of my family members.

Erin Yarnall

I picked up this gift-giving hack from an ex, and it guarantees the most thoughtful presents

Tech Insider : Business
Family posing with Christmas tree
The author learned a gift-giving hack from her ex that she uses with her family now.

Courtesy of the author

Don't fall for the myth that no one hires during the holidays

Tech Insider : Business
Close up of job postings in a news paper and a red outline of a Christmas tree in the

Devonyu/iStock; Tyler Le/BI

I wanted a big festive tree this year. I wasn't expecting the $370 price tag at our local tree lot.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
A split image of a boy decorating a Christmas tree and a black and white photo of a little girl standing next to a tree.
The author's son decorates the family holiday tree, and the author stands next to her childhood Christmas tree in the mid-1970s.

Courtesy of Stanislav Skočík/the author

The Grinch is more popular than ever. There's a new McDonald's meal and tons of Christmas merch. Here's why it happened.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Style
Fan in a Grinch mask at a football game.
The Grinch is everywhere: in movies, on store shelves, at McDonald's — and at this NFL game where a fan dressed as the green character.

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

I threw a dinner party to avoid spending money on holiday gifts for friends. Now, it's my annual tradition.

Tech Insider : Business
Jamie Valentino and her friends using finger guns at a dinner party
The author (right) hosts dinner parties for his friends.

Courtesy of Jamie Valentino

We skipped our annual Christmas celebrations with extended family and went on vacation instead — just the 4 of us

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Technology
Author Margie Pumpa and husband smiling with colorful cups in caravan
I'm fortunate to come from a close family that values large Christmas gatherings; however, our travel plans meant last year's festivities looked a little different.

Margie Pumpa

My son was born in December, and I try to make sure his birthday feels separate from the holidays

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
The author with her son when he was a baby. He is wearing a red and white striped onesie.
The author with her son when he was a baby.

Courtesy of Ashley Archambault

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