Entertainment
Gift Guide #9: The Hard-to-Shop-For Crowd (Teenagers, In-Laws, You Know Who You Are)
Who’s left on your holiday list? There are always a few people who are tough to shop for, and you told us the giftees stumping you the most are preteens/teens, in-laws, and teachers. So, here are a bunch of of ideas, many of which are under $30…
TEENS AND TWEENS:
Preteen and teens are notoriously hard to shop for, so here are a few ideas: a café gift card with permission to order whatever they’d like, or a silent basketball so they can dribble even when parents are working. If they’re style-conscious, consider a cute nightshirt (budget-friendly option here), a gift certificate to H&M, or a cool phone case (I’d love this myself, ngl). Finally, if you’d like a book recommendation for preteens, 11-year-old Anton and I are tearing through the graphic memoir Uprooted, in which Ruth Chan recounts her childhood move from Toronto to Hong Kong.
TEACHERS:
Now that my kids are in middle and high school, I feel more indebted to teachers than ever. (Anton’s teacher recently had to ask the kids to ease up on the cologne, lol.) Share your appreciation with thank you notes, says a teacher named Kristyn: “I pin them behind my desk to cheer me on tough days.” Also, “Emailing our bosses to share an anecdote about something we did for your child is THE BEST,” adds Whitney. Gift certificates to neighborhood cafés, lunch spots, or Target would come in handy all year. Keep in mind, “Teachers have allllll the mugs,” says Katie, but kids themselves can do no wrong, says Sarah: “A leaf your child found will bring me to tears every time.” And if all else fails, I swear by these earplugs around yappy teenagers, and my boyfriend Freddie, who teaches history, admits, “I always love a good scarf.”
IN-LAWS/GRANDPARENTS:
For the in-laws or grandparents, choose a personal gift, like a traditional snack, condiment or cookies from where you’re from (I’d do British shortbread or Michigan cherry jam). Or go for something they’ll use regularly, such as a magazine subscription or duckhead umbrella. Another approach is to consider their hobbies. If they love home decor, how about a a bow hook? If they’re big readers, consider this witty novel, which topped many Best-of-2024 lists. Finally, a donation to a cause they care about is always a wonderful gesture.
Thoughts? Are these helpful? What other stumpers do you have in your life?
P.S. Last year’s hard-to-shop-for guide, and the complete 2024 Cup of Jo gift guide!
Note: If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission or have a sponsored relationship with the brand, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
