Season 3 is officially HERE — thank you for waiting so patiently while I found my way back to the mic. In this cozy comeback episode, we’re talking all things affordable gift-giving for the holidays. Because listen… I wish I could hand out Dyson hair dryers like Oprah, but that is not where my wallet is at this year.

Join me as I walk through five budget-friendly gift ideas (plus a bonus!) that range from zero crafting required to medium–high “I tried my best and I hope you appreciate the effort” energy. Whether you want to give something sweet to a coworker, a K-pop bestie, your foodie friend, or your whole group chat, there’s something here for everyone — including the “I’m not doing gifts this year, please respect my boundaries” crowd.

I also share a warm thank-you to everyone who had Down in the Dumpling in their Spotify Wrapped, an update on why Season 3 took a minute, and a little preview of next week’s Mailbag Episode, where I’ll finally spill where I’ve been and share some life updates.

If today’s episode inspires you, tell me which gift idea you’re trying over on Instagram at @downinthedumplings. Let’s make the holidays cute, thoughtful, and financially responsible together.

New episodes drop every Thursday — welcome back, dumplings. 🥟✨