However if they GIFT it while they're still alive- the person will receive the person's original basis from way back when, and will likely have gain. 

I always carry on in my head how much I will gift my family and my husband's family, and calculate how much interest you can get just keeping the money in the bank, and on and on. 

That's a wonderful gift you're giving yourself.You can quickly cut expenses down to the bone and only eat dried ramen and drink coffee from ground you've run water through three times.

Friends/family "gifting" you money.

Exceptions for me being I hire contractors to do work it is not efficient for me to do myself such as grass and snow and I do favours for my tenants but would never give them gifts.

In the meantime, in order to support our great country as well as your favorite local small businesses that you understandably care greatly for, here are some things you can be doing to help, if you aren't already:Buy gift cards from local businesses to use later, or to give them to friends/people in need.

An attorney just sent us $250 gift card for our favorite (currently LOCKED down) restaurant for a REI referral. 

My family has done nothing with that gift for generations, so it stops with me. 

After many years writing drive control automation & the ongoing debacle with the array of Windows OS I have been a Mac convert for many years...my favorite is take a pic with your iPhone & it appears on your Mac in Photo's & all the intricate excel spreadsheets I design work fine on the Mac. 

Hubby's Xmas gift to me is a Personal Trainer :)3.