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Plan holiday gifts that fit the family budget
Practice: Catching mistakes and made-up facts. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
You're planning holiday gifts for six people with a $300 total budget, up to $60 per kid and $30 per adult. Write exactly 6 numbered lines in the form "Name - gift - $price" using each person's current wish from your notes, then one final line with the total and how much is left, plain text, under 80 words. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- No fixed shape. The AI makes a table with per-person notes and shopping tips. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 6 numbered lines: Name - gift - $price, then a total line."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 80 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each line under 8 words."
- Using old wishes. The dino robot and the $34 candles appear first in the notes. Try: Add: "Kenji gets the soccer goal set; Lisa gets the $26 candles."
- Not checking the total. The AI states a total without adding, or forgets what's left. Try: Add: "End with: Total $X, $Y left of $300."
- Adding extras. The AI adds the March birthday idea and wrapping notes. Try: Add: "Only the 6 gift lines and the total."
What a strong prompt includes
- Uses current wishes
- Asks for a total
- Applies the limits
- Shows the line shape
- Sets a word limit
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