Holiday gifts come in all shapes and sizes – wrapped with ribbons, bows, and colorful paper. But there are other gifts you can give to someone – gifts that you don’t have to spend money on (or at least not very much money). Thoughtful gifts from the heart are often the best holiday gifts. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Dinner and a Movie
Search YouTube for a classic holiday movie to stream (at no cost), and make a meal to go along with the movie. Invite your best friend or a family member to enjoy dinner and a movie with you. Here is a link to Miracle on 34th Street, a classic holiday movie. Enjoy!
A Lesson or Two
You have talent! Maybe you have a computer skill, a woodworking skill, or a crafting skill that you can pass along to someone else. Print a handmade gift certificate for your gift recipient and offer to teach them something new! Not only will you get to spend quality time together, you’ll feel good about helping someone learn, and they will appreciate your time.
A Music Playlist
Grab a CD and create a customized music play list for each person on your gift list. They will appreciate the heartfelt thought that went into putting their own customized CD together. You can use Windows Media Player to burn a CD, or any of the other popular CD burning apps available.
Family Recipes
Gather a bunch of recipe cards and hand-write your family favorites to give as a gift. Wrap the cards with a length of bakers twine, add a gift tag, and you have a priceless gift. Your hand-written recipes are sure to be a treasure for years to come.
Take a Class Together
Many local libraries offer free classes – such as writing classes, photography classes, crafting classes, and computer classes. Check with your local library for their upcoming schedule, then give a gift of your time and a class to share with someone on your gift list. Sure to be a fun time spent together!
Go on an Adventure
There are always lots of free things to do in most cities. Check your local newspaper or state tourism website to find events and celebrations in your area. Create a gift card to present to your gift recipient, then go together on a fun (and free) adventure! Don’t forget your camera!
Cookie Platters
Who can resist a platter full of delicious homemade holiday cookies? Not this girl! Whip up a variety of your favorite cookie recipes and present them on a beautiful holiday platter (vintage, of course!). Cover in cellophane, add a ribbon, and you have a tasty gift that will bring lots of smiles to your recipient.
Garden Gifts
Did you remember to dig up your bulbs for the Winter? Take three or four of them and wrap them in a brown paper bag with a colorful ribbon, attach a tag with directions for planting in the Spring. A perfect gift to spread your garden love around.
A Holiday Light Tour
Some neighborhoods go all out with their holiday light displays! Check your local newspaper and plan a route for a road trip at night to see as many holiday lights as you can. Don’t forget to bring along hot cocoa, cookies, and popcorn to enjoy along the way. Invite as many friends and family that you can safely fit inside your vehicle and make it a memorable evening.
Vintage (Digital) Postcards
Download and print our free (and copyright free) digital scans of vintage holiday postcards and assemble them into a stationery set or gift card set. Print them at home using a colored printer, wrap them with bakers twine, and you have a fun set of postcards to give as a gift.
A Year in Review
Gather all your photos you’ve taken throughout the year, and put together a slideshow! Display the slideshow on your computer as a screensaver or on your television (easy to do if you have Apple TV or a television that is part of your home network). Add music to go along with the slides, then sit back and enjoy the show! If you are putting together a year in review for a friend or family member, save the slideshow on a CD or DVD and give it as a memorable (and cherished) gift. Windows Movie Maker is just one quick-and-easy app for putting together a slideshow to music.
A Family Heirloom
Do you have something that has been passed down to you from another generation? Consider re-gifting that item to someone in your family. Perhaps your daughter would appreciate (and love) having your Grandmother’s Mother’s Ring, or your son would love and cherish your Grandfather’s pocket watch. Make sure to include the history behind the piece by writing the story on a card to give along with the heirloom.
Vintage Gift Wrap for Small Gifts
Download our free (and copyright free) holiday magazine ads and turn them into gift wrap! You can print these ads at home on an ink jet or laser printer, or enlarge them and have them printed at a local print shop. The illustrations on the ads make for unique and fun gift wrap! You can also use the images to create gift tags and cards – so many creative possibilities!
Yourself
Sometimes the best gift you can give, is more of yourself. Spend time with family and friends. Make it a point to schedule a day (or even several hours) of your time to just be with a friend or family member. They will appreciate just being with you.
We did the family recipe book one year. It is a present I still treasure and will for years to come. Great ideas!!