So here we are. Chanukah is one week away, Christmas will be here in just 3 weeks, and my birthday is in 4 months…just thought I’d throw that out there, in case anyone wants to get a jump start on finding me that perfect gift!
Speaking of gifts, this holiday season, why don’t we all give ourselves a big break? Sure, consumer spending is good for the economy and if you have the funds, there are some great deals to be had. But there are also ways to give gifts without breaking the bank, actually without even involving the bank.
Here are 5 Terrific Ways to Give No Cost Holiday Gifts:
1) Give your time. Single, coupled, childless, or with a big brood: who couldn’t use some help with day-to-day chores? Wouldn’t it be a treat for someone on your list if you took on some of their duties, freeing them up for some R&R? (which could mean Rest & Relaxation, Rum and Cokes & Rhumba, or something in between)
A night of babysitting for your friend who is a stressed-out single Mother; a day of cleaning out the garage for your brother’s family while he’s overseas; grocery shopping for your neighbor- whatever lightens someone’s “To Do List” would certainly be appreciated. Just make a coupon for the service you’ll be providing, either handmade or on the computer, and you’re good to go. And be sure to include an expiration date as it encourages your “givee” to actually take you up on the help.
2) Give your expertise. Everyone has unique talents and abilities. Whatever yours are, why not give that? The gift may be related to what you do for a living. If you’re a massage therapist, give a massage; if you’re an accountant, give a QuickBooks lesson; if you’re an FBI Agent…hmm? Not sure what you’d give…surveillance?
The gift can also just be something you’re good at. If your forte is organizing, you could offer to declutter your sister’s closet. If making Thai food is your thing, you might hold a cooking lesson at your friend’s house. If you excel at Internet research, why not help your technology-challenged Uncle find his old classmates on-line? Simply make a festive card that declares what you’re offering.
3) Give your creativity. If you have a fertile imagination, the sky’s the limit on this one. Write a poem, an original song, or easier a song parody. This works especially well with a significant other. Whether poignant, funny, or both, if it’s sincere and shows that you really “see” them, it will mean a lot. Playing an instrument is not required, but if you’ve ever asked a music teacher “Will I ever be able to use my voice?” And her answer was “Only in case of fire”, you may want to stick with a poem. (By the way, that’s an old Milton Berle joke.)
Don’t have a way with words? Then cut out images from magazines and make a collage or booklet that chronicles the fun times you’ve had with this person. And of course, you can use your computer to create all sorts of photo montages, slide shows, videos, or craft projects. You probably have some nifty tools already, or there are plenty of free software options on-line.
4) Give an outing. Make a gift of taking loved-ones to a fun (and free) event. Do a little research in the local paper or on-line and come up with something that fits. Maybe it’s treating your nieces to an “insider’s Christmas lights tour”. Or getting your elderly parents out for an afternoon at a holiday fair. For a unique twist, the event could involve volunteer work. This is a great way for you and a friend to spend time together while helping an organization in need. However, you will want to first be sure that your friend really wants to do this. Seems kind of cruel to give someone the gift of griping!
5) Give your love. There may be “50 Ways to Leave your Lover” but there are also at least that many ways to express your love to your lover, or to anyone in your life. For your significant other: cover the bathroom mirror with sticky notes, each saying one thing you love about him or her. Or offer to make dinner and then spell out “I Love You” in lentils (organic of course). And showing your love physically, from a foot rub on up, is always welcome…need I say more?
As to friends and family, even persnickety relatives appreciate knowing they are loved. One idea is to craft a heartfelt hand-written letter on nice stationary that expresses your feelings: what this person means to you, what you admire about them, or how they have made a positive impact on your life. I know that this type of gift always touches my heart. And the warm feelings that result, even years later, are something that even the latest Blackberry can’t hold a candle to.
Is there a memorable no-cost holiday gift that you’ve given or received? Feel free to post it here. Or join our Discussion on Facebook.
Until next time,
Organic Janet
