Bake Your Gift
Baked goods make delicious gifts and can be a thoughtful
way to express your love for someone special. Why not
whip up your famous homemade pie? If you have multiple
recipients- you can double the ingredients to create
a large batch of brownies, cookies or cupcakes. Make
your treats festive with holiday sprinkles and frosting!
Everyone enjoys homemade goodies and your loved ones
will know that you spent a lot of time and effort making
the present.
Use Your Talent
Use your talent. You may be a great writer, musician
or singer. Put your skills to work. Burn a mix CD, write
a heartfelt song or create some unique jewelry. Do you
love to knit? Make your friends a holiday hat or a scarf!
Remember, it is the thought that counts. These gifts
will not break your bank, but will be treasured for
years to come.
Photo Fun
Give the gift of pictures. Photos are wonderful because
they are very personal, yet inexpensive. Check out Shutterfly
or Snapfish- most of these sites have an option for
20 free prints when you set up an account. You can turn
your favorite pictures into festive ornaments, make
a holiday calendar for your family or present the photos
in a decorated frame or colorful collage.
Re-gift
Don’t be afraid to re-gift. It is economical
and no one needs to know. Throw in your own special
touch with some holiday treats, a sweet card and some
colorful wrapping paper to make the gift feel new. Another
idea: you can sell your unwanted gifts on eBay. This
will put some extra cash in your pocket, which you can
use to pay off your holiday credit card bills!
Coupon Craze
Think of something special you can do for each of your
loved ones and make some holiday coupons. For example:
Give your spouse a coupon for a back massage, breakfast
in bed or a month off from their least favorite chores.
Your kids will enjoy coupons with “extra privileges.”
Think about what your kids really enjoy and value. A
later bedtime, extra playtime or a raise in their allowance
are all fun options. For a close friend, you might offer
up a free night of babysitting. Good babysitters can
be hard to find and for couples that enjoy going out,
this will be extremely meaningful.
Travel
Surprise your friends or family with frequent flier
miles. If you are strapped for cash, but have tons of
frequent flier miles ~ get booking! Do you have a granddaughter
who wants to come visit? Do you live far away from your
parents, who miss you terribly? If you have extra frequent
flier miles, you can buy someone you love a plane ticket.
Being able to travel and see those most dear to you
during the holidays is the perfect present for anyone.
New Traditions
Start a new tradition with your family. As a kid growing
up, did you ever go to Macy’s to check out the
window display? Or take a drive around town to admire
the neighborhood houses that have Christmas lights?
Looking back on it, those traditions were a lot of fun!
You can also check out the various free activities in
your area such as tree lighting or Christmas caroling.
Perhaps you and your children can make hot chocolate
together from scratch each year. Or bake and decorate
holiday cookies on Christmas morning. These are great
ways to bond as a family and the memories are priceless!
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