Gifts for Nearly Nothing

Give the present of 'doing', and 'being' present to your loved ones.

There is no such thing as a free gift. Everything costs money. Time is money, commuting costs money, food ingredients and craft supplies cost money, and everyday home items that can be repurposed into gifts cost money too. Overlooking this technicality can lead to unplanned spending. 

But, gifts that cost almost nothing are priceless and bring immeasurable value in terms of memories and personal growth. The act of gifting is rewarding from the very beginning to the end: the thought, the planning, the execution, the giving, and future memories.

Here, I share ten nearly-free gifts. As you look through the list, I hope it inspires you to come up with many more ideas that fit your budget. 

1. Gift your loved ones ten of your favorite recipes. Pick some that were passed down through generations, some of your own, and some that you've learned from others. Write each recipe on a card in your best handwriting. You can even share a memory associated with the food.     

If you have some time and money, make a food basket with shelf-stable food items such as homemade jams, spices and seasonings, cookie mixes, and homemade tea bags. Stick the recipes on the back of each jar. That's two gifts in one! 

(You could even make a gift basket with homemade bath and body products, and their recipes.)

2. Get in the holiday spirit by soaking in all the festive fun that your city or town has to offer. There are free arts and performance-arts festivals and special events everywhere. Find a free concert or a play, a special exhibition or event, do a walking tour, walk around a food fest, and sample all the free foods on offer. Be sure to choose an event your loved one will enjoy or has been wanting to go to.  

If you have the time and money, combine the event with a picnic. A meal and a performance? That's two gifts in one. (If they are into outdoor activities, find a hiking trail that suits their difficulty level, or a public community center to play their favorite sport. Go on an overnight camping trip, and catch the sunrise or sunset, find planets and constellations in the night sky, go foraging the next morning.)

3. Gift a plant, or offer to plant a garden. You can find cuttings, seeds, plants, and even gardening supplies in online communities or local gardening clubs. You can ask your friends or loved ones to give you some. You can propagate table scraps such as leafy greens, onions, potatoes, pineapples, and root vegetables. You may also get free supplies from your local government, park service, or libraries. If your loved one does not have a garden, you can plant at a community garden together. 

4. Create a free music playlist. I like to go with a theme, preferably something they will enjoy. The key to a great mixtape is how you arrange the songs. Set the tone, build the pace, and add little surprises to keep things interesting. 

If you're both up for it, learn a dance routine together using one of the songs, and you will have given them two gifts in one.     

5. Attend a free class with them. There are many websites that offer free courses on every topic under the sun. You can also find free in-person classes on everything from pottery to tennis, watchmaking, and animation. Your imagination is the limit. 

If it is a class that teaches you how to make something, gift them your creation. That's two gifts in one.  

6. Repurpose something you have into a handmade gift. You can make handbags out of old t-shirts, or bookmarks with pressed flowers, sock puppets and rice bag warmers, Christmas ornaments and wreaths, or handpainted serving bowls, trays, and coasters. You can even make a candle out of old candles, or soap out of old soap scraps!

 7. Make a board game. You can use cereal boxes, paper grocery bags, corrugated cardboard and scrap paper material to make the board; Even dice can be made with paper. Use painted pebbles, flowers, or candy as coins. There is nothing more special than a custom-made board game. And there is not a board game on the planet that you cannot make at home.     

8. Make a painting. You don't have to be Norman Rockwell to pick up some paint and a canvas (or a pebble!). Look up some abstract paintings and paint confident brushstrokes like it is your calling. Have fun with it and allow yourself to be surprised by your creativity. I think it is valuable to do this as a group project. Make every member in the family make a painting. An art collection as a gift is as exclusive as it gets. Consider borrowing art supplies instead of buying them.

Similar to paintings, you and your family can even gift a set of poems or stories; or a video tribute. If you're a musician you can write them a song! Your family can sing and perform for them on their special day.   

(If you are a talented artist, make a quilt with old fabric pieces, crochet a scarf using thrifted yarn, braid a rug with old towels. Explore unusual materials for your crafts.)      

9. Make a memory box with photos, personalized notes or letters, and little mementos from your childhood or your travels with them. You could even make a digital collage of pictures and videos. If you don't have many pictures, you can still give them one framed picture. You may have an old picture frame lying around your house, or you could scour local thrift stores, or online communities for a free or cheap frame. You can also use scrap paper, or reuse an old greeting card.

10. Give the gift of giving. Nothing is more enriching to the soul than the act of generosity. And making that a shared-value by doing it with a loved one can lead to a new tradition. Volunteer together at a shelter or soup kitchen, donate blood, or make care packages. Look up nonprofits in your area that need your volunteering support. Giving is as much a gift to ourselves as it is to others. 

Related Articles:

1. Budgeting for Unexpected Expenses During the Holidays:

2. Holiday Debt Detox: Recover from Holiday Spending and Prepare for Next Year

3. Holiday Joy Without Comparison: How to Enjoy the Holidays When You’re Making Less Than Your Friends

4. Alternatives to Traditional Holiday Parties: Ideas for hosting large parties that focus on connection, giving back, and celebrating the true spirit of the holidays.

5. Planning a Rich Holiday Feast: Holiday meals have to be rich, not expensive.