1.  Homemade treats - These can be homemade or store bought.  When I was growing up, my mom’s friend always gave our family a tray of sweets for Christmas.  I looked forward to the lemon bars, cookie bars, and other treats.  Here are some other ideas for make it yourself gifts.

 2.  Store bought edibles – Give something yummy like a gift package from Hickory Farms, a fruit basket, chocolates, or a basket of coffees. 

 3.  Gift cards – Try to find out the person’s favorite store.  If you don’t know, you could always give a Visa card.

 4.  Act of services -  I had a friend whose children sent her to dinner for Mother’s Day.  When she came home she found her house totally spotless.  Needless to say, she was thrilled.

 5.  Babysitting – Keep your friend’s kids so that she can go on a date with her husband.  Even better, give her a gift certificate to a restaurant to go along with it.

 6.  Charitable donations – Give a gift to someone’s favorite charitable organization.  (You need to know the person you’re giving this gift for.  You should know if this type of gift would be ok with them.)

 7.  Entertainment – You could give someone a year’s subscription to a movie rentals such as the ones Netflix and Blockbuster offer.  Other suggestions – movie passes or theater tickets.

 8.  Special treats – Treat your friend to a manicure, pedicure, or massage.

 9.  Restaurant gift certificates – Does your friend or family member have a favorite place they frequent?  Whether it be Golden Corral, Olive Garden, Starbucks, or McDonald’s, give them gift certificates for their favorite place.  This will save them some money and you know they’ll be used.

10.  Special outing – Take them ice skating, to the theater, an amusement park, on a boat ride . . . there are tons of options.

Check out Char’s list of clutter free gifts. 

Remember to be considerate when giving gifts.  This isn’t the time to improve on the person’s worst qualities.  If your friend has issues with clutter and hoarding, this isn’t the time to give them books on organization.

When I was teaching, I got way too many do-dads and knick-nack-paddy-whacks.  A person can only handle so many candles and knick nacks in their home.   This year, let’s try not to let our gifts become burdens to someone.

What are your thoughts on this?  Are you trying to give clutter free gifts to your loved ones?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy