It’s Christmastime! We all know it’s better to give than to receive. These 10 gift ideas will help you show your appreciation to your family without leaving you broke.
1. The Perfect Date – Give the family your quality time with a date to a coffee shop, a museum, or a day of shameless (and free) touring in your hometown.
2. Family Tradition – Whether you annually don matching sweaters or watch Christmas movie marathons, change it up with a new tradition. Pitch in a few dollars to help a needy family or donate to a charity such as World Vision that provides clean water and resources to needy families. (worldvision.org)
3. Procraftinate – Need a break from the mall? Try your hand at a DIY gift. Search Pinterest for DIY burlap placemats, family silhouettes, or coasters for a few simple starters.
4. Quoteable – Print someone’s favorite movie quote or Scripture passage onto fabric, and frame it for a quick, inexpensive gift idea.
5. Paint With Words – Not the crafting type? Write your brother a cheesy limerick, or gift your mom a sappy sonnet. It won’t be Shakespeare, but it will be meaningful.
6. Frameworthy – Create a photo book of your family’s Christmases together. Or, make a reusable picture frame by replacing the frame backing with a piece of sheet metal from your local hardware store to create a simple magnetic way to display your face.
7. Bottle It Up – Put together a few items and display them in a glass jar for easy gift success. (Ideas: hot chocolate mix, a mini-spa kit, or fishing gear) See mixesinajar.com for more ideas.
8. On Canvas – Find cheap canvases at your local craft store, or recycle an old one, and paint something new for your family members. It’s at least a step up from paint-by-numbers.
9. Confectionately Yours – Food is always a fail-proof (and cheap) gift idea. If you can’t bake, there’s no shame in store-bought cookie dough.
10. Art of the Trade – Got creative friends? Swap talents or go in together to purchase the supplies needed for some of the above ideas. You can divide and conquer for great family gifts.
Thanks for the tips! Sometimes I have a difficult time coming up with a gift that’s both unique and personal. I really want to give my family something that will mean a lot to them for Christmas this year. You made a great suggestion to use sheet metal to create a photo book of our past Christmases together. That seems like an affordable and personal gift that would be meaningful to everyone in my family.