Just because a gift doesn't cost a lot of money doesn't mean that it's cheap. There are a lot of quality gifts that you can give that won't burn a hole in your pocket. In fact, taking the time to plan and give from the heart instead of something hurriedly purchased at the store will likely produce a gift that is much more appreciated. Here are some quality, yet inexpensive gift ideas for any gift giving occasion:
Memory Jar - Simply find a nice jar and cut different colored paper into small, note-sized pieces. Write a single memory you have had with that particular person on each sheet and place it in the jar. Continue doing this until the jar is full. Add a nice ribbon around the jar and you have a wonderful jar of memories to give.
Letter In A Bottle - This gift is actually a mutual activity that you do together as part of the gift. All you need is an old wine bottle that has a cork and a few pieces of nice stationery wrapped in a box. When the recipient opens the gift, you explain that you will write a letter, place it in the wine bottle and cast it off together into the sea. You can write whatever the two of you desire, but you should make sure that you enclose an address so that if someone does find it, they can get in contact with you. To make it a really special gift, you can have a
free personalized bottle label made to stick on the outside of the bottle.
Organize A Scrap Book - Chances are that you have a lot of photos, souvenirs and other items from the past sitting in a drawer somewhere in your house waiting to be sorted. If you do, you have yourself an instant gift ready to be made. Simply go through the drawer taking out the photos and other items that apply to the person you need to give a gift to. Arrange everything how you like adding your comments to each page and you turn the items that were gathering dust into a memory album that will be cherished.
Sample Basket - A good friend of mine makes sample baskets every year and I know from conversations with those who receive them that they are one of the most highly anticipated gifts received each year. The best part is they are practically free to make. My friend loves to apply for
freebie offers and does so whenever she can. She then takes the freebies she receives and arranges them into sample baskets to give away as gifts. The sample baskets are always loaded with all kinds of interesting items and the only cost is the basket that they are displayed in.
Future - Give a gift of the person's future in your own unique way. First, get on your computer and write the recipient's future fortunes on fortune cookie size paper. Be creative and fun and make them so that the person who receives them knows that they could only come from you. Then bake up a special batch of
fortune cookies as a gift. If you are not the baking type, it's also possible to buy a bag of pre-made fortune cookies, take out the original fortunes with a pair of tweezers and then insert your own fortunes. Either way, you have a truly personalized gift that will be remembered for a long time.
I Love You - A simple gift that says it all is to tell your significant other "I Love You." Instead of saying it once in English, however, say
"I love you" in over 50 languages.
Your Time - There probably isn't a greater gift that you can give to someone than your time. Doing so is quite simple by creating a coupon book. A coupon for a 30 minute back rub will always be highly regarded. Add in coupons for a walk in the woods, a day at the beach, a game of tennis, a visit to a favorite museum, a picnic lunch or any other activity that the recipient would enjoy and you have given a wonderful gift at practically no cost.
Quality Inexpensive Gift Ideas
