Gifts That Don’t Break the Bank

Perform small acts of kindness. Showing your appreciation for someone else can be as simple as making your mom’s bed or dropping off a few holiday snacks to a neighbor. You can leave this tag as well to encourage them to pass it on.

Give a book full of “coupons” for gifts such as one free hug or a night of dish duty. Or give a coupon for a 15-minute walk or to play two games or to finish one of your brother’s chores. The possibilities are endless. Whatever you decide, it’ll be great! Copy this coupon as many times as you want, and fill in the blank. You can punch holes along the edge and tie the book together with some ribbon or string or just staple it.

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coupon

Think of some great memories you share with your loved ones. Memories of your childhood, family traditions, funny stories, or memories of them. Write them down on strips of paper, popsicle sticks, or even in a notebook. You can also find photos, draw something, or cut pictures out of a magazine to go along with the memories. Once you’ve got your memories and pictures, gather them together in a jar or in a notebook. Copy or cut out this label and attach it to your jar or notebook. Your family member or friend will love reading those memories!

Make a homemade Christmas card. To get you started, here are a few shapes to cut out. You can copy the shapes first or just cut them out and add them to your cards (see samples):

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Christmas gift shapes

Make sure to write a heartfelt note inside. Your cards can be as personal or as creative as you want. All that matters is that they come from you.