Holiday Gifts for Hard Times: Creative and From the Heart

Is your shopping list bigger than your budget? Here are some gift ideas that are free and yet very meaningful. They may even be the most precious and well-received gifts of all.

So drop out of those manic holiday shopping crowds. Light a fire, stay warm and cozy, as you create your own holiday gifts. Hard times are easier -- when we offer our homemade gifts of the heart to each other.

Brenda Peterson is the author of 16 books, including the recent memoir, I Want To Be Left Behind: Finding Rapture Here on Earth, which was named as a "Top Ten Best Non-Fiction Book of 2010" by The Christian Science Monitor For more: http://www.IWantToBeLeftBehind.com

 

 

 

Follow Brenda Peterson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BrendaSPeterson

Comments

[mose joseph workman]

10:40 PM on 12/24/2011

Holiday Gifts for Hard Times:
1. Go to a yard sale and buy some old crap and tell the recipient that it is a family heirloom handed down for six generations and once belonged to George Washington. (Make sure it doesn't say Made in Japan or is dated after 1790.)
2. Cut out a photo of Hawaii from a magazine and enclose it in a card that says, "This is where we're going for Christmas next year!"
3. Fruitcake. They're free. Just dig them out of any neighbor's garbage.
4. When a delivery arrives for a neighbor that isn't home, sign for it and give it as a gift.
5. Send the recipient a card that says "A donation of $100 has been made in your name to XYZ charity".

[SunshineACH]

09:31 AM on 12/22/2011

I am very anti-consumerism and more into authentic, heartfelt giving. I'm also not in a position to give much myself, but I published a book of humor essay and am donating all 2011 profits to the Humane Society of West Michigan. I did it as a gift to my mom to ensure we could make our yearly donation there, even though times are so tight. By buying the book, people give back and get something back in return! It's a great feeling :) http://abbyhasissues.com/buy-the-book/

[Via col vento]

06:32 PM on 12/17/2011

Such an important reminder, Brenda! Our kids often give us experiences they would like to have with us as presents. They usually create a piece of art for the coupon that we can use at any time. One year, one of my kids made an envelope with several coupons inside that I could hang up and use over the course of a whole year. I've had coupons to go to the zoo, kick around a ball in the park, go to the museum, and go on a hike. What is neat about this is that the children are sharing something they love with you. I've also gotten coupons on Mother's Day for vacuuming the house and sweeping the deck. Those are wonderful too!

[mrmPortland]

02:14 PM on 12/17/2011

What a great idea! I think "re-gifting" and re-using are the best way to go. I also buy gift certificates for my favorite little restaurant in town to support local business and treat friends to a great meal.

[Janice Harper]

12:51 PM on 12/17/2011

Beautiful idea! Another gift-giving idea that has really touched me was one year when a friend had no money, but a houseful of wonderful treasures. He gave each of his friends something we had personally covetted and he hadn't wanted to part with. The sharing of those treasures was priceless. Similarly, last year a friend gave gifts that she could no longer use, but knew would be loved by her friends. In both cases, the gifts were beautifully wrapped, and far more meaningful than anything store-bought.