Gifts from the Heart
Some of the most beautiful gifts are those that are handmade, low cost or absolutely free. As one anonymous writer once put it: "Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends."
Charitable Giving
It is easy to forget in the midst of the holiday shopping frenzy that some of the best gifts in life revolve around giving to those most in need. Consider donating money or materials to a nonprofit organization in your gift recipient's name. Alternatively, you can surprise your friend or relative by making a donation to a charitable organization that you know is close to his/her heart.
Donating Your Time
Organize your family to help serve dinner at a soup kitchen or shelter. Round up your friends to go caroling at a retirement home or to collect clothes and toys to donate. You might also think about opening your home to acquaintances who are spending holidays alone, or help someone decorate who's unable to do it for him/herself.
Donating Your Labor
Offer your loved ones free babysitting, computer training, help with taxes, yard work, or massage. Whatever your skills, you can donate it. The sky is the limit.
Culinary Creations
If you like to cook, try putting your culinary skills to work by offering others homemade cakes, cookies, jellies, jams, pickles, relish or whatever your food forte may be. A fun variation on this idea is to give your friends several stamped and self-addressed index cards. Tell them to drop one of the cards in the mail to you whenever they're in the mood for a batch of cookies. We've pulled together some simple recipes for Gifts from Your Kitchen
Recycle Your Reading
Choose a special book from your own library collection and pass it on to a friend.
Make Your Own Gift Baskets
To start, sit down and take some time to think about what each person on your list would like to receive. For example, is the person a busy working mom, a coffee lover, a cooking enthusiast, or an avid gardener? Based on their interests, you can compile a care package of sorts. Find a basket or unusual container to hold your gifts, and don't be afraid to get creative using wrappings, ribbons or fun fabrics. To get you started, here are several themed ideas:
- Busy Mom: Fill a basket with energy bars and trail mixes, as well as tea tree oil foot bath and relaxing herbal teas.
- Coffee Lover: Buy an assortment of specialty coffees, chocolate covered espresso beans, reusable coffee filters, several mugs, and a copy of the Sunday comics.
- Gardener's Pail: Pick up some favorite seeds, a pair of gardening gloves, hand salve, a natural-bristle nail brush, a visor, sunscreen and an all-natural insect repellant with citronella.
- Cheese Basket: Assemble a bottle of Port, a wedge of Stilton and a bag of homemade caramelized walnuts. This trio of distinctly sweet and salty flavors will please anyone's taste buds.
- Pasta Lover: Collect several kinds of pastas. Add some high quality jarred pasta sauce and a nice bottle of wine. A ladle and a pasta strainer are nice touches too.
- Fire Starter: Gather some pinecones, long stick matches, candle scents or oils, starter blocks and an ash shovel, and arrange in a fireside basket.