26 Affordable and Practical #Gift Giving Ideas for the #Holiday Season
The holiday season is fast approaching, and once again people are picking their brains about what gifts to buy for friends and loved ones.
I’ve always tried to tailor my gifts specifically to what the receiver would like and could use and/or appreciate, in hopes that my gift wouldn’t be the one ending up collecting dust on a shelf or re-packaged for re-gifting. But it’s still sometimes difficult to pinpoint exactly what the perfect gift could be for someone, and, often times, there might be too much cost to purchase a particular gift, which sometimes leaves us feeling somewhat inadequate with what we’ve chosen to give, especially for those hard to buy for people who already have everything they want. Sure, it’s the thought that counts, but sometimes people don’t think that way, and sometimes our budgets don’t allow us to spend on some items what we’d really like to give.
So today I’m going to share some great ideas for gift giving for both children and adults. Below are some ideas from low cost to no cost that you can give with confidence and know they will be well received.
Have you ever noticed children at a Christmas gathering opening one gift after another, barely taking in the excitement of one gift before they put it aside to open the next one? Have you ever noticed how much kids love to do arts and crafts to keep their busy little hands and minds occupied? This is why crafts make great gifts for kids. Maybe it’s the writer in me, but I like to buy gifts for kids that help to educate them and help to build their creativity.
Here’s a handy list of things you can buy for kids that won’t break the bank:
- Books – books that entertain while teaching kids to count or learn the alphabet, colors, names of animals, and of course, any stories to do with kindness that can be understood at their level.
- Coloring books and crayons, pencil crayons, magic markers, an easel to draw on, colored sand art, water paints and brushes, tissue paper for paper mache art, personal diaries, notebooks, stamp art, stencil art, yarn for sewing projects
- Construction paper, pipe cleaners, glitter glue, and sticker books
- Lego
- Playdoh
- Ebooks of children’s stories can be gifted and loaded to a parent’s ereader or get a kindle for kids for their own books
What to buy the person who seems to have everything:
- Books
- Gift certificate from: a bookstore, their favorite store, a restaurant they frequent, a coffee house, a home improvement store, a transit pass, movie theater or a sporting event
- A membership to a club
- A kindle with some ebooks downloaded to it
- A season paid of gardening
- A subscription paid for a year to a magazine
- Donate for a few meals to a homeless charity in their name
- Donate to any charity in their name
And what can you give that won’t cost you anything but some of your time? Make up some coupons and offer loved ones:
- Free babysitting
- Free rides to drop off and pick up
- Housesitting
- Snow Shoveling
- Companion time
- Reading time for an elderly person
- Help around the house
- Make a few dinners
- Help decorate and take down decorations after the holidays
- Volunteer services
- Baked goods
- Something homemade
These are just a few of so many things we can give. Our imaginations are limitless when we think about what a particular person could really use and appreciate. And don’t forget, there is nothing more personal than any gift from the heart.
DGKayewriter.com 
This is a perfectly wonderful list and I used to give those homemade (decorative) coupons for services and future time well spent (movies, fixing, painting. . .)!
Great Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or birthday suggestions, Debby! Happy hoildays to you and yours. xo
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Fantastic ideas Debby and I love the FREE but practical ideas.. time is very precious. ♥
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Thanks so much Sal. Free is always good, and still from the heart. <3xo
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♥♥
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Love this – very helpful, especially the coupon idea!
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Thanks Marian. Happy holidays. 🙂
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Great list, Debby. I saw lots of “books” and “reading.” Yay. My extended family has gone the donation route for years – a special part of the holiday.
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Thanks Diana. Yes, my extended family now donates meals in our names instead of giving us gifts that we really don’t need. 🙂 Better for those who need them. 🙂
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I’ve done many of these things over the years. It gets more difficult all the time with a spouse you’ve been married to for decades, so we limit or exclude some of the occasions that might otherwise call for gifts–anniversaries (dinners, going out somewhere, etc., in lieu of) and Christmas (maybe a big gift for both of us to us). We do birthdays and Mother’s Day/Father’s Day. It works for us.
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We do the same John for my hub and me. But the grandchildren used to buy us things and that’s been changed to donations in our names. Someone else can use these gifts who need them instead of us stockpiling more things we don’t need. 🙂
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Some lovely ideas, Debby.Jx
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Thanks Judith. xo:)
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These are great, Deb. Some kids get too many gifts and appreciate none. A little construction paper and glitter glue would be good for their souls … 🙂 ♥
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That’s what I always say! 🙂 ❤
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Thanks for the suggestions, Debby. I must confess to not being very handy but you’ve included something for everything. ♥
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Glad I was helpful Olga. ❤
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Rather… something for everybody!
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I’ve made coupons before, and probably will do so again this year for a couple of friends. What I really wanted to was make various kinds of homemade liquor for a handful of people, but then time got away from me. Time has a way of doing that 😉
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Sounds like a fab idea Jeri. You don’t need to tell me how time disappears, lol.:)
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Excellent ideas,Debby! Well-thought out, too! I’m saving this list!
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Thanks so much Terri. Glad you found it helpful. 🙂
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Time is one of the best presents I believe – love that you included it here! Lovely suggestions all round. Play doh and lego is a great hit with children of all ages and I’ve given quite a few magazine subscriptions to people over the years, always popular.
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Thanks Annika. I’m glad you agree with my list. 🙂
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Great ideas, dear Debbie… I can´t believe we are getting so close to Christmas already (and again!) 😉 Sending you love & best wishes. 😀
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Thanks dear Aqui. I know, time passes much too quickly. Happy holidays my friend. 🙂 ❤
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Wonderful ideas, Deb! I especially love the non-material ones, including giving a donation in someone’s name xx Such a great post with Xmas coming and everyone getting stressed.. I’m sure your words here will help some people a lot! ((I’m thankfully already done my shopping))
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Thanks Christy. I’m almost done. Just went out today and bought the young ones construction paper, stickers and crayons. 🙂 ❤
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Thank you. Nice list, especially the gifts of service. I also like homemade, but do less of that than I used to. I buy from local people. I try to give things that will be used, so this year it’s candles, soaps, organic moisturizers, and gloves. Blessed Solstice.
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Of course I knew you’d appreciate my list, and I am not one bit surprised at your choice of gifts, all my favorites too! 🙂
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Those who have everything are the hardest to buy for, so gift vouchers or donations to charities in their names are ideal. I loved it when my kids were little, I always got them books, art and crafts and their favourite was Lego. We spent hours building it together, the best toy ever 🙂 Great ideas, thanks Deb! 🙂 ❤ xoxo
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Thanks Sher. Not surprised your choice of gifts are similar to mine. I just bought the wee ones a bunch of construction paper, crayons etc., and lego, no doubt! 🙂 xo ❤
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Perfect! 🙂 xoxo
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Wonderful ideas. Some I might never have thought of. I like a list. Thank you, Debby. 😀
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Thanks Tess. Glad you found it helpful. Hope you’re shopping is done though, lol. 🙂
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Sigh. No. This is my first foray. Hope to finish in one or two additional outings. Must keep to my map and schedule. 😀
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Lol, good luck my friend! Thank goodness for online shopping. 🙂
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Ack, my comment just got dumped for some reason, so if this turns out to be my second published comment, feel free to delete one! Anyway, I was leaving a comment about how hard it is to find gifts that are unique and useful and not a butt-load of money!! I really like your ideas here for all kinds of people. I think anyone would appreciate the coupons you describe–as a minimalist and a conservationist, I don’t like getting a present for the sake of gift-giving, you know? I’d be happier going out to a nice dinner and a movie instead of getting another butter dish. 🙂
I give my kids coupons for Mother-Daughter Day or Mother-Son Day, and those are their favorite gifts, hate to brag. 🙂 We spend the day doing lunch, a movie, shopping, going to a museum or a spa–whatever suits us in the moment. Because I just have one kid for the whole day there is no sibling rivalry and my attention isn’t divided all the time. It works out really well!
Merry Christmas, my dear!!
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Hi Kate! Sorry you had a problem trying to comment, I did find this one and will go through the many spam I noticed after and see if I find you there. WP has been acting up a bit lately, no big surprise!
I love your coupons you make for your kids, and you should brag! How nice it is for them to have a little one-on-one time with their mom too.
Thanks a bunch for sharing your gift ideas and popping by.
Thanks for the wishes too and wishing you and yours a fabulous holiday season! 🙂
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