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Having tight funds for the holidays can be tough! We want to join in the spirit of giving to others but giving seems to require funds. There were a few times growing up that my family was tight on money during Christmas, so we came up with Homemade Holidays. Everything we gave to each other that year was homemade. These Homemade Holidays taught me that we have more to give than money. So, here is a list of 12 gifts of Christmas that don’t cost a lot of money.
1. The gift of hobbies
Many of us have hobbies like sewing, woodworking, jewelry making, baking, knitting/crocheting, drawing/painting… All of these hobbies can be used to make inexpensive gifts. If you want some ideas for homemade gifts, check out our Pinterest board DIY Gifts.
2. The gift of experiences
One thing we did during our Homemade Holidays was make certificates for each other. With these certificates came promises to spend time with each other doing an activity the person enjoys.
(I guess I enjoyed ring around the rosy when I was little lol!)
Along with spending time with family and friends, you could also spend time with people at nursing homes and hospitals.
3. The gift of service
You can volunteer to complete service projects at local food pantries, soup kitchens, animal shelters, and children’s homes. You can also organize coat and/or food drives.
With the certificates we made for each other, we also volunteered our services like cleaning, organizing, and babysitting.
4. The gift of encouragement
If you love encouraging others, you might consider writing letters or making cards to encourage friends and family members. Tell them how much you appreciate the love and support they give you or tell them things you notice in them that inspire you. Encouraging words can be one of the best gifts! One year Jenalyn encouraged me with 12 small gifts symbolic of 12 things she appreciated in me. Each little gift was accompanied with a sweet encouraging note.
You could also encourage people in nursing homes, hospitals, or you could encourage troops with cards and letters through programs like operation gratitude and soldiers angels.
5. The gift of knowledge
Another gift you could give is knowledge. You could give knowledge by donating your old books to little free libraries, or you could donate books to one of these organizations:
Better world books – sells donated books to help fund world literacy programs.
Darien Book Aid – sends donated books to schools and libraries across the world.
You might also consider sharing your knowledge by visiting and reading books to others whose vision is impaired, or you could mentor someone.
6. The gift of kindness
Tis the season for random acts of kindness. Pay it forward, buying someone’s meal or drink in a drive through line, is a popular one for this time of year. There are lots of ideas and fun Youtube videos out there for simple acts of kindness you can do to brighten someone’s day.
7. The gift of care
Care packages are a relatively inexpensive way to give to others. Several items included in care packages can be bought at a Dollar Tree. Organizations that send care packages, like Operation Shoe Box, gives you a list of items wanted. Personal care products are also fairly inexpensive and are needed at women’s shelters.
You don’t have to go through an organization to send a care package. You could send a care package to a college student or someone you know who is going through a tough time this holiday season.
8. The gift of warmth
There are many places and ways to donate old clothes, shoes, and winter items. Many organizations hold coat drives. Here are a few places where you can donate clothes.
Dress for Success – accepts professional style clothing and gives them to women in need.
Shoes for Souls/Clothes for Souls – takes gently used shoes and clothing and distributes them to people in need.
There are also places like Goodwill that accept and sell clothing for good causes.
9. The gift of nourishment
If you love to cook, you might consider giving people meals or goodie baskets.
10. The gift of cheer
One of the best things about Christmas is all the cheerful faces. You could help spread some of that cheer by getting a group together to go caroling. Who doesn’t love Christmas songs?
11. The gift of hospitality
Inviting people into your home is a fun way to get to know them better and give them a night off from cooking.
12. The gift of love
In this season of giving, let’s not forget the most important gift that we can give-love. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Paul states,
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understanding all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
We can do many great things, but without love, it profits us nothing. So while you are thinking about giving, think about why you are giving. Are you truly giving out of love or are you giving out of obligation? A gift given from a pure motive of love is a precious thing indeed!
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