How to Find Alternatives to Buying Christmas Gifts

The season of giving doesn't just mean buying gifts and giving them to people. Here are some alternatives that capture the spirit of giving.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Holiday Baking Books
• Holiday Cookbooks
• Holiday Greeting Cards
• Songbooks
• Arts And Crafts Magazines

1. Make a donation to your friend's favorite charity (or your own favorite charity). Many organizations offer a holiday service in which you make a donation in someone's name, and the charity sends that person a card noting that a donation was made in his or her honor.

2. Bake cookies, cakes or pies and pick a day to drive around and deliver them to the homes of your friends and loved ones.

3. Create something. Christmas magazines are full of easy and inexpensive craft ideas.

4. Make coupon books with coupons for various things like, "Shovel the snow from one walkway or driveway," "Ride to work when your car is in the shop," or "Cup of coffee and a sympathetic ear."

5. Open a day care center for a day. Pick a Saturday and let all your friends know that you will baby-sit their kids for the day so they can finish their shopping and buy gifts from Santa.

6. Organize a group to go Christmas caroling and sing several songs in front of each friend's house.

7. Host a Christmas tea or party and serve delicious treats.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind that it's the thought that counts.

[ClayPot]

on 9/29/2008 Great post, even now in 2008!
:-)
I love the idea of contributing to a charity. My husband's family does that often. None of us *need* anything, so it's better to give to those who do!

on 12/9/2005 If you're making stationary for someone, consider hitting the craft or dollar store and picking up some stamps. If you feel extra creative you can get some embossing powder. It's super easy and makes a beautiful, unique gift.

on 11/22/2005 I found an old black and white of me with my siblings. I studied the pose and where each of us was standing. On a recent gathering, I clued them in on the gift idea and they happily posed for an updated photo.

I scanned and enlarged the original black and white. I printed the updated color print and had the two photos matted one above the other. My siblings chipped in to cover the matt and framing costs and this was a group gift for our parents. Mom and dad loved it!

on 11/22/2005 My siblings and I were remembering an old Christmas bell that my mother hung on our door annually. We all wished it still existed or that we could find something like it. I drew a picture of it and and wrote a poem under the picture. I copied it and colored the bell with colored pencils. I framed one for each of my siblings. They display their "bell" every Christmas.

on 11/22/2005 I took an old polaroid I found of my mother-in-law. I took it to one of those Kodak photo kiosks and color enhanced and enlarged it. I bought a reasonably priced mosiac frame. The gift was a hit. My mom-in-law still talks about it and displays it proudly.