8 Awesome Low Cost or No-Spend Gift Ideas
Annual magazine subscriptions. These are such an inexpensive gift that the receiver gets to enjoy all year long. Magazines feel like a dying industry but they are so enjoyable to flip through. I personally would love to receive a magazine subscription to a magazine that I enjoy.
Coupon for a coffee date. I love coffee, and company. There’s something comforting about coffee shops, and a coffee date also equals quality time with the person you’re gifting. Bonus points if you pick a place with great pastries because there’s nothing like a warm drink with a fresh pastry along with good conversation.
Beautifully potted plant. Plants are so trendy right now. Find out what types of plants your recipient is into and get them a plant complete with a beautiful pot. Plants are such an inexpensive home decor or desk decor item and they bring so much life into the space they’re in. Fiddle leaf figs, succulents, snake plants, and rubber tree plants are all good options.
Your favorite book. It could be their favorite book too, but chances are if it’s their favorite, they already own it. I personally love this book for gifting at the holidays!! If you wanted to go above and beyond, you could pair it with some tea and a mug, or a cozy blanket to use while they read.
Homemade skincare. With online retailers, good skin ingredients are easy to obtain and so many of the store-bought versions simply use fillers to dilute the potent ingredients like cocoa butter and shea butter. With homemade skincare, you have the opportunity to provide something more pure and all natural. Check out my diy for handmade whipped body butter here.
Homemade baked goods. Who doesn’t love homemade baked goods. They are even more special if you provide the recipe so the recipient can recreate them at home in the future, and if you share something that’s a family recipe or family tradition. Home baked goods take more time, effort and love than ordering something off of Amazon in my opinion. You give more of yourself when you make something, and share part of your family if it’s a recipe from a family tradition. Check out the recipe for my family’s pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies here. These have ALWAYS been a hit with everyone I share them with.
Coupon for an experience. This could be something free like a hike and a packed lunch, or it could be more expensive like tickets to a play, or spa day. Either way, it’s an experience, and an experience that the recipient can share with you. In a world where none of us need more stuff, coupons for experiences can be an amazing gift.
Experience related gift baskets. These could be a game, with game snacks and drinks for a fun night of gaming, movie tickets with milk duds, or a self-care basket complete with face masks, nail polish, hand and foot cream and a bottle of champagne for a self-care day. Putting together a basket of goodies that equate an experience is also an amazing gift idea, one that takes thought and preparation along with an understanding of what the recipient loves.
I hope these ideas were helpful. I do feel like the gift giving tradition is steering away from as much of a consumer-driven tradition. Gifts don’t have to cost a lot of money to be meaningful. The most important thing is that the recipient feels known and appreciated so tailor your gift to the person you’re giving it to and enjoy the holiday season.