This Writer’s Wallet

Holiday Gifts: Thoughtful is > Expensive

This time of year, gift-giving is on everyone’s mind, especially the retailers. I mean, who can blame them with sales being down, right? Since Halloween ended and until New Year’s Day, every store in America has one goal: convince you to buy what they sell, in the name of gifting. There will be gift sets, pretty wrapping, “sales,” home parties thrown by people you hardly know (PartyLite, anyone?).

Here’s my advice: Ignore them. When it comes to gift-giving, what you spend is irrelevant. I swear, a million times over and over again, it’s the thought that counts. Personally, I’d take a small trinket from that store I told you I loved but never shop at much more than a $200 sweater from J.Crew.

The holidays don’t have to break your budget, honest. In fact, I think a little thoughtfulness could put the holiday spirit back into all of us. Here are some ideas:

1. Write a letter.

This is something I’ve started doing for the people that really mean a lot to me. On their birthdays, I sit down, clear my head and write out why I like them, memories I’ve had with them, how much I love them, carefully crafting what I want to say. It takes some time, but otherwise the cost is free. And the payoff is huge: Everyone likes to be appreciated, and seeing someone’s face when reading a friend letter is priceless. If you’re feeling stuck with writer’s block, try this: Take a lined piece of paper, number it top to bottom and write at the top: I’m thankful for you because. I only did this for someone once—my mom on one of her birthdays—but she still keeps it.

2. Create something.

I’m a foodie, so I lean towards baking. You might be crafty: Can you knit? Are you into wood-working? Have an artsy side? If there are things you create well, use those skills to make something for the people you love. Put thought into it: steer your gift towards their interests somehow (example: a scarf for your dad who walks two blocks from the train to work or a framed photo of the family vacation spot for your grandparents). One year, I bought a baby album and filled it with my brother’s and my baby pictures, all organized and stuff, for my mom. She still has that, too.

3. Go simple, practical.

Every baker would appreciate an extra Silpat ($15). Every budding photographer needs a tripod (I just saw one for under $50). The key with simple and practical gifts is to THINK about the recipient’s interests and THINK about what they have/don’t have, and then get something that they could use. What you spend is irrelevant. You want the person to know you care about him or her and that you are interested in what they do.

After all, that’s what giving gifts is all about.

This post is part of a series brought to you by the College Money Network. To read more frugal gift-giving ideas, check out these other sites!

o Broke Grad Student
o College Finance 101
o MFA or Bust
o Poorer Than You
o Spilling Buckets