10 FREE (but Thoughtful) Christmas Gift Ideas

Gifts must be expensive and store bought—-SAID NO ONE, EVER!

Totally FREE Christmas Gift Ideas? Yepper!

Coming up with a FREE Christmas gift idea goes against the norm. There’s outside pressure during the holidays to spend lavishly only to have the recipient not really like the gift or even use it. I read recently that Americans will spend on average of $800 on Christmas.

That’s a lot of money and if you don’t have the cash, PLEASE don’t feel compelled to spend what you don’t have.

It is possible to give thoughtful gifts with very little money or even no money at all. Often the most precious gift is the gift of time, thoughtfulness and/or necessity.

You just need to think outside the (gift) box…pun completely intended.

Maybe there’s someone on your list that is really hard to buy for because they have everything that they need. Or, maybe funds are really tight and you just don’t have a lot of money to spend on gifts this year. Or, maybe the thought of traffic and the mall are just too much to bear.

STOP the madness and check out this list. Hopefully it will inspire you to think outside the (gift) box too.

10 FREE Christmas Gift Ideas

1. A Homemade Meal

We give the gift of a home-cooked meal to my grandparents. They really don’t need or want anything and both of my grandmothers are trying to downsize. The gift my grandparents really want is to spend time with my family and we enjoy spending time with them.

This is a great idea for seniors, friends who don’t have family nearby, college students, or just about anyone on your list.

2. Baked Goods

Are you good at baking pies? Or are cookies your thing? My aunt gifts her nieces and nephews with loaves of homemade cinnamon bread every Christmas. We all look forward to the bread every year.

I can almost taste the toasted cinnamon bread slathered with butter now.

3. Ready Made Freezer Meals

If your freezer is packed with ready made meals that just need to be heated up, this would be an awesome gift for anybody, especially any college students or seniors on your list.

4. Family Heirlooms

This sweet little candy dish was a gift from my grandmother. I realize not everyone has family heirlooms to give away, but my grandmother has been downsizing and gifting her grandchildren pieces from her Fostoria Glass collection that were my grandparents wedding gifts back in 1945.

If you have collectibles or heirlooms that are just sitting in a closet, think about gifting it to someone in your family who would appreciate its sentimental value.

5. Private Lessons

What are your hobbies and/or skills? Consider offering lessons on those skills as a gift to your friends or family members that might be interested. Some ideas:

• Do you play an instrument? Teach lessons to a friend or family member that might be interested.
• Are you really good at a sport? Give the gift of lessons.
• Are you a knitter, crafter or do you know how to use a sewing machine? Gift the gift of lessons.

6. Homemade Crafts

If you’re crafty or artistic, this is your chance to shine. Maybe you are a crafter/knitter/crocheter with a stash of supplies? Make scarves, mittens, socks or Christmas ornaments. My great grandmother made a lot of her gifts. I treasure this ornament that she gave me one Christmas.

Are you good at calligraphy? As our wedding gift, my cousin wrote the addresses on our 150 wedding invitations (years ago). My handwriting is atrocious and to print all of those addresses would have been costly. My husband and I really appreciated that gift.

What is your artistic talent? Gift it!

7. Babysitting

Do you know how much babysitting costs? About $10 an hour. Fortunately, my parents live nearby and my mom doesn’t charge us (whew–thanks, mom), but we have close friends who don’t have family nearby and would LOVE a gift of free babysitting. If you have friends or family who could use a date night, babysitting services would make a fantastic gift.

8. Pet Sitting 

For the friends with pets, maybe they could use pet sitting when they go out of town. The cost of the kennel where we take our dog is about $20 a day. If you have friends or family who have pets, petsitting services would make a fantastic gift.

9. Snow Removal

Last winter still gives me shivers—brrrrrrr. Thankfully, we have a snow blower, but for some people, snow removal is difficult or even dangerous because of age or their physical ability. This is a great idea for any seniors on your list who might live alone or anyone without a snow blower.

10. Hair Cuts

I realize that not everybody is skilled enough to give hair cuts–I’m certainly not–but there are people who are very capable and good at it. My sister in law is a former hair stylist and has given cuts to family members.

If this is your skill, gift it!

If you’re giving a non-tangible gift, like lessons or services, create a certificate or coupon on the computer to make the gift extra special.

Did this list inspire you to think outside the (gift) box when it comes to gift giving? What FREE (but thoughtful) Christmas gift ideas do you have? Please let us know in the comments.

Need more Ideas? Here’s 10 MORE:

photo credit: Pixaby