If you plan to reduce your holiday shopping here are some additional suggestions for last minute gifts that you could give.
Make your gift count by making it thoughtful and of benefit to the environment. Keep it simple. One thoughtful gift is better than many wrapped packages of unwanted gifts.
1. Create gift certificate coupons for a massage, spring-cleaning, child minding, pet sitting, manicure, etc. Offer your talents, such as photography, financial planning, or hairstyling.
2. Make dinner for someone or cook and deliver it to them. Create a menu of various culinary delights (e.g., Tantalizing Thai, Mexican Fiesta, etc.) and have the gift recipient choose one of the options.
3. Collect meaningful photos for the gift recipient, make color photocopies and create a collage or a photo album. Make a calendar for the coming year using your own photographs.
4. Write and illustrate a book for the young people in your life
5. Give the gift of ‘time’. Promise to do something exciting and challenging together (e.g., long walk, bike ride, hike, art course). It is important that the date and time be arranged and that you follow through on this.
6. Compile a list of memories and arrange them in a creative fashion.
7. Videotape and interview your elderly parents (or other family members) about childhood memories, how they met, etc., and give to siblings or children.
8. Frame a piece of your artwork.
9. Make a mixed cassette tape and choose songs that make you think of that person. Under each title, explain why you chose that song.
10. Give away a valued possession.
11. Make a calendar with pictures of family members and/or scenery.
12. For the elderly people in your life, research newspaper and magazine articles from their youth and present in a creative fashion.
13. Collect quotes that make you think of someone.
14. Purchase gifts at a fair-trade shop, or gently used items at a garage sale or thrift shop.
15. Buy a used book and in the inside cover explain why you chose the book for that person.
16. Give a membership or donate in the name of a friend to an organization working in a subject area of interest to them.
17. Give an experience such as tuition for an unusual class. For kids, consider giving an environmental excursion, like a whale-watching or camping trip.
18. Help someone start a garden. Give seeds and tools. Help plant, weed, and water.
19. Plant a tree in someone's name.
20. Create a recipe book from the favorites you’ve collected.
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