By hope
Every year around this time, I get a little stressed about balancing good financial choices with my desire to spoil my kids on Christmas. Additionally, the cost of shipping gifts across the country is not considered “budget friendly.” With adult babies becoming more and more ubiquitous, I’m reminded that each gift also comes with a shipping label and a price tag that keeps on adding up.
This year, my holiday budget is based solely on my $5 in savings that I started early this year. I started last January, putting those fives aside, and they added up! But even with my “$5 stash,” I’m going to have to get creative with how to give gifts that don’t break the bank and still make me feel special.
Here are some frugal and sentimental gift ideas to keep things meaningful without going overboard. I hope they help you find a little balance too:
1. Family recipe book
My kids may live everywhere, but the one thing that keeps us connected is the food we all grew up with. This is what I did last year and they all love it! I’ve collected our favorite dishes, from holiday cakes to comfort foods, written them down and added little stories or memories associated with each recipe. I even digitized it and shared it with them (and my siblings) so they could add their own. This is not just a cookbook. It’s like handing them a slice of family history that they can pass on one day. Plus, if you simply format it, you can email it and save on shipping!
2. Memory jar or journal
I know this sounds a little crafty, but hear me out: a memory jar or journal can be one of the most heartfelt gifts. I’ve done this a few times, filling the jar with little notes about memories we share, funny stories, photos, or life lessons I’d like them to remember. When they’re having a tough day, they can pull one out and feel at home no matter where they are. If mailing the jar is not practical (or inexpensive), you can use a small notebook or journal. It’s budget friendly, and they always seem to love it! (I’m working on an alternative to this option for this year, but it’s still just an idea in my head.)
3. Plan a “gift of time” day together.
Now that my kids are adults, they don’t expect things as much as they value time and experiences. Instead of a physical gift, I will plan a day or activity for us to enjoy together when we can be in the same place. (Like our trip to New York a couple of years ago.) It could be anything from a coffee date, a hike, or even a homemade dinner of all their favorite things. Memories of a day like this? Precious. And the best part: there is no shipping cost.
The holidays can be a financial struggle, especially when you’re balancing the desire to give meaningful gifts with a limited budget (just $5 goes a long way!). Small, heartfelt gifts remind me that thoughtful giving can mean just as much — if not more — than giving lavishly. The focus should be on communication, and this is the kind of gift that doesn’t need wrapping paper or a shipping label.
Do you have ideas to add to the list?
Hope is a creative, solutions-focused business manager who helps clients grow their businesses and operate more efficiently by leveraging expertise in project management, digital marketing, and technology solutions. She has recently become an empty nester as her five foster/adopted children spread their wings. She lives with her three dogs in a small town in northeast Georgia and prefers the mountains to the beaches any day. She has the travel bug and does her best to help each of her children finish school and become independent (but it’s hard!) She’s been running her own consulting company for nearly twenty years! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the spring of 2015, and feels like she’s finally in a place that allows her to truly focus on making wise financial decisions.
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