With Christmas fast approaching, you may find yourself once again racking your brains for what to buy your friends and family. You want to get them something special. Something that shows you care. Something different … even a little out there.
Don’t worry if your mind draws a blank.
Whoever it is you are struggling to buy for, we have some great present ideas that won’t cost you the earth but could change a life, in a good way.
These are gifts that show you have thought carefully about the lucky recipient. Not just a present for a moments enjoyment which gets flung to the side or used up in a day. Instead, these ideas will give your mates ways to change parts of their lives, for the better. They might help improve their bank balance, help them find love … or simply free up time and make their lives easy.
Surely these make the best gifts of all!
The gift of financial freedom
Who doesn’t want more money? If you have a friend who stresses about their financial situation, why not give them a resource to truly help them?
The Barefoot Investor book is life-changing from the first chapter and a simple, understandable starting point for financial freedom. There are heaps of other brilliant finance books including The Richest Man In Babylon and The Rules of Wealth.
Just think: Your gift may have a positive impact on your friend’s financial future. Next round is on them.
The gift of good health
We all aspire to better health, but sometimes we need someone to kick start the process.
Be that person!
Find a healthy challenge that your friend will like and sign them up. The Healthy Mummy 28-Day Challenge is perfect for us busy mums and has a huge amount of extra free resources to benefit from. Why not take it a step further and join up too? Reaching goals is easier with another person so you will both benefit.
The gift of health is a sign you really care, and lasts way longer than a box of chocolates.
The gift of a new relationship
OK, so it may be a tricky area, but some people need a gentle push in the right direction.
If your friend needs to get out and meet people, give them a whirl on a decent dating app. eHarmony has a free sign-up but you could gift them a 3-month subscription to get them going. For many, ‘getting back out there’ is hard. So having the initial action taken out of their hands is a relief, and what do they have to lose, right?
You never know, you might be buying a gift for an engagement party next.
The gift of self-improvement
There’s always room for improvement in our lives, but rarely will we do anything about it unless someone makes it super-easy for us.
There are heaps of personal development courses online to suit all lifestyles. Browse through Udemy and find the perfect course to give as a gift. Prices start from $5 and helpful reviews will ensure you don’t gift a dud. Try to choose one that is self-paced, that way your friend can fit it into their life in such a way that works for them, and no excuses!
Instead of giving a bottle of wine which may provide instant gratification, give a course which will enhance their life long-term. Which one shows you really care?
The gift of peace
Peace and quiet in our fast-paced world is a rare gift … and one that you can easily give.
Sign your friend up and pay a month on a meditation app. Headspace allows you to gift a friend to the value of your choice. Give them a trial of Gaia (only 99c) so they can stream yoga and transformational videos. Or gift a book such as Meditation Made Easy, which will teach them how to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.
The gift of peace is truly golden.
The gift of kitchen convenience
Convenience equals an easier life. And shortcuts in the kitchen are welcomed with opened arms.
Treat your friend to a week of less shopping, less food prep and less cooking with the wonderful gift of a meal kit box. Both Hello Fresh or EveryPlate are excellent and offer great deals on first orders. Check out their websites to find the best specials available. Then organise to have this box of delights delivered to their doorstep and you’ve just made your friends week easier, cheaper and tastier.
You may even get an invite to dinner. Fingers-crossed.
The gift of time
Last on our list of cheap yet life-changing gift ideas: If there is one thing we all want more of in this crazy-busy word, it’s time. So gifting time to someone is really special.
Organise some chores to be taken off your friend’s hands so they have more time for the activities they enjoy. You could do the chores yourself (or get your kids to do them!). Alternatively, head to Groupon and search for Airtasker coupons. They can hire someone to clean the house or tidy the garden while they relax or do whatever they please.
You will be seriously in the good books for this perfect present.
And here are lots more gifts ideas to help with your Christmas shopping:
30 Cute stuffing fillers for little girls
30 Cute stuffing fillers for little boys
24 Gift for teenage boys that have nothing to do with gaming
10 Beautiful personalised Christmas gifts for kids to keep forever
7 Brilliant advent calendars for kids who live between homes
50+ Gifts ideas for mum (sister, aunties, girlfriends)
17 Gifts for teachers they’ll actually really like
22 Homemade Christmas gift ideas that are easy to make
Treats to buy for yourself – Merry Christmas to me
Websites for a great deal on your Christmas shopping
10 Adult advent calendars for the Christmas lover in all of us
15 Gift ideas for a newish boyfriend
50 Christmas gifts for men for under $50
Hilarious Christmas gifts for your ex
