Big Heart, Low Budget Holiday Gift Ideas
Published
Every year the holidays seem to sneak up on us. But this year, the holidays have been super stealth ninjas. Our minds, bodies, and spirits have been on the 2020 rollercoaster with no chicken exits. So, holiday gift giving ideas are a welcomed distraction—if we don’t stress. Research shows that we gift-givers put tons of pressure on ourselves to get the “perfect gift” which causes anxiety.[1] Give yourself the present of less holiday worry by reading up on gift ideas that won’t make a hole in your pocket!
More than 50% of U.S. adults worry about the cost of giving presents.[2] But caring for someone is free and could be more of what they need rather than lotions, knickknacks, or socks (even though these are cool presents, too). You can show you care by rolling up your sleeves and doing some dirty work.
As a mom, my house often looks like it was hit by an EF5 kid-nado. But on the rare occasion toys, markers, and shoes get picked up and the carpet is vacuumed, I feel like I can breathe easier. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates women spend an average of two hours and 15 minutes and men spend around one hour and 25 minutes per day completing household activities like cleaning, laundry, and house maintenance.[3] So a nice pause from chores could be the mental break your friend needs.
After I moved into my house, a big snow storm hit. When I went outside to start shoveling, I found one of my neighbors had already done it for me! I still don’t know who it was, but man, I’m still feeling the love. Scooping a snowy walk or driveway is a thoughtful way of showing appreciation to your friends or neighbors.
Volunteer to go shopping or even do a grocery pick-up for your friend who has already purchased items through an online app like Walmart or Kroger.
Dollar stores and I are on a first name basis, but you can find crafting clearance or sale deals at several different hobby stores. And you need only jump on Pinterest, YouTube, or Instagram to snag great project ideas that won’t cost you tons of money.
It’s so important to be careful when making treats for others, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC states there is very low risk of getting COVID-19 through food.[5] At the same time, it doesn’t hurt to take all the precautions the CDC recommends for healthy social distancing and/or interactions. Here’s some treat ideas for friends with a sweet tooth.
There’s nothing wrong with watching for sales and shopping (safely) for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. But if you have a set amount you’d like to spend, think about making a donation in a friend’s name or to your favorite charity. Research the charity to make sure it’s legit.[6] Then, let the feel-good vibes pay forward.
Giving presents to our loved ones show we care about them, so let’s not focus on how much we spend. And we definitely don’t need to put even more worry on ourselves this year. So lighten your stress load and give gifts of help, treats, crafts, donations, or warm fuzzies because you and your friends and family are what make the gifts matter!
Wooten, D. B. (2000, June 01). Qualitative Steps toward an Expanded Model of Anxiety in Gift-Giving. Retrieved from Oxford Academic Journal of Consumer Research: https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article-abstract/27/1/84/1791561 ↩︎
Garcia, A. D. (2019, November 13). Survey: Holidays bring spending stress for most Americans. Retrieved from Bankrate: https://www.bankrate.com/surveys/holiday-gifting-november-2019/ ↩︎
Staff. (2016, December 20). American Time Use Survey. Charts by Topic: Household activities. Retrieved from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/tus/charts/household.htm ↩︎
Staff. (2017, December 14). American Heart Association Warns of Snow Shoveling Health Hazards. Retrieved from American Heart Association: https://nyc.heart.org/2017/12/14/american-heart-association-warns-snow-shoveling-health-hazards/ ↩︎
Staff. (2020, August 22). Food and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Retrieved from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/food-and-COVID-19.html ↩︎
Staff. (2020, August 19). Donating to Charity. Retrieved from USA.gov: https://www.usa.gov/donate-to-charity ↩︎