BellaOnline Forums Money Frugal Living 100% Usable Gift Ideas

Many times if we give someone a gift, it's a trinket or object that they really don't use or appreciate. Since our money is precious, that's a real shame!!

Instead, what are some gifts where 100% of the value is used and the people really appreciate them?

Here are some I got while reading a book recently on green living.

* Gift certificate to their favorite restaurant. They're going to go there anyway, and will really appreciate the discount on their meal. No clutter, no mess, a special night out.

* Gift certificate to their local spa. They can get a massage! Talk about the gift of stress release and a healthier body. Plus again no clutter, no waste, just a happy person!

What are some other ideas?

In my family we decided several years ago to give consumables made locally if possible. Several of my DDs like Amish cheeses that we can get here but are not available where they live, and all of my kids love my homemade maple syrup (that is boiling up in my garage at this moment!) In turn they ply me with a bottle of good wine. We also enjoy giving and receiving handmade soaps, sugarfree candy made by a certain local chocolatier and gift certificates to plant nurseries that specialize in native plants and/or daylilies.

Consumable and monetary gifts are definitely great choices. I also like giving the gift of my time. Before my best gal pal moved across the country, we'd celebrate our birthdays by treating each other to lunch and spending an afternoon doing whatever the birthday girl wanted. Some years that meant helping with some thorough housecleaning, and some years that meant playing board games all day. Whatever the birthday girl wanted to do, the other willingly went along. There were occasional small gifts, but only things we knew for certain would be used and appreciated.

She recently celebrated her first birthday since moving. We had a "phone/internet birthday party." We set aside a few hours, each bought our favorite snack foods, and spent an afternoon talking on the phone, munching on chips, and playing games together online. Not as fun as hanging out with her in person, but it was a decent substitute.

Myrabeth, that sounds like such a lovely tradition -- and a great friendship!

That's a great idea, claybird!!

I really like the birthday girl idea!

Giving people, especially college students, a gift of minutes on their phone.....

Giving people (meaning it and doing it) 4 hours child free. Babysit their kids and give people a few hours off.

Giving a gift certificate to someone for one of their favorite home party plan products. Sometimes people want something and just cannot afford it.

When someone will be away for a few hours - mow their lawn for them. What a treat when they return!!


Give an elderly person a gift of time. When you have to go get groceries - invite them along.

Movie theater tickets

For the person who has everything-
Make a charitable donation in their name.

I like the charitable donation idea! Get them a llama

I recently received an amazon gift certificate. I used it to buy mp3 songs... so, no non-consumables