Growing up, my parents taught me a basic concept around gifts: The more creativity you put into the gift, the more the recipient will appreciate it — regardless of the cost.
I took the lesson to heart. As a child, I would hand out “experience” gifts — like an offer to spend quality time with someone or a voucher to do a chore. As I got older, I got more creative.
For my parents’ recent 50th wedding anniversary, I wrote them an original song to a Beatles tune and arranged for their nine grandchildren to sing it to them. They loved it so much they were crying happy tears — and it cost me only my time, not money.
Last year, I used a digital illustrator on Etsy to turn a family photo into a Regency-era portrait because my mom loves Jane Austen. It was another hit and cost less than $50.
This holiday spending season, I have my eye on a custom play. Etsy seller TinyPlayScripts writes personalized plays based on the recipient’s interests for $30. I’m also considering hosting a night of Regency-inspired “parlor games” — typically involving word play or cards — as a gift for my mom.
Personalizing gifts based on what you know about the recipient and your relationship with them can save a lot of money during this gift-giving season. In fact, I think it’s one of the most under-utilized holiday budgeting strategies.
Consumers are planning to spend a hefty $890 on average this year on holiday gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items, according to the National Retail Federation. This technique could go a long way toward reining in overspending.
Writer Amanda Barroso knew she had to approach the holiday season differently after seeing tariffs and inflation drive up prices across many toy categories.
Months before the holiday season started, she started checking out consignment sales and secondhand shops for her two young children’s Christmas gifts. So far, she’s thrifted dress-up outfits, a learning game, books and more. She estimates she’s saved around $250.
“Thrifting has become a fun hobby for me. I love sifting through the racks, trying to find the perfect thing. And I’ve found toys I never would have considered otherwise,” she says.
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Buy someone’s groceries for them
Whenever her friends bring home newborns, content coordinator Jessica Cano skips the customary baby gift and delivers bags full of groceries instead.
She opts for easy-to-prepare foods like bagels and frozen meals along with staples like bread.
“I feel like our friends have been more grateful with these items than with another pair of PJs or baby blankets,” she says.
For her first wedding anniversary, writer Lauren Schwahn had a custom 520-piece puzzle made for her husband. It was a collage of four photos: one from their wedding day and one from each of the three cities they visited on their honeymoon.
It cost just $35 and gave them a way to savor those memories without falling victim to “giftflation.” It also turned out to be a fun way to spend time together.
“It came in handy when we were stuck inside one day due to bad wildfire smoke,” she says.
Over the summer, writer Abby Badach Doyle planned her garden around flowers that are easy to dry and preserve — like strawflowers, celosia and globe amaranth. She included herbs like lavender, rosemary and sage, too.
She had noticed some local flower farms selling similar bouquets and thought to herself, “I could do that!”
This year, her girlfriends are receiving gifts straight from her garden: custom herb and flower bundles dressed up with a dried orange slice for a chic, budget-friendly flourish.
“I love having a stash of homegrown blooms in the attic to ‘shop’ when I need a quick, thoughtful gift for neighbors, drop-in visitors or party hosts,” she says.
Donate to a meaningful cause
Editor Karrin Sehmbi makes charitable donations in honor of family members in lieu of physical gifts. She chooses a few organizations that feel meaningful, writes up a description of the charity and shares it with an e-card.
“There’s no need to disclose the amount donated and it’s always appreciated,” she says.
She says her family is full of animal lovers. “So we almost always have an animal-related organization in the mix,” she adds.
One year, that included sponsoring a goat named Pixie. The gift was unique, meaningful and certainly memorable.
