Gifting on a Budget

With so much commercialization around the holidays, it can be hard to remember what makes this time of year truly meaningful – savoring connections and feelings of gratitude for the special people in our lives.

At Language of Friendship, we’ve found that gift giving can be both enjoyable and memorable, especially with personal touch. Sara wrote a holiday gifting post a few years ago, and below we would like to add some budget-friendly suggestions to our list of thoughtful gift ideas.

Make Something Memorable

My husband loves arranging flowers and other plants from our gardens throughout the growing season. He has inspired me to make my own small holiday arrangements to gift to friends and colleagues. With winter in full swing here in Chicagoland, I’m able to find the materials I need, like pine boughs, berries, and red and white flowers, at my local grocery store to form into arrangement that I can put in a small Mason jar to share with others.

I also love to bake, so each year break out my Betty Crocker Cooky book, first published in 1963, that contains many of my favorite cookie recipes. We had a well-worn copy in my kitchen growing up, and it’s still my go-to for making Chocolate Crinkles, cookies I enjoy making and gifting. If you’re looking to gift a snack that packs a punch, these oat and peanut butter Energy Balls are tasty, filling, and bakeless!  

Gift Something Meaningful

There’s something timeless about giving a framed photo to a friend. Finding a photo that captures a special moment, place, or someone can be particularly meaningful to you and your friend. These are special reminders of your connection, and framing the photo elevates the gesture.

Another personal gift idea we love is selecting a favorite book to pass along. Sharing a novel that made you laugh or a memoir that inspired you, is sharing a part of yourself with a friend. It can also lead to the shared experience of finding new meaning as you both explore the book. For my recent birthday, Sara gifted me The Book of Alchemy, a collection of journal prompts by famous writers compiled by Suleika Jaoud. It’s inspired me to write on days when I struggle to get my mind past my to-do lists at work and home, and I think of Sara, and our own special bond, every time I open the book.