Did you know that Americans spend over $900 on holiday gifts each year? Whether you’re willing to spend that much or are on a tight budget, you want to find meaningful gifts for your loved ones. And it never hurts to start thinking now about what gifts to get for anything from birthdays to holidays.
Read on to learn about 10 thoughtful gift ideas that will make a great impression!
1. Create a Collage
If you have lots of photographs from memorable times with your loved one, why not collage them together? Making a photo collage is one of the best approaches to gift giving you can offer. Best of all, you won’t have to break your budget to do it.
Simply gather your favorite photos and find a good backing board to accommodate them. Use colorful or patterned paper, stickers, and other fun visual elements to tie everything together into a beautiful collage!
2. Customize a Pendant
When you want to make a loved one feel cherished, a pendant necklace can work wonders. Everyone loves personalized gifts, too, so you can elevate the gift by giving it your own touch. Design your own custom pendant to show how much you care.
Consider overlapping your initials to create a beautiful abstract design. And choose the jewels, metals, and visuals that will make the pendant come to life.
3. Offer a Spa Experience at Home
Who says you need to go to a designated spa or resort for a luxurious experience? Surprise your loved one with an at-home spa experience. Send your loved one out to run errands or shop with a friend while you transform your home into a spa.
Start an essential oils diffuser to create an aromatic atmosphere and light candles to set the mood. Set up stations for foot massages, facials, and other luxurious treatments! You can concoct your own spa scrubs using simple ingredients like honey, olive oil, and essential oils.
4. Choose a Charm
For the loved ones in your life who like jewelry, you can’t go wrong with a charm bracelet or necklace. Better yet, if your loved one already has a charm bracelet or necklace, you can give them a new charm to add.
Charms can be sentimental gifts, especially if you choose ones connected to memories. For instance, give a plant charm to your favorite gardening buddy. Or honor a shared love of cooking with a grandchild through a rolling pin or pie charm.
5. Plant a Garden for Them
If your loved one always is intending to develop more of a green thumb, help them along in the process. Set up a raised garden for them in their backyard featuring all of their favorite vegetables.
If you’re in the middle of winter, create a small garden of microgreens with grow lights. They’ll love being able to harvest greens for salads when it’s too cold to plant anything outside.
6. Send Your Loved One on a Treasure Hunt
Looking for a fun spin on gift-giving? Set up a treasure hunt to send your loved one searching for lots of smaller gifts!
You’ll need to do some planning with this gift, but it can result in a fun-filled afternoon. Hide small gifts and messages around your favorite park or throughout a small town. Use the final treasure card to reward their hunting efforts with a dinner for two or a movie.
7. Try a Journal
Do you have a daughter who’s anticipating the birth of a child? Or perhaps you have a parent who loves to sit and reflect? Either of these scenarios is ideal for giving the gift of a journal.
A handsome leather journal works well for the introspective child who likes to write outdoors. Or go with something glossier for a teenager who loves to write before bed each night. Journals can be meaningful gifts that encourage thoughtful reflection.
8. Have a Destination Dinner
Going out for dinner is a classic way to show someone you care. But you can kick that idea up a notch by planning a dinner in an unexpected location. For the ultimate surprise, don’t tell your loved one where you’re going!
Head to the beach with takeout from their favorite restaurant for a sunset picnic. As another option, go to a park or set up a dinner at the lookout point after an afternoon hike.
9. Make a Keepsake Box
It never hurts to have another box where you can put treasured jewelry or personal notes. And if you’re looking for a personal gift idea, you can create a keepsake box for your loved one.
Simply buy a wooden box as well as some paints and collage paper. Consider painting their childhood home on the top of the box, or go with their initials. They’ll love having a designated spot to store their most cherished items.
10. Hit the Road on a Day Trip
For an adventurous gift, hit the pavement for a day of travel. Plot out a few stops for lunch and dinner, as well as some shopping. Alternatively, set up an afternoon of kayaking or go see a musical as the culminating event.
Your loved one will enjoy the chance to get away with you. And they’ll love the element of surprise!
Explore These Thoughtful Gift Ideas
The most thoughtful gift ideas are ones that are sincere and tailored to the recipient. Consider a destination dinner, treasure hunt, or day trip for a suspenseful gift-giving experience. Or go with journals, collages, or custom jewelry for unique gifts they’ll always treasure.
For more ways to make buying gifts easier, check back for new articles with helpful tips!
