When giving a low-cost gift, I like to include something sentimental in a frame, but that’s not the only option. We asked CoJ readers to share low-spend, high-impact gifts they’ve given or received. Here are 10 great answers.
“I’m a long-distance runner, and my girlfriend made me a two-hour playlist for my birthday. She emailed me it first thing in the morning, and it made me cry. I immediately went for a run and loved seeing which friends chose which songs. That led to days of funny text messages, which became an added gift.” — Jocelyn
“My great-aunt Ginny, a human rights lawyer, was an amazing person. She was also obsessed with Tom Selleck. One Christmas, I gave her an 8-by-10 framed photo of him that cost $5 and she was so excited.” — Martha
“Four years ago, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in social work. After being a stay-at-home mom for 10 years, I was nervous about going back to school. My husband became a sounding board for my anxiety as I went through the application process. For Christmas, he stuffed my stocking with school supplies, along with a note saying he believed I could do it. Fast forward to today. I graduated. I love my job as a therapist.” — Jackie
“My father passed away two years ago. He wrote me letters most of my life. Those letters were a great comfort to me as I worked through my grief. One autograph on one of the letters caught my attention, and I knew he felt the same way about my siblings. So, the first Christmas after my father passed away, we gave each of them a framed photo of us together, along with a note in my father’s beautiful handwriting that we all loved so much.” Franc
“Anton loves dogs, so we set aside special time to play with the neighbor’s dogs and take them for walks. Anton was very happy.” — Joanna
“I once planned a Book of the Month gift for my husband. I asked 12 of his favorite people (parents, siblings, best friends, work mentors, etc.) to recommend books that they thought he would love or that symbolized our relationship. His mother rewrapped a book that my husband had read as a child. small engine that can It has the sweetest scent inside. ” — Ivy
“I gave Assemble these $25 cardboard bouquets yourself To three friends in the neighborhood. One person said it’s her favorite gift because it stays beautiful through Michigan’s long winters. ” — Leah
“My friend Holly lives all over the country, and she gives me the most thoughtful gifts. Most are under $25, but they all make me feel known and valued. This year it was a T-shirt that said this.” “I hope both teams have fun.” Because it really is. Another year, she mailed a collection of poems with slips of paper marking her favorites. ” — Heather
“For my 50th birthday, my daughters made me a ’50 Reasons We Love You’ jar with notes like ‘I love when you call me for dinner and sing that’ and ‘When I’m interested in something, you’re interested too.'” – Tammy
“After accumulating embarrassingly large fines and losing access to public libraries across the state, I tried to make amends by volunteering my time, contributing to food drives, and tearful letters of apology, but the library branch instituted a strong policy: No books would be borrowed until I paid, which kept me away for years. One Christmas morning, I unwrapped the book my then-boyfriend had given me, and inside was a receipt showing a zero balance. Knowing my checkered past, he drove to the library in question and wiped out my account. That’s a huge $10 reduction.” — Kelsey.
Also, did you know that by making a donation, you can help erase other people’s massive medical debts? This nonprofit organization If $10 clears a debt of about $1,000, or pay off lunch debt at your place neighborhood school?We’d love to chat in the comments about other meaningful gifts you’ve given (bragging allowed) or received.
What would you add? What low-cost gift has made an impact in your life?
PS Complete 2025 Holiday Gift Guide, and TK.
(Running photo provided by: track smith. )
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
