7 Ways to Give Gifts on the Cheap This Holiday Season

While rising prices can make gift-giving challenging, most people care more about the meaning behind a present they receive than its price tag. Indeed, 90 percent of Americans say they wish the holidays were less materialistic, and 88 percent say they should be more about family and caring for others, according to a poll last year by the Center for Biological Diversity.

You don’t need to break the bank to leave a lasting impression. These seven gift ideas are inexpensive and have a lot of sentimental value.

AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Join Now

1. Turn old into new

You might not need to leave the house to find an incredibly thoughtful gift. Restain, reupholster or restore old furniture collecting dust in your attic or garage. Frame an old photo or make a scrapbook of pictures from a past vacation, wedding, anniversary or event that brings back happy memories. Get antique or vintage jewelry cleaned and use this holiday season to pass it down to the next generation. There’s probably some heirloom lying around the house that a family member would cherish.

You can subscribe here to AARP Experience Counts, a free e-newsletter published twice a month. If you have feedback or a story idea then please contact us here.

2. Show off a new skill

Maybe you’re the crochet queen, but your friends and family have hit their limit of handmade sweaters. Thanks to the endless number of experts on YouTube, learning a new skill is just a click away. Teach yourself how to jar your pickles or jam, or learn how to make homemade cold process soap or soy wax candles. You could learn how to build a terrarium or create a beautiful floral arrangement. Instead of spending $20 for one Yankee Candle, use that money to buy the materials or a do-it-yourself kit and share your scents with dozens of family and friends. Plus, you can teach your new skill and pass it along to anyone interested.

3. Build your family tree

The existence of dozens of genealogy websites suggests demand is high for learning lineage. Use one of those sites – or your memory – to create a family tree to share as a gift. This can be presented in various ways – as a chart, photo wall, embroidery, quilt or shadow box – and will surely spark stories of that crazy uncle or loveable great-grandmother whom the youngsters may never have had the privilege of meeting.

4. Give a quote

A few words can pack a powerful punch. Maybe a book or movie quote reminds you of someone special. Or there’s a motto that a friend lives by. Or there’s a go-to karaoke song that you and your best friend always sing together. Pick a complementary font and print the excerpt, saying or lyric on nice stationery. Then get it framed. Sometimes, looking at the lyrics of “You Got a Friend” by James Taylor can evoke just as much – or more – nostalgia as a family portrait.