Nothing can be more stressful this time of year than not knowing what to give for gift exchanges. Whether it’s the Secret Santa at work or gift giving among friends and families, it can certainly be a stressful time. The pressure is on to get the right gift, often with a limited budget. Often we run out of time without having found a good gift and end up getting them the ol’ Starbucks gift card. #Classic. Instead of feeling pressured this year to buy another gift that the recipient may or may not like, here’s 7 free (or cheap) things that might just be better received:

1) Cook your friend or family member a nice dinner. Nothing says “I’m glad you’re in my life” more than a delicious home cooked dinner.

2) Cleaning. Who doesn’t like to keep either their workspace (co-worker) or their room (family) clean? But, who actually has the time or the motivation to do the cleaning itself? Get in a little early to work and tidy up your co-worker’s desk for them. Or come home early one day and tidy the house up for the family member. What happens if you work with family? Nice! Clean both for a double gift.

3) Re-gifting. Now I realize that this can be a little frowned upon, but hey, no shame in my game. Forget the thought; it’s really the gift that counts, right? So if you’ve got a gently used item that’s been lying around your house for a bit that you know someone else would enjoy, why not give them that? Get a gift from someone else that you’re not crazy about? Pay it forward and re-gift it!

4) Experiences. Nobody really wants another sweater, tie or gift card that they’ll lose next week. Get a little creative and give your giftee an experience they won’t quickly forget. It doesn’t even have to be big; often it’s the little, creative things that go a long way. Take that co-worker out for coffee one morning or take your friend out for lunch one day. Take your sweetheart on a walk in nature that surprisingly ends up in a picnic. Take that family member out and throw the ol’ pigskin for a bit.

5) A heartfelt, handwritten, letter. Handwritten letters are certainly a lost art. Try giving a meaningful gift this holiday season, and express your appreciation and gratitude towards a friend in a letter form. It’ll stop them dead in their tracks. Last I checked, stamp prices in the US were $0.46. I think you can afford that!

6) An IOU. Also known as a coupon, this type of gift is a promise to perform a certain act in the future. Perhaps it’s good for 5 back rubs for your significant other. Maybe it’ll be for a random coffee outing when you’re coworker is really feeling stressed. Perhaps it’s good for lunch anytime with a friend. Get creative here; it doesn’t have to cost a lot to be meaningful!

7) The gift of financial freedom. Introduce your giftees to this wonderful, really insightful, funny and helpful blog called YoungMoneyFinance. It’s completely changed your outlook on your finances and you’re confident it can help your giftee out as well! (Shameless plug…)

Gift giving around the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful. Don’t give into the pressure to buy a pricey looking gift just to impress the person you’re giving it to. Put a little more thought into the give – and perhaps a little less cash – and you’ll be well on your way to a great Christmas and holiday season.

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