Cheap or Free Gift Ideas

20+ Cheap (or Free) Gift Ideas for the Holidays 2020

12/1/2020

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One of the side effects of 2020 has been many people shifting to much stricter budgets. I know my budget has definitely gotten a lot tighter recently.

As we enter the holiday season, I wanted to share my tips with you on cheap (or even free!) gifts you can give people that they will actually want and enjoy. This is one of my CHEAPEST HOLIDAY SEASONS yet, without skimping on the quality and thoughtfulness of the gifts. Here are my ideas.

Gift Cards

Gift cards make a great gift for every age group (yes, even kids! They love being able to pick something out and pay for it themselves). Depending on your gift situation, these are also a great idea for stocking stuffers.

And here’s the thing: You can get cheap(er) or even free gift cards! How?

I got a free $10 Amazon gift card from my car insurance agent simply for leaving a review on Google. Make sure you are checking your correspondence from companies like this for similar offers. It only takes a couple minutes and is an awesome saving!
Sites like Swagbucks are a great way to earn gift cards. You watch ads or fill out surveys to earn points, which you can redeem for gift cards. I just redeemed my points for a Home Depot gift card for my dad. I wouldn’t consider these completely “free” as they do take some time, but if you just spend an hour each evening filling out surveys while you’re watching TV, those points can add up quickly!
You can buy gift cards at a reduced price through sites like eGifter. For example, you can buy a $25 Fandango gift card for $20. Or you can buy a $50 Adidas gift card and receive a bonus $10 Adidas gift card. You get more bang for your buck and this is an especially great option for buying gift cards in bulk!
If you have a Kroger or Kroger affiliate store nearby, they often have “Fuel events” where you can buy gift cards and receive points to buy gas. Ours typically runs a 4x Fuel event, meaning you get 4 times the fuel points that you usually would when you purchase gift cards from them. With the current price of gas, this is an amazing opportunity for any gift cards you buy in store!

Second Hand Items

Not everything makes a great second hand gift, but I find that things like books, music, toys, and clothing have a fantastic ability to. In fact, one of my favorite gifts I received when I was younger was a book from my sister that she had read and then gifted to me, with a note on the inside cover. It adds an extra layer of sentimentality.

You can find these items just by going through your own, “regifting” something you haven’t and won’t use, or by shopping in second hand stores. Here are some tips for making sure they are actually gift worthy.

Ensure they are in good condition. Even if they aren’t new, they can be like new. Make sure pages aren’t torn, clothing isn’t ripped or stained, CDs aren’t scratched, and toys have all pieces intact.
Clean them before wrapping them. A good wipe down or run through the wash will make sure they are ready for their new home.
Only gift it if it is something the person will actually want. Are you gifting it to them just to get rid of it or because they will actually enjoy it? Even if you are giving a second hand item, the thoughtfulness that goes into a new store bought gift should still be there.
If you are “regifting” something, make sure you aren’t giving it to the same person who gave it to you. This will just be awkward and hurt their feelings.

Experience Gifts

Experience gifts not only save on clutter, but can be a huge money saver. They’re also a wonderful way to build memories and strengthen relationships. Here are a few ideas on how to save big on these memory makers.

If you are a grandparent, we created an “Adventures with Grandparents” poster that you can gift to your grandchildren. Have the poster printed (you can also get it in a booklet format) and give that along with some colored pencils or crayons to the kids. Then you can work on filling it out together throughout the new year. It’s truly the gift that keeps on giving.
Use sites like Groupon to find amazing deals on different vacations, activities, restaurants, and more. Be sure to check there for deals before booking or buying anything this holiday season.
Pay a visit to your local library. Seriously. I LOVED going to the library when I was younger and I still love it to this day. Libraries are an underrated resource in many communities. My suggestion is to visit their website and see what they offer. For example, most locations where we live are offering curbside service during COVID, virtual activities and events, and in the past have had free tickets to museums that you can “check out” and use. Gift your child a library card if they don’t already have one and see what your local library has to offer!

Membership Rewards

Honestly, I hardly ever use membership rewards for myself. But they can make free great gifts or stocking stuffers for others in your life! Here are a couple ideas.

Shutterfly is ALWAYS giving out free or discounted items and they are great for making sentimental gifts and holiday cards. Once you sign up for an account with them you get 4 FREE gifts nd you only have to pay for shipping. And I mean, these are nice gifts. Photo magnets, address labels, photo prints, etc. Right now, you can also get a free photobook, free photo ornament, or 50% off holiday cards. Don’t miss out and be sure to sign up for their emails as they always have great deals!
Shops like Sephora and Ulta have rewards programs that give you the opportunity to get sweet stocking stuffers for the beauty lover in your life. Their rewards programs work differently, so make sure you read up on the rules of each one, but you can use them to get sample sizes of products or dollars off your next purchase.

Gifts of Service

Sometimes the best gift is a special act of love for someone you hold dear. Think of the people in your life and try to come up with actions you can take that will really bless them this year. For example:

Offer to babysit for your friend while she goes to job interviews.
Mow the lawn, rake leaves, or water plants for your elderly neighbor.
Drop off warm, home cooked meals to your sister’s family who hasn’t been able to sit down for a meal together because of how busy they’ve been.
Clean the kitchen for your mother while she sleeps in one morning.

Really the possibilities with this one are endless. Find a need someone has and fill it for them. Even if it only makes things a little easier for them for one night, they will surely appreciate it.

Homemade Gifts

Homemade gifts come from the heart and can often be cheap or free, depending on what materials you already have.

Blankets make a great homemade gift because there are so many options for making them. You can crochet or knit, quilt, or even just make a quick fleece throw. My grandmother always made quilts for us and they have been cherished gifts for many years. Blankets don’t just warm your body, they warm the heart and will get a lot of use.
Wax wraps are a great eco-friendly gift and they are super easy to make. You can customize them to fit your recipients style and you know they will get a lot of use out of them.

Food Gifts

One of my favorite gifts and the easiest to put together is a food gift. There are SO many options when it comes to food and these are easy to customize to your recipient’s tastes!

Of course, Hot Cocoa Bombs make a cute little gift. You can do a set of different flavors, or just one flavor and a cute mug. They are cute, fun, and so delicious.
Jams, jellies, and pumpkin butter are so easy and cheap to make at home. You can make a huge batch, can them, and gift them with some rolls or bread. Put a cute sticker on the lid an tie a ribbon around the jar to make them extra festive!
Is there anything better than hearing a knock at your door and opening it to a plate of cookies? This is another super cheap and easy gift idea that can stretch! Spend an afternoon baking 4-6 different types of cookies and create little cookie platters that you can deliver to friends. Leave a thoughtful Christmas card along with them, ring the doorbell, and run.
Build a snack crate for the snack lover in your life. This is also a good idea for someone who is hard to shop for because, well, everyone likes food. You can buy single serving sizes of snacks like nuts, crackers, chips, chocolates, etc usually for a dollar or less. Grab a cute little box at the dollar store, stuff it with tissue and get $5 worth of snacks to fill it with and boom! Cute little snack crate for less than $8.

Extra Tips for Cheap or Free Gifts

Creating your own little gift set can often be cheaper and more personalized than the ones you will find in department stores. Come up with a theme the recipient would enjoy and work off of that. Things like movie night, date night, spa day, new car, etc.
Shop discounted and clearance areas! The recipient doesn't have to know, and as long as it’s something they will truly enjoy, why not save the few extra bucks? That’s just smart shopping.
Do family gifts instead of buying for each individual member of that family. Great family gifts include things like board games the whole family can enjoy, a nice meal, a framed family photo, a movie with some popcorn or snacks, etc.
The packaging and presentation make all the difference. Put a little extra care into putting the gift together and wrapping it and no one will know or care how little it cost you. Grab a cute gift card holder for your gift cards, attach a recipe with your baked goods, curl your ribbons, and make sure all price tags are removed.