Christmas Gift Certificates

This holiday season is going to be difficult on thousands of people in the United States, the expense of Christmas gifts just not feasible. The economy has worsened into a recession and Christmas gift giving is not an option for many people this year, there just isn't enough money to go around. Gift certificates are a popular gift item. You can create your own gift certificates that cost no money and yet are a wonderful gift to receive.

Make a list of the people in your family who usually receive a Christmas gift from you. Shorten this list as much as you possibly can, your distant cousin who you see once a year will understand if you don't send presents. Take the time to call those who you are considering striking from the list and be honest - tell them you would rather not exchange Christmas gifts this year. Offer to have coffee and cake one evening instead, or perhaps a potluck dinner gathering. They will probably appreciate you for it; after all, you are also relieving them of a Christmas gift they would have to buy in return.

Now that your list is narrowed to those you definitely want to include, sit down and brainstorm ways you could be of personal help to each one. Such as:

Washing their car

Doing laundry

Babysitting while they have a night out

Spending the day with them (perfect for an elderly parent or grandparent)

Taking them to the park for a picnic

Running errands for them or with them

and any other personal, one-on-one tasks or activities you can come up with.

Next you will need to match each person to an activity or task that you are willing to do with them or for them. Using your computer create "gift certificates" to give each person. For example, you might give your sister and her husband who have 2 small children a gift certificate such as this:

This gift certificate good for ONE NIGHT OF BABYSITTNG.

Get creative with your gift certificates, use clipart and images, fancy fonts and wording to spice them up. Your gift will be personal and unique to each person. You can go as small or as large as you want to with each person. For a parent, you might consider creating a book of gift certificates. You could have a gift certificate for laundry, grocery shopping and other tasks or trips out that they make. Include a gift certificate for a hug as the last one in the book to show you love them.

There are websites that have readily available templates for making your Christmas Gift Certificates. Microsoft, Giftango and Giftcard Designer all offer free templates that you can personalize for your own Christmas gift giving.

A gift of your time is more personal than any commercially bought gift could ever be. Your family is sure to thank you and enjoy the time you spend helping them later in the year when they redeem your gift.

Template sources:

www.microsoft.com

www.giftango.com

www.giftcarddesigner.com