The Handmade, Homemade Touch

I wanted to expand on both of those ideas and give you a more comprehensive list of homemade or other gift alternatives, keeping in mind the goal to save money, reduce clutter, and try to work within climate-positive or climate-neutral territory. 

Homemade Gift Ideas

  • Seasonal jams, jellies, or other jarred treats

  • Other food items (be mindful of those who don’t want more sweets in this holiday season)

  • A home-cooked meal, save them the time of prepping, making, and cleaning pots for a family dinner

  • A piece of art you created

  • A framed photograph or album that would be meaningful to the recipient

  • A collection of favorite recipes

  • An upcycled project,  turning one thing into something else. Try a search online or on Pinterest for visual ideas. Your materials can include items from your recycling bin, paper, or fabrics. You might need some inspiration to get started but see where the ideas take you!

  • Upcycled decorations

  • Foraged holiday decorations, greenery you can find in your local area that will naturally biodegrade or compost after the season

  • Potpourri sachets with spices you already have in your cabinet

Always consider the dietary restrictions or choices of your gift recipient if you are planning to make something edible for them. For sustainability, consider buying seasonal goods that are grown locally to your home if you can purchase them from a local farmer or market.

Gift of Time Ideas

  • A walk in nature, even if it’s chilly (brisk walks in the crisp air can be so refreshing!)

  • Time together doing something you both enjoy such as sipping tea in the kitchen, creating a craft, mending clothing or making something new with knitting or crochet

  • Offer your loved one some of your time to help them in an area of your skillset. Cleaning or cooking support? Fixing something? Helping decorate the home for the holidays? Moving boxes or helping them go through items in their home?

  • Teach your recipient a new skill, something you know how to do that they want to learn

  • Volunteer together for a cause that is dear to you both


I was aiming for no or low-cost ideas. For any of the ideas that require additional materials, consider used, repurposed, or upcycled items. I.e. thrift an old sweater and recycle the yarn, etc.

Non-Physical Gift Ideas

  • Gift an experience, especially if you can go together! This could include a play, a visit to a gallery or musical performance, or a trip to a local attraction like a botanical garden or historic site

  • Gift a membership to a local organization that provides member benefits

  • Gift a donation on behalf of your loved one, especially meaningful if it’s something that they have a personal connection to

  • Gift a class of some kind, cooking, art, music, dance, or anything that your recipient has expressed an interest in. Make sure it is convenient for them to get to and the date is either confirmed available or flexible so they can go when it works for them.

The suggestions in this category will cost more than some of the other suggestions above, but studies have shown that experiences are more highly valued than physical gifts, so it ends up being a better return on investment.

If your financial situation does not allow the purchase of these experiences, look for ones that are free to the public. This might be local community group concerts, library programming, local farms and other public spaces that have a lot to offer. Libraries are also offering day passes to museums for free, so you could coordinate a day trip, organize the logistics, and utilize this type of service as your gift.

This is a very short list of ideas - I’m sure you have many more I haven’t thought of!

Was there an alternative gift you received in the past that you loved? What was it? Do you have any ideas that aren’t on this list that you want to share and try?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!