10 Free Gift Ideas for a Birthday
By Catherine Franz
All of us know that the greatest gifts in life don't
cost money. They do take time to think and create.
Whether you are looking for ideas for a 21st birthday,
16th, 3rd, or 65th, these ideas will help you create some memorable
moments and affect lives.
Substitute the X for the birthday number. You can
even be creative and use these same ideas for expectant mothers.
A list of X things you most appreciate about him or
her.
A gift certificate for X things to do together that
doesn't cost money. Give this some forethought and match with what
you love to do and what they love to do. You can create the gift certificates
on the computer or buy preprinted ones at an office supply store.
Ask each member of your family and friends to think
about something they hold most dear and cherish most about living.
Ask them to create X number on a list and send it to this person for
their birthday. You can give them an album to place all of them.
Gift certificate for X favors and privileges that
he or she may exchange for services later. Such as cooking a special
meal, teaching them to cook a family recipe, cleaning out the garage
or car, a picnic in the Spring, or a foot massage. The more creative
the better the gift.
A list of the X things you wish someone had told you
when you were that age. They can be the simplest of things like not
to change a flat while close to the road, don't pour bleach directly
on clothes, or don't lick a frozen pole. Go ahead, I know you can
do better than this.
Write a brief memorable, even funny story for each
one of their years. For expectant fathers or mothers memories, record
the funny moments of pregnancy.
Create a special album with one picture from each
of their birthdays.
Write about your hopes and dreams for them as you
see them on this particular birthday. This especially well for young
children. Accumulate them over the years and what how they change
as you both get older. If they are too young now, save them for later.
Share your wisdom of what to do when life serves lemons
besides making lemonade. For their 18th birthday it can be about the
18 best coping skills you ever learned.
Start a family journal dedicated to them. Pass the
journal around before the birthday or on their birthday and allow
each family member to write an inspirational message or a memorable
moment. Use the same journal year after year to build on these.
If the family member is away at war and can't be home
for their birthday, create a journal with some of these items, make
a copy, and mail it to them. Tell him or her that the original will
be waiting for them when they return.
If your son, daughter, is away for any reason you
can use any of these ten things to a creative, memorable birthdays.
These work whether you are on a tight budget or the richest person
in the world.
Honestly, when you learn to give from the heart you
are the richest person in the world anyway.
(c) Copyright, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.
Catherine Franz is a writer and author of
over 1800 published articles and several books on various business
subjects. Newsletters available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com
