With Christmas fast approaching, you may find yourself once again racking your brains for Christmas gift ideas for your friends and family. You want to get them something special. Something that shows you care. Something different … even a little out there.
Don’t worry if your mind draws a blank.
Whoever it is you are struggling to buy for, we have some great present ideas that won’t cost you the earth but could change a life, in a good way.
These are gifts that show you have thought carefully about the lucky recipient. Not just a present for a moments enjoyment which gets flung to the side or used up in a day. Instead, these ideas will give your mates ways to change parts of their lives, for the better. They might help improve their bank balance, help them find love … or simply free up time and make their lives easy.
Surely these make the best gifts of all!
Further reading: 10 Beautiful, personalised Christmas gifts for kids.
The gift of financial freedom
Who doesn’t want more money? If you have a friend who stresses about their financial situation, why not give them a resource to truly help them?
The Barefoot Investor book is life-changing from the first chapter and a simple, understandable starting point for financial freedom. There are heaps of other brilliant finance books including The Richest Man In Babylon and The Rules of Wealth.
Just think: Your gift may have a positive impact on your friend’s financial future. Next round is on them.
The gift of good health
We all aspire to better health, but sometimes we need someone to kick start the process.
Be that person!
Find a healthy challenge that your friend will like and sign them up. The Healthy Mummy 28-Day Challenge is perfect for us busy mums and has a huge amount of extra free resources to benefit from. Why not take it a step further and join up too? Reaching goals is easier with another person so you will both benefit.
The gift of health is a sign you really care, and lasts way longer than a box of chocolates. A brilliant life-changing Christmas gift idea.
The gift of a new relationship
OK, so it may be a tricky area, but some people need a gentle push in the right direction.
If your friend needs to get out and meet people, give them a whirl on a decent dating app. eHarmony has a free sign-up but you could gift them a 3-month subscription to get them going. For many, ‘getting back out there’ is hard. So having the initial action taken out of their hands is a relief, and what do they have to lose, right?
You never know, you might be buying a gift for an engagement party next.
Life-changing Christmas gift ideas (cont.)
The gift of self-improvement
There’s always room for improvement in our lives, but rarely will we do anything about it unless someone makes it super-easy for us.
There are heaps of personal development courses online to suit all lifestyles. Browse through Udemy and find the perfect course to give as a gift. Prices start from $5 and helpful reviews will ensure you don’t gift a dud. Try to choose one that is self-paced, that way your friend can fit it into their life in such a way that works for them, and no excuses!
Instead of giving a bottle of wine which may provide instant gratification, give a course which will enhance their life long-term. Which one shows you really care?
The gift of peace
Peace and quiet in our fast-paced world is a rare gift … and one that you can easily give.
Sign your friend up and pay a month on a meditation app. Headspace allows you to gift a friend to the value of your choice. Give them a trial of Gaia (only 99c) so they can stream yoga and transformational videos. Or gift a book such as Meditation Made Easy, which will teach them how to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.
The gift of peace is truly golden.
The gift of kitchen convenience
Convenience equals an easier life. And shortcuts in the kitchen are welcomed with opened arms.
Treat your friend to a week of less shopping, less food prep and less cooking with the wonderful gift of a meal kit box. EveryPlate is excellent value and offers great deals on first orders. Check out their websites to find the best specials available. Then organise to have this box of delights delivered to their doorstep and you’ve just made your friends week easier, cheaper and tastier.
You may even get an invite to dinner. Fingers-crossed.
The gift of time
Last on our list of cheap yet life-changing gift ideas: If there is one thing we all want more of in this crazy-busy word, it’s time. So gifting time to someone is really special.
Organise some chores to be taken off your friend’s hands so they have more time for the activities they enjoy. You could do the chores yourself (or get your kids to do them!). Alternatively, head to Groupon and search for Airtasker coupons. They can hire someone to clean the house or tidy the garden while they relax or do whatever they please.
You will be seriously in the good books for this perfect present.
Final thoughts on cheap yet life-changing Christmas gift ideas
We hope these ideas for cheap yet life-changing Christmas gift ideas has helped you think outside the box when gifting your friend or family member.
Remember, gifts don't have to be a physical 'thing'. In fact, we all have so much stuff already.
Sit quietly and think about the person you are buying for. What do they really want in their life that they don't already have? How have they been feeling lately? How can you help you them feel better or point their life in a direction they want to go in?
It could be that one of our ideas is just the ticket. Or, they at least get you thinking on another track so you can find the absolute perfect gift that means so much more than a bottle wine or box of chocolates.
Happy shopping and happy life changing.
Further reading: 15 Christmas gift ideas for a newish boyfriend.
