I have a whole gift guide section on this site with items that range from under ten dollars to upward into the hundreds of dollars. I have an entire gift guide for luxury gift ideas. But recently I saw a Pinterest pin (I wish I’d saved it) that said something like this: “If someone gives you a $20 gift, and they work a job where they get paid $10 per hour, they essentially gave you a gift worth 2 hours of their time.” That isn’t a direct quote, but you understand. It stopped me in my tracks, let me be honest. I’m not a person who needs expensive gifts, and I’m certainly not a person who gives expensive gifts in order to impress. But when we think of gifts in the light of how much time it cost someone to purchase any gift, we see the price of luxury with new eyes.
Gifts under $10
I have always thought it would be fun to participate in a gift exchange where there was a very small price limit. Finding amazing gifts within a small budget really causes a person to search a little longer, dig a little deeper, and look for sale prices in order to score an amazing bargain. It would be like a scavenger hunt, don’t you think? I mean, think of the challenge it would be to find an amazing gift for ten dollars or less. I just think that would be a blast.
This year, I have a few items I’ve found that come in under $10. If you are someone who tries to make ends meet on a very small income, finding gifts for affordable prices can be challenging. Here are some thoughts that might make meaningful gifts.
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Gifts under $25
If you’re looking to spend a little more, and still keep items well within budget, these are a few that will bring a smile to anyone’s face. I always like a good useful product, a consumable product, or a product that will absolutely warm my heart! If you’re looking to give a gift that fits that criteria, then these might be just the ticket.
Gifts from the heart
If, however, you are looking for a truly luxurious gift, then gifts given from the heart are a true price of luxury. There is nothing more luxurious than a hand-made, home-made, heart-felt gift. Many of these ideas don’t cost much to put together, and can even fall into the free category. There is nothing more luxurious than acts of service, time well spent, or gifts made and given from the heart.
Here are some ideas:
Offer to run an errand
Offer to babysit or pet sit
Offer to tutor a child in a subject you’re great at
Offer to help clean house, wash a car, or do lawn work
Bake cookies or breads. (There are frozen bread loaves you can purchase in bulk and bake at home)
Make handmade ornaments
Make knit / crochet scarf
Make scented wax melts or candles
Candles: The true price of luxury
And speaking of candles, I want to tell you a story about a pair or red taper candles that meant the world. A very long time ago, when we were newly married and had very little money, I was invited to a women’s Christmas exchange for our church. We were new to the church and I didn’t know anyone very well at all. Being young and broke, I had no idea what gift I was going to take to the exchange. While browsing through a community craft fair, I saw an idea I knew I could duplicate for not much money at all.
At the craft fair I found something very similar to the image below: Two red taper candles tied together with a fabric scrap. It wasn’t the candles that were the gift. The gift was friendship, and remembrance, and love shared across the miles.
See, there was a simple poem attached. It read:
Little candle red and stately, with your softly glowing light,
Please bring thoughts of joy and gladness, for my friend this winter’s night.
This is one of a pair of candles, the other I am keeping here,
To light the darkness and bring good cheer, to those we hold in hearts so dear.
So on this chilly winter’s night, you light your candle, I’ll light mine too.
Though thoughts and miles divide us, I’ll keep my watch with you.”
There were many gifts exchanged that evening. There were cookies and breads, handmade ornaments and scarfs, gift cards and fuzzy socks. But these little candles? They were the star of the show. At the end of the evening, almost every lady in attendance asked for a copy of the poem. What was so funny was that I purchased a set of six taper candles at the local Dollar Tree and printed the poem on my home printer. I made three sets of this gift for a total of $1.00 plus some time.
For heartfelt gifts go straight to the heart
My point is that when you think of the price of luxury, please don’t limit yourself to a dollar amount. So often a heartfelt gift, a warm hug, a friendly smile, a cup of tea, or a simple candle can be worth far more to the recipient than any expensive gift you could possible give.
What does luxury look like for you? What truly matters? When thinking about the price of luxury, don’t forget to think outside the box and look straight to the heart.
John & Billie
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