Savvy Singles
by dating expert Tonja Evetts Weimer

Holiday Gifts That Don't Cost Money

Would you like to give your date or mate a priceless gift?  Here are some ideas that won’t break the bank but they will build an interest in you.  If you take the time to make something special for the object of your affection, he or she will treasure your intention as well as your gift. 

If your love is mature and wise, the fact that you did not spend money you did not have will be appreciated.  People who love you don’t want you to go into debt.  However, they do want to know that you remembered them.  Even if you are broke, you need to give a present to the one you are dating.

1. Person of the Year
Take an old Time Magazine and superimpose a large picture of your love on the cover.  If you are artistic, make your own cover and put your truelove’s picture on it.  Make a banner that fits across the bottom that says “Person of the Year.”  Find your own clever way to make a page or pages that list your person’s great qualities.  Example:

» John Smith is one of the kindest men in the world.  He can be seen taking his grandmother to church each Sunday, stopping to buy her an iced mocha latte on the way home.  He also stops to throw the baseball for the kids in the neighborhood.

» John Smith is an honorable man.  He turned in a wallet he found on a table at the public library.  A student who desperately needed it later claimed the wallet.

» John Smith is one hard-working guy.  He has a full time job and goes to school at night.  He is conscientious in both of his endeavors.

Other pages can include a list of your person’s achievements, pictures of him or her, their biography with statistics, and a list of the important people in their life with an explanation of why they are important.  Put your “Person of the Year” production in a scrapbook.  If your significant other doesn’t love this gift, they may be missing a heart.

2. Blooms in boxes
Window boxes are cheery gifts at any time of year.  In the summer you can hang them outside, and in the winter you can put them inside anywhere.  You can make the boxes out of wood, get some inexpensive wood baskets at a nursery, or find different containers at discount stores.  You can find blooming flowers to plant at any nursery.  If you plan to hang them outside on the windows, or in a tree, you will need some metal hooks.  If you don’t want to hang them, put your flowers in a box near a window inside or at the front door. 

3. Free Night Out
Use some artistic talent or computer skills and generate a personalized invitation to something special.  Free concerts, plays, and interesting speakers can be found at your local high school, college, church, YMCA, or park.  If you know of any children having dance recitals, another great evening of fun is to go and watch them perform.  Look at the calendar of events in your town and choose something you think your date will love.

4. Aunt Hortense’s ice cream
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, this may be the time to get one.  However, if you can’t afford one, call your friends or relatives and ask to borrow theirs for this date.  Make a fancy coupon that says “Good for one evening of homemade ice cream,” with the date, time, and place.  Find an easy recipe, make some ice cream, and provide toppings.  If you do not have an ice cream recipe, here is the best homemade ice cream I have ever eaten.  This is a (no longer secret) family recipe handed down from my Aunt Hortense.  Gather the following ingredients:

Four eggs
Two and one half cups of sugar
Eight cups of milk
Two cups of cream
Two tablespoons of vanilla
One half teaspoon of salt

Beat the eggs with an electric mixer until they are light.  Gradually add the sugar.  When all of the sugar has been added and the mixture is thick, add the rest of the ingredients.  Mix thoroughly and pour into the freezer container.  Then follow the directions on your ice cream maker.  This makes one gallon.  This ice cream is so delicious; you can even write up the recipe on a pretty card and give it as a gift to other people.

5. Puppy love
Be absolutely sure that your love would like to have a pet.  Pets are a lot of work.  But if your love is crazy about animals, then a kitten, puppy, or older dog with a ribbon around its neck this season will be a very special present.  

These are some sweet little gifts when you have to live on a mean little budget.  These are your holiday gifts that don’t cost money!

> Try Perfectmatch.com - The Best Approach to Finding the Right Person for You. <

All Online Dating Magazine content, including the content on this page,
is © copyright by Online Dating Magazine and may not be
republished or reused in any form. You do have
full permission to link to this article.

Do you agree or disagree with this article? Have
more to add? Submit a Letter to the Editor today.