Thinking of the perfect gift for that special person can sometimes be more difficult than we would like. We want to give something that will touch the heart of the person we are giving to. Often, we are plagued with ideas but they all seem to fall short of the perfect gift. Maybe it’s because we are thinking too big. A gift from the heart has nothing to do with how much money you spend; its how much heart you give.

Giving a gift from the heart takes some thought. What does this person mean to you? Is it a sentimental gift or are you looking for something unique? How much time do you have? Do you have a few months or a few hours? Is the occasion special or the person?

Baby & Children’s Gifts

Buying baby clothes and toys can be fun, but it’s not very original. There are economical gifts you can give that will be remembered for a long time.

Bible- If you are giving a gift to a Christian family for the birth of a child or at a baptism, buy a children’s Bible and have the child’s name engraved on it. Feel free to write a short note inside the cover. The Bible will be treasured for years. Chances are, no one else will have thought of this and your gift will stand out among the bibs and sleepers.

Savings Bonds- This is a unique, very frugal gift for any child. Savings bonds can be bought in many price ranges. If you buy a gift for this child every birthday or Christmas, giving a savings bond each year can become a special tradition. Be sure to purchase your savings bond a few weeks in advance. It will arrive by mail and you’ll want to be sure you have it for the special day.

Money Tree- This is a great gift for a baby shower! Buy a sturdy plant (a jade plant works well) or a small tree. Trees are nice because they can be planted outside and grow as the child grows. Different denomination bills work and look best, so use one dollar, five dollar, ten dollar bills. Crinkle the bills in a fan shape and tie them on the tree with ribbon. I used small plastic clothespins that were made for decorating cakes. You can use ribbon, small party decorations, booties, or any other decorative item that fills in your tree. Look for favors in the party section of your store. The tree will be beautiful and very unique. The mother-to-be will enjoy the money and be able to buy what she wants. This gift is not only unique, but a conversation piece as well.

Bank- This is a quick, useful, thoughtful gift for babies and children. There are numerous kinds of piggy banks. I bought all my grandchildren and younger nieces and nephews banks of things they are interested in. Some were baseballs, footballs, doll banks, etc. You get the idea. I had their names painted on them (or you can get them engraved if on the appropriate bank) and put a small amount of money in each. This can be a big hit at a Christmas party, birthday party or baby shower. Buying a graduate a bank and putting money inside is also a well received gift.

Theme Basket- Theme baskets can be made for almost any occasion. Choose a theme and stick to it. Some good themes for babies are safety baskets, wellness basket, or an “item” basket. Use your imagination for your basket. A regular basket can be used, or you can use an item that relates to your theme. An example might be if you are doing an item basket for diaper changing. Use a diaper pail or laundry basket decorated with ribbon. Fill the basket with diapers, wipes, ointments and anything related to diaper changing. Safety baskets make useful gifts for babies by including outlet safety plugs, cabinet door locks, mittens to prevent scratched faces and maybe a room monitor. Thermometers, baby fever control meds, ointments, a book about childhood illnesses, medicine cups, and all the things that go along with an ill child makes a great wellness basket!

Kids like gardening baskets, tool baskets, reading baskets, favorite hero baskets and just about anything that pertains to being a kid. Use small wagons, pails, doll buggies or backpacks for your “basket.” Fill a backpack with books or a sand pail with beach items. A great summer time gift for a child is a beach bag containing a child’s beach towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and maybe a water toy. Gardening baskets are usually a huge success. A berry basket works well. Load it with seed packets, a small hand shovel, little gardening gloves and a watering can. Kids love this because they have their own gardening tools and can plant little gardens. Mothers seem to love this one the best.

Graduation & Birthdays

Graduation gifts can sometimes be hard to choose. If you know the graduate well, finding the right personal gift can be tough sometimes. Money is a favorite of course, but if you want to be a little different there are special gifts you can give.

Journals- If the graduate is going away, a journal and nice pen make a great gift. Journals can be bought in all designs and sizes, so finding one that matches the interests of your graduate shouldn’t be too hard. Write on the first page if you like. It will be something they take with them for years to come.

Jewelry- When my daughter graduated from high school, I gave her a gold chain with my baby ring on it. It touched her deeply and even though she is now 31 she continues to wear it every day. Is there something that means a lot to you that you want your child or grandchild to have? Buy a chain, have it mounted or put it in a nice box and give it to your graduate. They will treasure it for years. A twenty-first birthday or thirtieth birthday is also a great time to give a gift from the heart such as this.

Video to music- Find old slides, pictures, clips of video from your video camera or from that old slide projector and have them put to music. If you are technical you can do this on your computer but if not, your yellow pages should point you in the right direction. There are also program you can purchase to help in make your music/picture video. This gift is especially nice for an anniversary.

Going Away

When a friend or co-worker is going away, it can be tough to know exactly what to give as a gift. Here are a few ideas that always seem to hit the mark.

Photo Album- If you have pictures of the person going away, your co-workers and/or the place you work in, you’ve got the ingredients for a great photo album! You don’t have to have a lot of pictures. Mount one picture and have whoever the picture is of write something nice on the opposite page. Make little jokes, or comments. Add small stickers (like a sombrero on someone) to liven it up. What a great going away gift!

Signature Book- If you don’t have photos for a photo album, this book can be very sentimental. Buy a journal-like book that fits the personality of the person you are giving it to. Have everyone who knows the person write in the book. People are surprisingly creative (and honored) when asked to do this. If you know someone in the Armed Services who is out of the country, a signature book is an ideal gift! Reading the entries of friends and relatives will not only brighten their day, but it tells them how much people care.

Family & Close Friends

Although it may seem a daunting task to come up with the perfect gift for a sister, brother, adult child, or your dearest friend, there are gifts that are truly from the heart.

Picture- Buy a frame that fits the personality of the one you love. Many gorgeous pictures frames are inexpensive. Put a picture of the two of you in the frame. It’s that simple and will be loved by the receiver.

Letter- One of the best gifts I have ever given was a letter I wrote to my oldest brother. I wrote a letter telling him the difference he has made in my life. Another approach is to write about humorous or sentimental things using “Remember when…?” This gift is very dear to the people who receive it, so be prepared for some tears,

Scrap Book- Pictures make wonderful gifts. Collect a nice variety of pictures and make a scrap book. There are many online idea pages and scrap book store who are very willing to suggest ideas for your book if you are a novice at this.

Gift giving doesn’t have to be a worrisome task. Giving from the heart takes a little thought and effort, but is always worth it! Give a gift from your heart and you will feel the reward when it’s opened.

External Links:

• US Savings Bonds -