Gifts That Don't Cost Money
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Gifts that don't cost money -- so donate that dollar for any-holiday!
During periods of cash-flow blockage, I practice giving gifts that don't cost a dollar, or even a dime.
Many valuable gifts don't cost a thing, not even pennies, though they do cost energy, time or space, may cost a song or some exercise, and usually require determined creativity and insistent ingenuity.
Free stuff that is perfect for someone on my list often pops up serendipitously along the course of everyday life. Sometimes, looking sideways helps me notice. I collect freebies all year, just to give them alway as needed.
It is weird, but donating just one dollar to a worthy cause when I feel the most "broke" -- but really, its my financial plan that is slightly busted -- starts my creative juices flowing.
This lens is being published "in progress" on purpose, as I continue to add on while this holiday season unfolds.
I am having fun here exploring an abstract concept or two. But I hope to give practical gift ideas and information for anyone facing financial challenges, and all who desire to live winter's festivities less commercially.
For more by and about me, visit my Giant Lensography or Lensography 2!
Photo: By ImageAfter.com
Many valuable gifts don't cost a thing, not even pennies, though they do cost energy, time or space, may cost a song or some exercise, and usually require determined creativity and insistent ingenuity.
Free stuff that is perfect for someone on my list often pops up serendipitously along the course of everyday life. Sometimes, looking sideways helps me notice. I collect freebies all year, just to give them alway as needed.
It is weird, but donating just one dollar to a worthy cause when I feel the most "broke" -- but really, its my financial plan that is slightly busted -- starts my creative juices flowing.
This lens is being published "in progress" on purpose, as I continue to add on while this holiday season unfolds.
I am having fun here exploring an abstract concept or two. But I hope to give practical gift ideas and information for anyone facing financial challenges, and all who desire to live winter's festivities less commercially.
For more by and about me, visit my Giant Lensography or Lensography 2!
Photo: By ImageAfter.com
Gifts that don't cause money = gifts that don't cost EXTRA money!
The energy of money is already flowing through everyone's daily life!
Sunrises are experienced as sunsets, and vice versa, all around the world.Dawns and dusks induce hope, for me. These transitional hours give me more obvious signs, harder to fail to notice, of the world's constant creative changing, always happening, no matter what.
The energy of the Sun is, always, in all ways, flowing though all ordinary events and situations. Sunlight is shifting into money everywhere, even on cloudy days, even at night.
And money is continuously spent -- transformed into gifts -- within every moment of the poorest and richest lives, alike.
So the gifts on this list are not really money-free. They probably include the recycling and reuse of money that is already being paid through contracts and package deals.
Reconsidering the money I am spending every day, cleverly or unwittingly, especially in forgotten or hidden ways, reminds me:
"Hey, I'm really rich!"
"We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it."
-- William Faulkner
Gift Idea 1: Help someone get a grant to do good
Check this book out of the library to learn how...
Or peruse nearby titles in the stacks for better plans -- or buy it on Amazon, so the Squidoo Charity Fund will donate a dollar to Room To Read.
Brainstorm. What project could you undertake to change your world for the better?
Brainstorm. What project could you undertake to change your world for the better?
The Complete Guide to Getting a Grant: How to Turn Your Ideas Into Dollars
Amazon Price: $5.59 (as of 05/31/2012)
Expert Laurie Blum covers the basics and how-tos of grant writiing: Shaping your idea to attract funding; Preparing your funding campaign-from research and organization to budgeting and marketing; Finding the right resource-building a prospect list, using basic references, and keeping data sheets; Writing your proposal; Following up on responses-what to do if you receive a grant and what steps to take if your request is turned down.
Gift Idea 2: Explore "freebie" & "freecycle" links for genuine givaways
The little stuff from non-scam offers can add up to a gift basket...
Or, you might be able to "freecycle" some bigger stuff!
- Hey, It;s Free!| Daily freebies, free stuff, and free samples!
- 100% legit freebies. We post samples every day. If you love free stuff, then all you'll ever need is a sense of humor and mailing address!
- How to Freecycle
- Freecycle.net - Don't Throw it Away, Give it Away - How to Freecycle
Gift Idea 3: Give work
Help someone on your list with a project, any way you can!
Gift-wrap a larger homemade card describing your offer, tucked inside a reused container!Go into specifics -- the number of hours and types of tasks (keeping a copy for yourself) -- as if it were a gift certificate you had to purchase.
Possibilities and suggestions:
Assembly
Babysitting
Cleaning
Errand running
IT Services
Moving Stuff
Massage (if you know how)
Organizing
Painting
Shopping
Gift Idea 4: Rescue a gift
"Freegan" it, without doing anything illegal, dangerous or harmful!
Donate or give food and other items you rescue from the trash.
Often, I find marvelous -- sometimes, nearly new -- usable stuff, with great gifting potential, near the dumpsters or curbs around "moving days" at the ends and beginnings of months.
Often, I find marvelous -- sometimes, nearly new -- usable stuff, with great gifting potential, near the dumpsters or curbs around "moving days" at the ends and beginnings of months.
Gift Idea 5: Recycle a gift
If you are a bit crafty!
Inventively tweak items you have on hand.
Gift Idea 6: Write a gift
Creatively pen a biography, poem, short-story or ...?
Devise a clever way to use or reuse paper you have on hand to craft a card or booklet.Tell the tales of adventures you have shared.
Or, compile a recipes -- your's or found favorites.
If you're stuck, lists can save the day.
Old photographs or pictures from magazines might make interesting illustrations. Alternatively, this project could morph into a scrapbook!
Gift Idea 7: Gift Idea 6, continued...with more!
Give a free Goal-Setter Workbook you download & finish
With instructions (alongside more free gift ideas) on this lens!
“More "free" gift ideas are coming to this lens soon -- so, do visit again!”
What r twpl tweeting re: free stuff?
Research Twitter for more free gift ideas!
Tweet with me!
Have you ever given gifts that didn't cost (extra) money?
Happy any-holiday!
Please SHARE! Questions? Answers? Stories?
If you're new...Would you like to sign up and Squidoo too?
Thank-you for visiting!
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mihgasper
Feb 14, 2012 @ 2:55 pm | delete
- It is not a thing, it is attention what counts!
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Terrie_Schultz
Dec 24, 2011 @ 5:10 pm | delete
- Great list! Handmade things are much more meaningful.
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billybraveheart
Dec 3, 2011 @ 10:10 pm | delete
- As a Scotsman, always looking at ways to saving money :-) just so happens your my 900 squid like :-)
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vallain Jan 11, 2011 @ 6:34 pm | delete
- A number of times, I've created something with my writing skills like a family memory or a Squidoo lens to give someone as a gift.
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Treasures-By-Brenda
Jan 3, 2011 @ 4:43 pm | delete
- I guess I have given gifts in the form of labour on a gift certificate. Haven't done so recently but I should!
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awakeningwellness
Dec 21, 2010 @ 4:36 pm | delete
- You have some great ideas here, a gift from the heart is worth so much more than one from a department store.
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javrsmith
Dec 15, 2010 @ 6:55 pm | delete
- I have done so and encourage it. This lens has been blessed by a Squid Angel.
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doddid
Dec 7, 2010 @ 8:16 pm | delete
- Very unique and inspiring idea :)
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BarbaraCasey
Dec 5, 2010 @ 2:23 pm | delete
- Yes... this year I'm giving Facebook and Squidoo buddies 6 free tutorials that I usually charge for... one each week from Nov 20 to Jan 1. In the past, I've given poems and hand-made crafts to friends and family members. I like giving something that has my energy in it, rather than a shopping center's.
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LisaAuch
Dec 5, 2010 @ 5:19 am | delete
- I just love this and will add it to my gift of Love lens...what great ideas and I wish this is what christmas was all about!
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LouieWrites
Dec 5, 2010 @ 12:41 am | delete
- Unique ideas! Great lens you have here mate!
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annmackiemiller Dec 3, 2010 @ 8:45 am | delete
- I love these ideas - will feature this lens on my unique christmas gift lens that I am just creating.
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terrapin719 Dec 1, 2010 @ 3:57 am | delete
- Awesome gift ideas!
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Joan4
Nov 29, 2010 @ 6:03 pm | delete
- Wow! Thank you for featuring my Free Christmas Gifts! I am honored! You have a great list here too. We really prefer to give homemade gifts when we can. Those are really gifts from the heart!
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by ShamanicShift
HI! I'M LETTING THESE LENSES FADE, so many no longer reflect my present views. I'm Elizabeth a.k.a. ECP, retired SquidAngel and former Giant100 member... more »
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