Homemade Coupon Book Gift Idea for Any Holiday or Occasion

Ranked #249 in Holidays & Celebrations, #4,572 overall

Give the Gift of Your Own Time, Effort, and Love With a Homemade Coupon

Sure, you can add something special that might also cost some money, but that's not necessary with homemade gift coupons for all sorts of occasions and holidays.

Here you'll find a list of suggestions for filling in those gift coupons for family and friends, many that will cost you nothing more than some elbow grease or simply the pleasure of your company. Other gift coupon ideas will add some money to the mix, but how much you spend is up to you (unless you're brave and want to leave it up to the recipient of that coupon).

I've also included links to customizable gift coupon templates you can print at home and some pre-printed personal coupon books you can buy online, in case you don't have the time or the crafty knack for making them on your own.

At the bottom of the page, I'll show you the homemade gift coupons I made for my boyfriend's sister and brother-in-law (new parents of twins) for Christmas, with the help of two crafty family members.

Photo Credit (above): Flickr / CC

Some of the Many Occasions for Giving Homemade Coupon Books

What other occasions or celebrations can you think of when homemade coupons would be appropriate gifts?

*Christmas*
*Birthdays*
*Anniversaries*
*New Moms and Dads*
*Valentines Day*
*Graduations*
*Retirement Parties*
*Housewarmings*
*Mother's Day and Father's Day*


Photo Credit (below): Flickr / CC

Homemade Gift Coupons

Homemade Gift Coupon Ideas 

Homemade Gift Coupons

Suggestions for Free or Almost Free Gifts

This coupon entitles you to....
  • A thorough house-cleaning
  • A car-washing, inside and out
  • Breakfast in bed
  • A home-cooked candlelight dinner
  • A massage ... from me
  • A picnic at the park (or lake or beach, etc.)
  • A manicure ... from me
  • A night of dancing with yours truly
  • An evening of babysitting, so the two of you can go out for a date
  • Having your laundry done -- folded too! -- once a week for a month
  • Having your bed made every day for a week
  • Having your lawn mowed (or replace with some other type of yardwork, like weeding the garden for example)
  • Having your garage organized and cleaned (especially for those with overstuffed, cluttered garages)
  • A full day of elbow grease from me, to do whatever chores and projects around the house you'd like
  • Having a homemade lunch brought to your office (by me!) every day for a week
  • The favor of your choice
  • My honest opinion
  • Control of the TV remote for a month
  • A big, long hug!
  • A full, uninterrupted hour of snuggling

More Homemade Coupon Gift Ideas

These will cost you some extra money

This coupon entitles you to....
  • Dinner for two at ___ (Fill in the restaurant and include a gift certificate, unless you're one of the two going)
  • The movie of your choice (Include a theater gift card, unless you're taking the gift-ee.)
  • A day at the spa
  • A new outfit (Add a specific store, if you want, and include a gift certificate ... unless you'll be going along to pay.)
  • An evening of babysitting so you can go out and have some fun (Include with this a gift certificate or gift card for a nice restaurant, theater or movie tickets perhaps)
  • A manicure and pedicure at ______
  • A session with a personal trainer (Arrange to pay for it.)
  • A concert or other live show of your choice, accompanied by me (or their spouse, significant other, etc.)
  • A weekend getaway to a destination of your choice (or be specific about the location)
  • Having a [insert dollar amount] donation made in your name to a charity / cause of your choice
  • A replacement [insert item] for the one you loved and lost (This idea came from a gift coupon my boyfriend gave me, for a new down jacket of my choice after I lost one I really liked while we were on vacation. I eventually picked one out, and he paid for it.)

Add Your Gift Coupon Ideas

What have I left out?

These can be freebies (only elbow grease or time and effort required) or cost something to the coupon-giver, at least eventually.

Please share your suggestions....

Have Other Homemade Gift Coupon Ideas?

Please share them in the guestbook below

Printable Gift Coupons

Use these templates and customize....

Mother's Day Printable Coupon Book
Download and print all of the pages - color in the images, then cut along the dotted lines.
Customizable Gift Coupon Books
Choose a template, add images if you'd like, customize the text, and print. From Kodak.com -- easy and quick to create.
Blank Coupon Template
Fill it in and print.
Lots More Printable Gift Coupon Templates
Click on any that catch your eye, customize, and print.

Ideas and Supplies for Making Those Homemade Coupons More Colorful

Let's Get Crafty, Colorful and Creative

Sure, you can grab a magic marker and a piece of plain paper, write the coupon, cut it out and hand it over. Or you can use a card and write the coupon inside. Besides, it's the thought that counts! But if you want to get a little more flashy and creative, here are some basic suggestions:

Stop by your local craft store (or Amazon.com perhaps) and pick up some of these supplies...
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More Craft Supplies for Decorating Homemade Gift Coupons....

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Pre-Printed Gift Coupon Books

If you'd rather not get crafty or just don't have the time....

Valentine Coupons from the Heart

Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

This coupon book includes 16 perforated Valentine coupons, each good for something special. The cover is made from recycled card stock with red foil accent. Actual Size: 7"X3.25".

Knock Knock Vouchers for Friends

Amazon Price: $8.00 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

This coupon book contains 20 perforated vouchers, which express love in nonmaterial ways. Vouchers for friends include Favor of Choice, Airport Ride, Honest Opinion, Treat for Dinner and 16 more unique coupons.

Knock Knock New Parents Gift Vouchers

Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

These 20 perforated coupons for family include Diaper Duty, Alone Time, Dinner Delivery and 17 more unique coupons.

Our Own Homemade Gift Coupon Book

These coupons are for a new mom and dad of twins--a boy and a girl--for babysitting while they go out for a date. There's one themed coupon for each month, and the first three months have gift certificates for restaurants or movies.

Homemade coupon book

January babysitting/date night coupon with a gift certificate for one of the new mom and dad's favorite restaurants 

Homemade coupon book

Febuary's coupon theme is Valentine's Day. We put two theater tickets in the pocket for the couple to enjoy. 

Homemade coupon book

The theme for the March coupon is the husband's birthday and one of the couple's favorite sports. There's gift card for a pizza. 

Homemade coupon book

The theme for the April babysitting/date night coupon is Easter--another first for the baby twins. 

Homemade coupon book

May's coupon is about spring.  

Homemade coupon book

June's babysitting / date night coupon has a summer theme. 

Homemade coupon book

The theme of July's coupon is the family's first July 4th as a foursome. 

Homemade coupon book

For the August coupon, the theme is the twins' first birthday, so Mom and Dad should go out and celebrate with a date. 

Homemade coupon book

September's theme is the new Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary. Definitely a good reason to go on a date while we babysit. 

Homemade coupon book

October is the new mom's birthday month. 

Homemade coupon book

November is Thanksgiving month -- a time to be particularly thankful. 11-year-old Ryleigh used her hand to outline the turkey. 

Homemade coupon book

And it's full circle to Christmas, when they might just get another coupon book under the tree. 

Do You Have Other Ideas for Gift Coupons?

Or have you ever given one (or a whole book of them) to a friend or family member?

Please share your ideas and gift coupon stories here....

  • Kara May 24, 2012 @ 7:28 pm | delete
    I just gave a book of homemade coupons to my boyfriend for his birthday. He loved it!
  • lisadh May 23, 2012 @ 4:48 pm | delete
    Wonderful ideas! I love the photos of your coupon books with the monthly themes. It's always great to see examples to get ideas.
  • Pastiche May 8, 2012 @ 2:42 pm | delete
    I like making home made coupon books for just about anyone, for any reason. I've designed a few for teachers to hand out to students, and they're super popular.
  • AlexTedford Mar 12, 2012 @ 4:49 pm | delete
    Interesting...Nifty ideas!
  • ernad18 Feb 28, 2012 @ 9:06 am | delete
    thans for sharing
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