Small Gifts That Show Big Heart


Good things, as we've all learned, come in small packages. Indeed, sometimes they don't come in packages at all but in emails and envelopes. In the spirit of the gift-giving season, we've assembled just such a list of small, good things. Each one is enduring too, a gift that keeps on giving.

• Gift certificate to local bakery. Few things bring out a smile as quickly as a late-afternoon cookie, cupcake or piece of pie. With this gift certificate, bread and other baked goods are obviously an option too, but they're not nearly as celebratory as something sweet. For less than $10, you can buy a friend a treat on several occasions just when they want it most.
• Pass to car wash. Buy one wash-and-wax or a book of a dozen. Be sure that whoever you're giving this to isn't sensitive about the appearance of their car, otherwise they might think you're suggesting they need to clean up their act.
• Customized stamps. In this Age of Personalization, it's no surprise that you can now put an image of your own on a postage stamp. The service is available online (just Google "Postage stamp" and "photo") as well as at many major retail stores.
• Donation to charity. The possibilities here are pretty much unlimited. You'll obviously want to choose an organization or cause that reflects the interests and concerns of the gift-getter. Even better: if your donation is high enough to garner a gift (mug, cap, t-shirt, etc.) from the charity organization, your recipient gets two presents.
• Tickets to local movie theater. Find a big screen near your friend or family member. Many major movie houses now offer ticket ordering online, so purchasing two seats or a book should be easy.
• Bulbs. For less than $20, you can buy a handful of flowering bulbs, a glass bowl and some potting soil or rocks. Blooms will appear within weeks of potting, and the flowers will remain fragrant and colorful for far longer than a cut bouquet. Among our favorite bulb varieties are amaryllis, narcissus and hyacinth. If you want to learn more about planting bulbs, read our Green Tidings article.

  Return to Articles