Often, when we want to show someone we care, whether it be a sympathy gesture or a big “Thank You”, we feel it necessary to buy them something. When you are on a tight budget, this may not be do-able. Other than the traditional handmade card, how can we show we care without breaking the bank?
In this post, I will list 8 frugal ways to show someone you care that won’t leave you penniless.
8 Frugal Ways to Show Someone You Care
1. Simply invite them over for dinner. You are making dinner anyway, right? Nothing makes someone feel more special than to be a guest at a dinner table. It not only is a very cheap way to make someone feel great and appreciated, but it gets them off the hook for cooking for themselves for the night and gives you both a great space to chat it up.
2. Do a movie basket. Head to your local dollar store and pick up movie sized candy, popcorn and drinks. Leave a $5 movie in with the gift and give them a movie night for under $10.
3. If the person has kids, offer to baby-sit for free for them for an evening. It’s amazing how much just a couple of kid-free hours can be refreshing and this is sure to let them know you care.
4. If you ever have a gift card or a BOGO (Buy One, Get One Free) coupon for an item or a meal, take the person out or give them the extra item.
5. Offer to help the person with spring or fall cleaning. Most people won’t ask for help, but really wish they had it for these kinds of projects. If you sincerely offer, they may just take you up on it and be very grateful that you cared.
6. If your friend or family member loves shopping, but you don’t have a lot of money, go thrift shopping or yard sale-ing with them. Offer to buy them a thing or two by surprise.
7. Tell them you care. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that matter. If a person is dealing with a large amount of stress or they just experienced a loss, tell them you are there for them and that you care. This is absolutely free and will make the person feel less alone.
8. For a friend, get a favorite picture of the two of you and make an awesome frame to put it in. Just get a frame from the dollar store and decorate it with decoupage, buttons, anything. Present it with a note telling them you cherish their friendship.
Letting someone know you care or are thankful does not have to equal a lot of money. They say, the best things in life are free, and with this list, many are also frugal!
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