For many people, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. On the other hand, it can also be the most stressful time of the year for others. Buying the best, most expensive gifts has become the most important thing about the holiday season. Unfortunately, the majority of the gifts we all receive end up in the garbage or donation pile less than a year later. Giving gifts is definitely a great way to serve each other and express your love, but it shouldn’t matter how much you spend, how many items you give each person, or if you give tangible items at all. Whether you love Christmas and everything it entails or you struggle with what this holiday has become, you can make this year different! Follow along for the best out-of-the-box Christmas gift ideas to give this holiday a new flavor.

Make it Custom

There’s nothing better than receiving something customized just for you! Think about it: when someone else gives you something with your name or a personal photo on it, you automatically feel super loved. Whether it’s a piece of jewelry, home decor, clothing, or something else entirely, you can make your friends and family feel loved by giving them something made specially for them that they’ll cherish forever.

Give Something Edible

We all know someone who has everything they need but really loves food! Giving an edible gift is always a great idea. Everyone needs to eat, and food gets expensive! Consider buying everyone on your list their favorite snacks and drinks; you can’t go wrong here.

If you want to do something a little different and more personal, consider giving homemade baked goods as gifts. Additionally, sour dough bread starters make excellent gifts for anyone on your list.

Gift an Experience or Service

Coming up with new, exciting gift ideas every single year gets exhausting; especially when your family and friends have everything they need and then some. However, you can still give a practical or exciting gift by buying them tickets to a play, concert, museum, or sporting event. You can also give a gift certificate for a service like a nail or hair salon, car detailing service, or a spa.

Christmas gifts don’t always have to be tangible objects—giving someone an experience is one of the greatest gifts you can give. You can use this as an opportunity for quality time by doing something together!

Give the Gift of Handmade

Handmade gifts used to be extremely popular, but it seems to be a thing of the past these days. If you know how to make something gift-worthy, consider showing off your skills this holiday season! Gift-worthy items might include:

• Candles
• Lotions
• Soaps
• Body Scrubs
• Custom shirts
• Knitted scarves or blankets
• Canvas paintings

If you’re not creative in the handmade department, so many small businesses have you covered (myself included!). Supporting your favorite small business owners also counts as giving the gift of homemade. Purchasing items from a genuine, handmade-dedicated small business might cost you a little more, but you can rest assured that they’ll be high-quality and authentic. Also, many small shops create perfect gift box sets like my Box of Christmas Cheer!

Craft a Themed Basket

Giving someone a themed basket is one of the best ways to make them feel special, think outside of the box, and provide an experience for them. Whether for a child or adult, you can craft a themed basket they’ll absolutely love!

For instance, a child might enjoy a basket full of stuff for a sleepover with their friends or a family movie night. On the other hand, a grown man might like a basket dedicated to the ultimate game day or cooking meat. The ladies in your life would love a basket full of items for a craft day or a complete home spa day box. Regardless of who it is, you can most likely come up with a themed box or basket to suit their interests.

Christmas is a great opportunity to spread love and kindness to those around you, but that doesn’t mean you have to drain your bank account to do so. With the best out-of-the-box Christmas gift ideas, you can give everyone in your life a unique, personal gift this holiday season. Regardless of how you decide to gift your friends and family, don’t forget that the best gifts don’t come in a box or a bag—they come from your heart, intentions, and time spent together.