Free gift ideas are sometimes the most thoughtful, and enjoyed presents during the holidays, and any season for that matter. So, why then do we associate the word FREE with CHEAP? The truth is that whether we have lots of money, no money, or some money, free gift ideas can be an awesome way for you to celebrate someone in your life this Christmas season.

DVD

Make a special DVD for someone. It can be for a friend, relative, spouse, child…..for anyone who enjoys pictures, and/or home movie clips. Choose some neat pictures, or movie clips, whether they are of family, friends, nature, whatever interests that person, and add some music for the background. You can use a DVD maker program, which you can download online. It is easy, and fun! Create a cover for the DVD case. You can do this by scrap booking a design, filling it with quotes, gluing a picture of the two of you, etc. Use your imagination!

Coupon Book

Okay, so we have all heard of the coupon book idea; maybe even too many times. However, if it is decorated and made in a creative way, it is not only appealing for the fun ideas that a wait on the inside of each page, but it is also very appealing to the eye. Through scrap booking, stamping and other hand made creativity, the receiver of this book will notice the time and effort that went into each individual coupon. You can make books with themes; for example food: coupons for 10 of their favorite meals, massage: coupons for different massage techniques, cleaning: coupons for different jobs around the house, yard work: coupons for different jobs around the yard, or make a book of miscellaneous coupons, with all of these combined. It is a great way to give a gift that keeps on giving!

Set of Cards

Do you like to scrap book, make cards, and/or use left over scraps of paper? Then this is a perfect way for you to give a free gift of cards to someone! Create a set of cards with whatever supplies you have at home, maybe even some left over construction paper from your kids. Make them in different sizes, depending on the blank envelopes you have at home for the cards to fit inside. You can design the outside of the cards, leave them blank on the inside, tie a nice bow around them, and give them as a set of blank cards to someone. Most of us enjoy sending cards to people however it can be a hassle to find the time to run to the store to buy the perfect card. Now we can give a gift that allows for cards to be sent with much more ease. Box of thoughts Using a decorative box, either that you have, or that you decorate with an empty gift box, fill it with thoughts, and quotes about the person you are giving the gift to. This way the receiver can draw out a quote every day that says something beautiful and true about themselves. This is especially a great gift for close friends and spouses.

I am running out of time to Christmas shop, not to mention that I have already ran out of ideas for those on my list,not to mention that I don't have much money this year, not to mention that once again I will be stressed anyways because our family needs to be so many places in just a couple of short days,not to mention I really don't like to shop for whose name I drew this year (my great aunt is soooo picky!), not to mention--is it New Year's yet?

Is your mind thinking any or all of these things? If yes, you seem to be like the majority of people during the holiday season. Especially if you are the one at your home who does most of the shopping, cooking, decorating, coordinating, and baking, where is the time to focus on the meaning behind any of these things? It seems like enough to just get them done, hoping that you will still have some energy and cheer to bring in the New Year.

Check out these riddles. Do you find yourself laughing, and/or relating? This year even the toys are stressed out! Yeah, they come already wound up! I keep Christmas in my heart every month of the year. That's because it's on my charge card statement that long! I think it is easy to get caught up in the rigorous holiday tasks, while forgetting why we are really doing them. When this is the case, our tasks become more so about our traditions and lists, than the people we say we are actually doing them for. I know this isn't how I want to celebrate Christmas this year; how about you? When I think about how I want to celebrate Christmas, I remind myself of the real reason for the season. 'Tis the season to be jolly, or the season to give to those who are less fortunate than you, or to make amends with someone you have not talked to in years. Yes, these are all ways we associate with the reason for the season however they still don't explain the real meaning behind why we celebrate Christmas.

The celebration of Christmas began with the birth of a baby, who seemed so simple, yet whose life was so full of impact. He was sent into this world by God. God knew that people craved and needed peace, joy, help, purpose, answers, and power much greater than themselves. Because God loved us, the world, so much, He wanted to give us these things; and He knew the perfect way to do it. He determined that His own son, Jesus Christ, would be born on Christmas Day. This day changed the world, because it was the beginning of what was to come. The baby, named Jesus that was born in a manger, was not only a baby. He was the Son of God, who came to give us the peace, joy, freedom, and help that was so needed. He did this by sacrificing His life, through a brutal death on a cross, so that the world would have all that it needed. The real reason for the season is Jesus Christ.

This is the mentality that I want to motivate me this Christmas season. I know that this doesn't mean that there won't be times when I may feel stressed, or frustrated, or even tired of the activity; however, with a mindset determined to focus on what was given to me through Jesus, and how I can give to others, I will enjoy this season with abundance. I hope that as this Christmas season begins to unfold in your home that you will enjoy every part of it as well! Merry Christmas!

Okay--so you've got THREE MILLION POUNDS of turkey the day after Christmas--whadda ya gonna do?

Visit these Websites to find some great things to do with your holiday leftovers: