GreatfulMoments.com Christmas Gift Guide #65 Helping Santa Load the Sleigh — Without Emptying Your Wallet
I wanted to remind you for my family some of the best Christmas gifts aren’t wrapped in paper. They’re wrapped in friendship, laughter, and memories. The closer we get to Christmas the more I’ve been thinking a lot about Christmas gifts lately. We’ve been helping Santa load his sleigh, looking at gift ideas for everyone in the family, and trying to find ways to celebrate without emptying our wallets.
But there’s one gift I think we sometimes forget about. The gift of friendship. My friend Debbie and I have been friends since we were in second grade. Yes, second grade! LOL! Back when the Dinosaurs roamed the Earth as Charlie likes to say. LOL That’s a whole lot of years, stories, laughter, and memories.
We’ve grown up, gotten married, raised our families, and experienced life’s ups and downs. And through all those years, we’ve continued to share a friendship. But something occurred to me recently. Just because you’ve been friends forever doesn’t mean you’ve done everything together.
In fact, after all these years, Debbie and I had never attended a Christmas event together until the other day when we went to Frosty’s Fun Center. And guess what? It was free! We didn’t need expensive tickets, fancy dinners, or a shopping spree to have a good time. We simply got out of the house, enjoyed a Christmas outing, and made another memory together.
That’s what inspired this year’s Friendsgiving Christmas Gift Guide. Come and join us as we begin a year of new memories just like Thelma & Lousie. Now, before anybody gets worried, Debbie and I aren’t planning to drive off any cliffs! But I think it’s time these two old friends started having some new adventures.
We’ve done many of the same things for years, and while I love our traditions, there’s a whole world of experiences waiting for us. We’re calling our adventures Thelma and Louise. Of course, I can’t promise that once in a while we won’t turn into Madea. LOL! Which is what will make this fun.
But we’re going to approach life with Rosie the Riveter’s can-do attitude and try to spread a little kindness along the way, just like Dolly Parton. And since I’ve invited Debbie to become a contributor here at GreatfulMoments.com, you might just be hearing from both of us. But first, let’s talk about Christmas.
Every Christmas season, Debbie and I make time for one of our favorite traditions. We go to the Disney Store at Grapevine Mills Mall. I swear that store has been there for 150 years! Laughing out loud! First it was in North East Mall which was so easy to get to and now it’s moved to Grapevine Mills Mall and we still go.
We love Disney, and Eeyore and visiting the store has become part of our holiday season. But here’s what I want you to understand. We don’t have to buy anything. We can walk through the mall, look at the stores, enjoy the decorations, and spend time together. We’re also getting our steps in, which is something both of us are working on as we try to become healthier.
That’s what makes this such a wonderful friendship outing. We’re doing something we enjoy, getting exercise, and making memories without spending a fortune. And if we find something we love but can’t afford, we can always put it on our wish lists. Santa might be listening!
Another Christmas tradition Debbie and I enjoy is visiting craft fairs. I love walking through the booths and seeing what people have created. Handmade ornaments, decorations, jewelry, artwork, homemade gifts — there’s always something interesting to discover. And here’s another little secret. We don’t always purchase anything.
Sometimes we simply look, talk to the vendors, and enjoy the experience. But now that I’m growing GreatfulMoments.com, craft fairs have become something even more meaningful. They’re not just friendship adventures. They’re business adventures, too!
I get to meet small-business owners, discover handmade products, and learn about the people behind the businesses. Who knows? One of those vendors might become a future guest in our Meet the Founder series. And while we’re doing all of that, we’re walking, getting our steps in, and enjoying an afternoon together.
You don’t have to purchase something to appreciate someone’s creativity. Sometimes taking the time to learn about their business, sharing their information, or recommending them to a friend is another way to show support a small-based business while helping them.
Then there is lunches or dinner out which we enjoy and one of the places we’ve always visited is Pancho’s which we splurge on. The rest of the time we split meals, use coupons or order Kids Meals so our lunches and dinners can be as cheap as possible. There is even lunches and movies or board game days at Debbies.
Our visit to Frosty’s Fun Center reminded me that there are wonderful Christmas experiences that don’t require expensive tickets. Here in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, we can look for neighborhood Christmas lights, free holiday celebrations, decorated downtown areas, community events, and seasonal activities.
Diamond Loch’s Christmas lights are one tradition worth looking into. Grapevine also has plenty of Christmas atmosphere to enjoy while walking around. And there are always possibilities for discovering new holiday events through local television stations, libraries, and community calendars.
Not every Christmas adventure needs to involve purchasing a ticket. Sometimes all you need is a comfortable pair of shoes, a friend, and a little Christmas spirit. As your online make a list of free events you find and start a bucket list of places to visit during the year.
Now here’s one of my favorite Christmas gift ideas. Instead of giving your friend another candle, coffee mug, or decoration, why not put together a Friendship Lunch Basket? Debbie and I enjoy simple foods, including SPAM and chicken salad. So imagine putting together a little basket with crackers, a few favorite pantry foods, popcorn, drinks, and perhaps a handwritten invitation.
The invitation could say: “This basket comes with an afternoon of friendship. You bring yourself, and I’ll bring the lunch.”
You could shop sales, use coupons, and pick up inexpensive items as your budget allows. Then, when money is tight, you already have what you need for a simple afternoon together. You can eat lunch, watch a sitcom, play a board game, or sit and talk. And the next time, your friend could provide lunch. It’s not about taking turns spending money. It’s about taking turns making memories.
A Few Thoughtful Christmas Gifts for Your Best Friend– If you want something to wrap and place under the Christmas tree, here are a few ideas that don’t have to cost a fortune.
A Friendship Journal: A notebook where you can record favorite memories, funny stories, photographs, and adventures. It doesn’t need to be expensive. A simple notebook can become a treasured keepsake.
A Book Club Basket: Since Debbie and I both love reading, this is one of my favorites. Include a book, a bookmark, tea or cocoa, and an invitation to start your own two-person book club. You can even use library books instead of purchasing new ones.
A Movie Night Basket: Popcorn, a favorite candy, a drink, and a coupon for a movie afternoon at home. Debbie and I enjoy going to the movies, but we can have just as much fun watching something together at home.
A Friendship Photo Album: Print a few favorite photographs and leave space for new memories. Add handwritten notes about why those moments were special.
A Craft Afternoon Basket: Gather inexpensive craft supplies or items you already have at home and make something together.
A Lunch or Dessert Date: Give a small gift card if your budget allows, or make a homemade coupon for a simple lunch, a soda at your favorite restaurant, or a shared dessert.
And remember, the gift doesn’t have to be expensive to be meaningful.
Here’s another idea I absolutely love. What if you gave your best friend twelve little invitations for the coming year? One for every month. You could wrap them in a little box, place them in envelopes, or tie them together with a pretty ribbon. Each invitation could promise a simple adventure.
Maybe you’ll read a book together, make Valentine’s cards, exchange flower seeds, visit a library, walk through a park, explore a nearby town, or enjoy a movie night. Debbie and I both love reading and gardening, so those activities would be perfect for us. Plus it would help us get in the exercise we need.
And since we’re both working on becoming healthier, walking around Grapevine, Southlake, Keller, or our favorite malls would give us another reason to get moving. The wonderful thing about a friendship calendar is that it doesn’t require you to spend money every month.
Some months, you might enjoy a movie or lunch out. Other months, you might stay home and watch television, play cards, or make sandwiches. The important thing is keeping the promise to spend time together. With me working from home some months we could do a Virtual Lunch date.
I think sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves at Christmas. We worry about finding the perfect gift, having enough money, and making sure everybody receives something special. But what if we changed the way we think about gift-giving? What if we gave someone an afternoon?
What if we gave them a handwritten letter? What if we gave them a promise to call more often, visit the library together, or share lunch once a month? Those are gifts that don’t have to cost much, but they can mean everything. Especially when life gets busy and we forget to make time for the people who matter.
To help you create your own friendship traditions, we’re planning a few printable gifts you can use throughout the year. Our Friendship Memory Calendar will have room for dates, photographs, and favorite memories. We’ll also have a Twelve Months of Friendship coupon booklet that you can print, wrap, and give as a Christmas present.
And because I love the idea of inexpensive lunches, we’ll include a Friendship Lunch Basket checklist with simple food ideas and a place to write your invitation. You don’t need expensive supplies to make a meaningful Christmas gift. A printer, a little paper, a ribbon, and some love can go a long way.
This Thanksgiving, I’m especially thankful for the friendships that have lasted through the years. Debbie and I have known each other since second grade. We’ve shared so many memories, and yet we’re discovering that there are still plenty of new ones waiting for us.
We’ve already started with our Christmas outing to Frosty’s Fun Center. We’ll continue enjoying our Disney Store tradition, visiting craft fairs, and looking for free Christmas activities. And when January arrives, we’ll start planning even more adventures and yes, your welcome to join us.
Maybe we’ll create vision boards, start our own little reading club, exchange flowers from our gardens, or take day trips around the Dallas–Fort Worth area. And yes, there might be an occasional movie, a simple lunch, or a glass of wine along the way. But the heart of this adventure isn’t about where we go or how much we spend. It’s about being together.
Because after all these years, I don’t want Debbie and me to look back and say we should have done more things together. I want us to look back and say, “Remember when we did that?” Even if we have to laugh at ourselves along the way. So this Christmas, I’m inviting you to celebrate Friendsgiving with us.
Call that friend you’ve been meaning to reconnect with. Invite your sister to lunch. Ask your neighbor to walk through the Christmas lights. Give your best friend a homemade coupon promising an afternoon together. And remember that the greatest gift you can give someone isn’t always something you can purchase.
Sometimes it’s your time, your laughter, your friendship, and the memories you make together. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas, Happy Friendsgiving, and may your holidays be filled with love, laughter, kindness, and beautiful memories.
How long have you known your best friend? Do you have a Christmas tradition you enjoy together? What’s your favorite free or inexpensive friendship adventure? Leave a comment and share your story. Debbie and I would love to hear your ideas, and who knows? Maybe Thelma and Louise will try one of them!
Disclosure
This article includes personal experiences and gift suggestions. If affiliate links are added, GreatfulMoments.com may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Any complimentary products or sponsored experiences will be disclosed separately.
GreatfulMoments.com — Helping Santa Load the Sleigh Without Emptying Your Wallet.
Thankful. Grateful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
