It seems that you need to get a gift for everyone all the time, right? Every time someone has a birthday, when a friend or sibling graduates, and on holidays like Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter there is a time that someone has to have a gift. Giving things to one another is our way of showing that we care and it doesn't seem optional either. You are expected to give a gift at these times and would be considered rude if you didn't.

But what do you do if you have very little or no money? Is your gift’s importance really measured by the amount on the price tag? Does it mean more if you pay more? If that is the case and you aren’t rich, how do you show how much you care to your friends and family?

That’s what I plan to figure out. When we truly examine it gifts aren’t about the money. A gift is meaningful when you think about what that person would really like. That way, when they get it, they know you took the time to think about them and that’s how they know you care. After all, some of my favorite gifts have been inexpensive. How about you? What are some of you favorite gifts?

When I asked others for some ideas of what they would give if that didn’t have any money at all, these are some of the things people came up with:

-Make something out of things from around the house
-Give them something of yours that they like
-Bake them something
-Give them a book that you have read and love and think they would like
-Spend time with them
-Wash their car
-Do chores for them

And if you only have just a little bit of cash, you can buy things:

-From a dollar store
-From a thrift store
-Online at places like Amazon.com, Half.com, and EBay from a yard sale

But most importantly, it really is the thought that counts. How much do you think that this person will like your gift? Is it something that they've always wanted or really like? Imagine what they will do when they open it. Will their eyes light up? If so, you know you have given a gift that really does show you care --- even if you don't have any cash!