Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
I love to give gifts. Perhaps my favorite type of gifts to give are those which are unexpected. This is precisely why this time of the year, I begin to think of the college students who I know and love, far from home, beginning to gear up for finals. All semester long, they have studied hard. Now, as their academic calendars begin to trend toward final papers, projects, and exams, life can seem bleak. Maybe they are a bit homesick, too. It is the perfect time of the year to send a care package to your favorite scholar who is far from home. A package filled with care just might be the pick-me-up he or she needs.
However, gift giving, especially if it is spontaneous, can be pricey. The better you stretch your dollars, the more encouragement and joy you are able to spread. If you plan on sending a little something special this year, whether to a soldier, student, or someone you love in another city or state, check out my favorite care package ideas to help you be generous without busting the bank.
Send Homemade Goodies
Your loved one can buy chips at gas station or packaged cookies at the nearest big box retailer. You probably have all the ingredients you need to whip up your favorite treat in your own kitchen. But don’t stop with the homemade edibles, send your children’s art work or a hand-written letter. These items seem small and inconsequential but mean much more than any snack or kitschy gift.
Clear Out the Cabinets
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Or one girl’s can of soup might sit on a shelf for month but be instantly devoured by a hungry college student. From free samples of shampoo to basic items like cereal, trash bags, and tissues, you probably have enough goods to put together a phenomenal care package without spending a dime. Obviously don’t send half-used products, but from granola bars and non-perishable food items to tea bags and toothbrushes, you might already have everything you need on hand to piece together a killer care package.
Reuse Boxes & Packaging
Don’t spend any money on the box itself. Instead, repurpose a box you’ve received. Remove or mark out all previous addresses. Then, decorate the box with stickers, markers, labels, and your own creativity to personalize it. Keep in mind that the box will more than likely be discarded within minutes of being received, so there’s no need to spend extra cash on the cutesy pre-fab packaging.
Hit the Dollar Store
The dollar store or section can be the perfect place to pick up seasonal decor, great for dorm rooms. From window clings to decorative lights, you can easily help keep seasons bright. Just be careful and set a cash budget. It is very easy to overspend with the mentality “It’s only a dollar!”
$5 Gift Card
Postage can be pricey. It is easy to weigh a box down with so many goodies that it costs more to mail the package than what you spent on the items that went into it. Your best course of action might purchasing a gift card instead. Budget an amount equal to approximately what you would have spent on shipping and the items inside and place that amount on gift card. Your student would more than likely love a gift card good for gasoline or fast food. Or you could bless them with the opportunities to go to the movies or even pick up needed items from the nearest big box retailer. Be sure you search for retailers near to campus and keep in mind their likes or dislikes. Even $5 can make a big difference and let someone know that you care.
Making a difference in the lives of those you love doesn’t have to be a costly endeavor. With a little forethought, you can be extravagantly generous in thought and deed.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
