Positive Energy Guide

Wondering what to give someone you care about?
These ideas will spread love, save money and yet support the economy.

Make or purchase a lovely card with one or more vouchers for services instead of objects. Save up the time you might otherwise spend fighting traffic and use it to make your loved ones happy. You can provide a service yourself or support providers by purchasing services from people you care about and respect. Experiences to share and remember build closeness instead of adding clutter.

Vouchers for gifts of your time can be simple or elaborate:

• A massage or foot massage
• Breakfast in bed
• Make a list of everything you love about them and share it
• Cook their favorite meal on a date of their choice
• Double-dig the vegetable garden
• Clean out drawers or closets and give unused items to charity

Make yourself available when and how you are needed:

• Schedule time to help rearrange the furniture
• Give a written promise to take time off when your spouse wants you to attend an occasion you tend to resist and go cheerfully
• A promise to be available on several dates of their choice
• An offer to take the kids to the zoo or an all day outing when your
• spouse has something important to do or needs down-time
• Give an hourly allotment during which you will do their bidding

Take things off their to-do list by removing a burden, concern, chore or duty:

• Wash and vacuum their car or take it in for service
• Help them edit their writing
• Give a number of hours to keep them company and help them do a chore they are avoiding

Professional services:

• Have their car professionally detailed
• Let them select massage or healing services up to a certain amount
• Offer to pay for spa services
• Pay to have the house professionally cleaned on their day of choice

Add personal and professional services together:

• Paint their study or have it painted
• Get their computer repaired and add memory
• Have a garden bed put in with their favorite plants
• Remodel a room or add a window where they need one

Activities and experiences:

• Take them to a play or opera
• Give a ski trip
• Plan a hiking trip to a special destination
• Pay for passes to the aquarium

For the technologically inclined consider:

• Give them an iTunes allowance
• A voucher for a teleseminar that furthers their inner or outer goals
• Several months’ membership in a membership site
• Example: Kelly’s Positive Women Rock site, to uplift and support to growth
• Get them ongoing technical help to relieve techno-stress
• Example: Stu McLaren’s Instant Business Answers–weekly calls for tech and marketing advice
• An allowance toward their choice of web templates or utilities such as programs to edit sound files or make movies

Still not sure what to give? With vouchers it’s easy to make your offer a multiple choice!

What makes your gift meaningful is not what you spend but how precisely you match the gift with your loved one’s unique needs and personality. Showing that you understand what is important to someone expresses love more than any Thing. Give in ways that transform or provide relief. Make your loved ones’ lives easier and more joyful by giving considerately.

What are YOUR innovative gift ideas?