6 Affordable Experiences To Give at The Holidays Instead of Gifts
Written by
Jordan Rosenfeld
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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If you’re feeling the budget pinch extra hard during this year’s holidays, remember that experiences often last far longer in the minds of your friends and family, and will have greater meaning than a bunch of stuff they might unwrap.
Experiences are also a way to give the gift of companionship and time together, a way to get closer to or enjoy quality time with the people most important to you. Truthfully, any experience forged in thoughtfulness and knowledge of your loved one is likely to be a hit.
Here are six experiences to give as gifts to your loved ones.
Movie Night
Buy a gift card to your loved one’s favorite local movie theater. For $40 or less you can see a show and enjoy movie theater snacks. Or, for even cheaper, offer to pay for a streaming movie that you both have wanted to see and pick up a basket of Dollar Tree snacks-voila, you’ve got a great gift that combines entertainment, your good company, and tasty treats, one that you can either enjoy out on the town or in the comfort of your own home. If you’re lucky to still live near an authentic drive-in, even better.
Planetarium or IMAX Show
Do you have a budding astronomer, astronaut or just a lover of the night sky in your family? Any city with a planetarium typically offers one or more shows, sometimes with cool lasers and lights, gorgeous imagery of the night sky and educational content to boot. While planetarium admission prices do vary, they are likely to be less than $20 per ticket, and that’s not counting senior discounts and student discounts, where you can often get those prices down to next to nothing. Additionally, sometimes a planetarium will have an IMAX theater, an immersive, large-screen viewing experience.Â
Nature Hike or Driving Tour
If you live within even an hour’s drive of some natural beauty, consider giving the gift to outdoorsy lovers of a nature walk, drive or tour at a specific time of year. A wildflower hike in spring, a beach day in summer, a tour of the fall foliage in fall, and so on. If your loved one likes nature but doesn’t enjoy physical activity or can’t access it easily, you can always do a driving tour. It should only cost you gas and any snacks you bring along. You can always add a nice bottle of wine or your loved one’s favorite treats.
A Date to a Cat Cafe or Pet Shelter
Do you have an animal lover in your friends or family group who might not be in a position to add to their menagerie? Consider checking out a cool cat cafe-of which several can be found in a variety of states and cities around the country. If you don’t have one of these adorable coffee houses near you, many pet shelters have a set day or two of the week where you can come in and play with hopeful, adorable adoptees. For the cost of a cup of coffee or the gas it takes you to get there, you can provide a fun, furry day.
A Themed Museum Day
Museums might not seem like the most exciting gift ever, but if you can target the gift of a museum date to accord with the interests or passions of your loved one, you can make a themed day out of it. Add the gift of a new art sketchbook to a date to an art museum. Take a science junkie to a STEM-themed museum and buy a book on a favorite scientist or subject. Be creative.Â
Host a Paint Night
Paint night parties aren’t just for moms, you can host your own for your loved one and several friends or family members in a location of your choosing. Tutorials abound online and you can get the basic supplies for low prices everywhere from your local craft store to your local Dollar Tree. Add snacks, put together a music playlist, and enjoy. Amazon sells pre-fab party kits, which brings the price down to mere dollars per person.
Use your imagination to dream up many more fun such ideas that won’t stretch your budget, and will make meaningful memories that last much longer than stuff.
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