The holidaysget expensive fast.
The good news is that finding amazing gifts doesnt have to cost you a penny.
And weve got an early holiday gift for you: a list of 100 free gift ideas.
Use theCapital One Shopping Appwhen shopping onAmazonto help you save money, get price drop alerts and earn rewards!
Ready to get started?
Or read the whole list and find inspiration for a frugal, fun and free holiday season!
This free gift idea does double duty because bread also makes delicious housewarming gifts.
Cookies
Many people wait all year to make their favorite holiday cookies or share traditional holiday recipes.
Maybe yours even includes your own secret blend of holiday spices.
Pop cookies into a box or tin and enclose the recipe on a card.
Put dry ingredients (flour, chocolate chips, etc.)
into a glass jar, tape the recipe to the outside and tie on a festive ribbon.
Heres an adorable M&M cookie jar recipe fromCelebrating Sweets.
Frozen Homemade Meals
Big into meal prep?
While youre at it, make an additional meal for your giftee.
You wont just be giving them a delicious meal, but also the gift of time.
Muesli
If meal prep sounds like too much work, make muesli instead.
Fill a glass jar 3/4 full of raw oats, then add nuts and dried fruit.
you could find detailed recipes onFountain Avenue Kitchen.
Put a lid on the jar and shake it a few times and add a festive ribbon!
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Sites likeFamily Cookbook ProjectandBookemonprovide free online software to create your cookbook, complete with photos.
Wine
Want the easiest possible free gift?
Put a bow on theunopened bottles of wineyou have sitting in the cupboard.
Gift Card
Did your office give employees gift cards this year?
Have an old gift card sitting around you havent spent?
But check expiration dates and balances first.
Gift cards are one free gift that should never arrive used.
CD Coasters
Old CDs make great coasters, and you probably have some collecting dust somewhere.
Grab felt, fabric and glue and follow these directions fromCrafts by Amanda.
Add a card explaining the free gift and pass it along to someone who appreciates upcycling old technology.
The very best personalized gifts are ones that are thoughtful and meaningful.
Plus, theyll think of you every time they place the ornament on a branch.
Vintage is always in style!
Family Heirloom
This is a more serious gift.
Pass along the necklace or china set thats been coveted for generations.
confirm you give this free gift to someone who will appreciate both its history and value.
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Just wash em really well first no one wants the free personalization of coffee rings or lipstick stains.
Plus, these items you probably already have in storage which makes them an ideal free gift.
Old Photographs
Pass along old photographs of grandparents or great-grandparents to the younger generation.
Use one months free gift and send it to someone else.
Create a Digital Album
Another great gift is digitizing old photos.
Scan your photos into a shareable album in Google Photos orShutterfly, and send it to the whole clan.
By scanning photos today, youre preserving them from aging and fading for future generations.
Even better if you also write a note reflecting on all your memories together.
Old Home Video
Guarantee everyone will be impressed by sending a copy of old home video footage.
Just double check your contacts are up to date before sending personalized gifts in an email message.
New Home Video
Why not make a new home video this year?
Use your smartphone to make the video and it’s possible for you to send it directly to them.
Video your children playing the piano or singing holiday songs.
Or get in front of the camera and tell the people you love how much you care about them.
This is a perfect gift that carries a lot of meaning.
Family History
Interview relatives about their history and favorite memories.
Share Your DNA Results
Have you ever gotten anAncestryor23andMeDNA test?
Ancestry gives you historical background on the region your ancestors are from.
Print this history out with a map of your results for one of the most unique free gifts.
Family Trivia Game
The clan that plays together stays together.
Make a trivia game featuring details about your relatives and play it over the holidays.
It can be as simple as questions and answers on index cards.
Family Edition
Have an oldGuess Who?game lying around?
Just confirm you crop and cut the photos to be the right size to fit in the game board.
it’s possible for you to get a full tutorial fromHeathers Homemade Life.
Book of Shared Memories
Give your closest friend a book of memories.
Write down as many stories and shared experiences as you’re able to remember.
Include doodles, photos and anything else youd like to add.
The history of your friendship is a present to truly cherish.
Youll earn bonus points for these free gifts because theyre more thoughtful, too.
Monthly Letter
Write a friend or relative a dozen thoughtful letters as free gifts.
Put them in envelopes with instructions about when to open.
How Do I Love Thee
Begin with the famous Elizabeth Barrett Browning poemHow Do I Love Thee?
(Sonnet 43)and then, like the poet, count the ways.
Check out more poems onpoets.orgto find others that profess your love even more perfectly.
Mixtape
The classic mixtape never gets old especially if its on an actual cassette you have lying around.
But if you dont have a tape, you’re free to make and share aSpotifyplaylist instead.
Memory Jar
Fill a jar with strips of paper containing shared memories.
Check out this extensive list fromBestowfor some inspiration.
If you need some ideas for quotes, check out this downloadable list fromAmerican Lifestyle.
you’re free to get a little inspiration fromLittle Miss Celebration.
You might inspire them to become a future Penny Hoarder!
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Binge Watch a Series
45.
Find out when they are and take someone special as a free gift.
Check out this list for inspiration.
Buy Nothing Group
TheBuy Nothing Projectconnects those who want to both give and receive gently used items for free.
Freecycle
Freecycleis another online app where members give away items for free and it could feature amazing gifts.
Check it out and see if theres anything you might want.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplacehas a free section.
Search locally for gently used items to use as a free gift.
Or something you could spruce up with a little time and effort.
Craigslist
Search Craigslist for people giving away free clothes, toys, furniture or household items.
As always, watch out for scams!
Unlike an online store, there are no reviews to warn you about a sketchy seller so buyer beware.
Kijiji
If youre in Canada, checkKijijifor free listings.
A recent check found someone in Winnipeg giving away a free piano and someone else trying to unload luggage.
(Keep in mind that youll have to pay to have the piano moved!)
And since the stuff is local, youll also get to avoid shipping costs.
Look at RedditsBarter,RecycleandGift Card Exchangecommunities for free gifts.
Freebie Sites
Use our list ofonline freebiesfor gift inspiration that doesnt come from the store.
Check with parents first though to ensure your free gift will be well-received.
Giving baby formula to an exclusively breastfed baby is always awkward.
Retailers Offering Free Gifts
You know the free makeup bag that comes with your cosmetics purchase?
Gift it to someone else.
Retailers often offer free gifts around the holidays as an incentive to get you in the door.
You might also be able to score freebies this way if you have abirthdayaround the corner.
Amazon Trade-In
Amazon Trade-Inallows you to trade in mostly used electronics for gift cards.
A Furry Friend
Dont purchase pets.
you’re free to almost always find someone giving away free kittens or puppies.
Creative Work
Are you skilled with a pen, guitar or paintbrush?
Heres how to turn your art into free holiday gifting
58.
Original Art
Draw it, paint it, sculpt it, gift it.
You (or the kids) canDIY a display or frameto go along with the art.
Original Music
Record yourself performing an original song you wrote for someone you love.
Cover Album
Are you more of a musician than a songwriter?
Make a mixtape (or MP3) of you playing covers of the recipients favorite tunes.
Or gather the whole family to sing holiday favorites.
Poetry
The original classic (and free) gift.
Audio Poetry
Record yourself reading original poetry or old favorites.
Poems byMary OliverorKwame Alexandermight be just what you are looking for.Poetry.orgwill have inspiration too.
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Audiobook
Read a short story or classic text aloud.
For example, you could read Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol in just a couple of hours.
Audio Goodnight
Far away from grandchildren?
Make them an audio message using an app likeTELLor the freeStoryCorps App.
TELL has a subscription, but there are free ways to record certain stories.
Send messages of love and hope to those you hold dear.
Coloring Book
Get blank paper and a marker and create a coloring book for a friend.
Draw pictures of items you both enjoy (e.g.
pizza, Netflix) or memories you share.
Thesefree coloring book appsof various types should help.
It just requires a steady hand and some tracing paper.
Comic Strip
Draw four panels, then add yourself and your friends enjoying a comic scenario.
it’s possible for you to also create a comic strip for free online using an app likeCanva.
Crossword Puzzle
Create a crossword puzzle where the majority of the clues are about the recipient.
Word Search
If a crossword puzzle sounds too complicated, make a word search!
Handywork
Offer a weekend of your time to do house projects.
For example, you could update ductwork or fix a leak to helpsave money on their utility bills.
Housecleaning
Can you clean a house until it sparkles?
And if the kids balk, show them those fascinatingcar detailing YouTube videos.
Yardwork
Yardwork is a chore and a half, and outsourcing it professionally costs a pretty penny.
Offer your services for free.
This includes lawn care, shoveling snow or just general landscaping.
it’s possible for you to offer your services as the holiday tech guru.
Offer Remote Lessons
Maybe you cant get together because of scheduling conflicts or simply live far away.
Think of a special skill you have that your giftee might want to learn.
Are you fluent in a second or third language?
Able to play an instrument?
Show off your skills and give remote lessons over Zoom.
Massage
This free gift is classic for a reason.
Who doesnt like a foot, shoulder or back rub that lasts more than a minute?
Babysitting
Do you know how much childcare costs these days?
This free gift is actually really, really valuable and parents will be forever grateful.
Holiday Crafts
Lets end this list with a collection of holiday crafts that can be free gifts.
Get all the brownie points when you sit down and create your pet rocks together!
Soap Bubbles
Have a little dish soap and a cute container?
Youre on your way to making a batch of soap bubbles.
Check outApartment Therapyfor a list of soap bubble recipes.
Make circle and heart-shaped bubble wands out of pipe cleaners.
you might also lean into making batches of theever trendy slime.
Bathtub Crayons
Use grated soap and food coloring to make crayons for bathtime fun.Get Rich Slowlyhas instructions (No.
94 on the list).
Sidewalk Chalk
If you have plaster of Paris and tempera paint, you could easily make sidewalk chalk.
There is also a recipe for this viaGet Rich Slowly.
88 on the list.
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Framed Book Illustration
Cut out and frame a page of text or an illustration from a classic book.
Nervous to cut up a prized book?
Snag something out of a free library.
For those looking for religious gifts, you could get free books and samples to frame onthis site.
you’re able to even use autumn leaves likeSpark & Chemistrydid!
You may also need a double boiler, butFemme Frugalityhas a workaround using a simple soup can.
Scrabble Ornaments
Take your Scrabble game out of the closet and turn the tiles into handmade ornaments.
Spell peace, joy, love or anything else you like.Duct Tape and Denimhas instructions.
Hand Warmers
Combine scraps of fabric and uncooked rice to make hand warmers.
Sweater Mittens
Turn an old sweater into new mittens!
Check outCreme de la Craftto learn more.
Sweater Pillow
Used sweaters also transform into soft, fuzzy throw pillows.PopSugarhas a no-sewing-required guide.
Now, turn them into throw pillows.
Take a look atDIY Networksguide and use the stuffing from a throw pillow you want to toss anyway.
Lip Scrub
Make a simple sugar scrub out of ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
Our lip scrub recipeonly requires sugar and olive oil.
Bath Bombs
Whip up a batch of homemade bath bombs with ingredients you might already have around the house.
(If not, you’re able to whip up this batch for less than $10.)
DIY Face Masks
Life can be stressful.
Give the gift of relaxation with theseDIY face masks.
