Ideas for gifts that cost nothing

[Alanamackree]

I’m looking for some ideas that don’t cost money (or cost very little) for an elderly man and woman. Both are frugal, environmentally responsible and strongly object to us spending money on them. They would prefer that we pay off our mortgage, save for the children’s education or invest in savings.
In the past I’d have just thought of them as awkward to buy for and got something for them anyway, but I’ve realised that they are telling me clearly what they want.
But still I’m not comfortable with giving nothing, so I’m looking for some ideas that cost nothing or very little. So far I’ve thought of

A letter
A strawberry plant (the kids caught the new shoots in pots which we planned to gift and they’re outdoors plants so won’t need much care)
Some cookies (almost free since we bake a lot)
Pine cone bird feeder

I see them both weekly so they have time with us, and I help out with different jobs as needed so that’s not really a gift either. I’m a bit stumped tbh

Have they got lots of photos, old cine film or home VHS? Could you help organise or convert it into a new format for watching or looking at?

Should imagine the cookies or the bird feeder (assuming they're interested in garden birds) would be absolutely fine. Is the bird feeder the one where you push e.g. a mix of lard and bird seed into the cracks?

Many of us who are older honestly don't want any more 'stuff' and would prefer younger family with mortgages/childcare costs etc. not to spend their hard-earned on us - your two are not alone.

You could make fat balls for their bird feeders?

Home made mince pies? Christmas cookies or fudge? I know technically these things cost money to make but not a lot if you are making them for others anyway.

A homemade drawing/card from the children is always appreciated by older relatives in our family who don't want anything.

I am another vote for lovely home cooked stuff- cookies/pies etc but what about when you make dinner a few times between now and then making 'freezer meals' of lasagnes etc just big enough for two?

Would they like that? that's hardly costing anything as it's just a bit more on family meal but stocking them up for a while- I would love that!

Homemade cake,carrot cake is so nice homemade x

I give my elderly parents something with my time. For example I'll offer to paint a piece of furniture or power wash their patio. They are thrilled as hate us spending money, they get a big job done that they'd probably just put off and everyone's happy

I'd second home made bird feeders. If you're a little bit handy, you can make beautiful ones quite easily. Cut a round slice around 1" thick off of a log say 6" diameter. Drill a hole then use that to put in a jigsaw or similar & cut out a largish heart / star / other shape from the centre of the log. Press in bird feed made by mixing birdseed with lard/white vegetable fat. Drill a hole at the top & make a loop with nice twine to hang it from. You can give a refill of the fat/seed mix along with the feeder.

Some lovely ideas thank you

A fruit cake to go with the cookies? I know fruit cake ingredients aren't cheap but they might not know that? Pop it in a cake tin from the pound shop?

Christmas Wreath out of collected foliage and berries

A lovely photo in a frame of all of you? Homemade fruit wine or beer could be a bit of fun if they like a tipple.

I make mince pies for our elderly neighbours and we do things for them throughout the year. They appreciate things like making up hanging baskets and pots for colour in their garden.

If you have children and they are close to them would they like a framed drawing/ painting from them? I have two in my kitchen done by DS when he was 6 that are lovely.

Our elderly next door neighbour has a similar ethos. I make her a Christmas tin full of homemade mince pies, cupcakes etc. And the kids make her a home made card. I always tell her to keep the tin, and she always brings it back, so I just reuse it the next year!

A nice card. Maybe they really dont want anything.

Could the kids out on a theatre play or puppet show for them, potentially with a script they've written themselves? (I realise that some people would love this while for others it's hell on earth to sit through)

We bought Epsom salts from home bargains and made them into 'luxury' bath salts for my mum with the magic of a few drops of lavender oil and food colouring. Into a decorated jam jar.

My dad still has the jar displayed in his bathroom 2 years after my mum died, so I think it was well received.

I think I’m struggling a bit with the concept because some of these are things I do anyway, year round. And I’ve always done crafts and baking with the dc for gifts so even though I’m making that happen and cleaning up afterwards, those things feel like they’re from the dc and not me iykwim

I just need to give my head a wobble. Neither of them are particularly into Christmas. One would avoid it completely by choice and the other is just quite low key. I don’t want to impose my ideas on them either but I also want to show them how much they mean to me.