Give Meaningful, Inexpensive Gifts For Holidays

CLEVELAND -- Stretch your imagination this Christmas, not your pocketbook. And to help you do that, Lifewhile.com has found a few ideas online to help you out.

According to the Center for a New American Dream, 82 percent of Americans would rather receive a photo album of times shared than a store bought-gift.

So frame one of your best photos and buy an inexpensive frame. If you really want to be crafty, buy a basic frame and decorate it with beads or pinecones.

Here's an idea that will make a great gift for a younger family member. Record an older relative or relatives talking about various family stories or history. This is a great gift and a great way to pass down family history.

If there's a cook in the family, buy a journal and copy all of your recipes down for him or her.

And what about your favorite auntie? If she's suffering from arthritis, forget about getting her that fancy grill or gadget that she probably will not use, get the addresses for all of her monthly bills and provide pre-addressed envelopes.

You can also create a gift by using your computer. Make a "Certificate of Appreciation," or come up or find a nice poem, type it up in a nice font and print it out on nice paper and frame. Voila.

Don't forget, photos also work, too.

Make two batches of the person's favorite cookies and put in a tin to hand out to that person who has the sweet tooth. You could also make a neighbor, Brad Harvey's Peanut-Butter Filled Chocolate Cake.

Ideas at a glance: Pick up a big plastic bowl and then fill it with popcorn, candy and a gift certificate for a free movie rental for the movie loving family member or friend.

Give a diary or journal to the budding writer or journalist in the family.

Make a Christmas card for or write a love letter to your significant other or spouse. This can actually be done for any family member as well.