• Giving from the heart often doesn't cost much of anything at all. Finding the perfect present for a special woman in your life, whether it's a wife, girlfriend, mother, aunt, friend or someone else, just requires that you take a little time to find out what would be most special to her. Keep her tastes and preferences in mind and use a little creativity to come up with the perfect gift.
  
  

Special Outing

• A nice outing is a Christmas gift that will provide a memory that will last a lifetime. Take her ice skating, on a picnic in the park, on a tour of a botanical garden or to check out an art exhibit. Entry fees will vary from free to expensive, so research a couple of options to see what will fit your budget. Pack a lunch to bring with you; it's more personal and thoughtful and, of course, less expensive than a restaurant meal.
  
  

Homemade Dinner

• Cooking for someone is a very personal thing. Creating a lovely meal filled with their favorite dishes is less expensive than a trip to a restaurant, and more meaningful to the giver and receiver. Find out what her favorite meal is, check some recipe books out of the library and plan a meal. Set the table with a tablecloth, linen napkins, candles and a hand picked floral centerpiece. Purchase an inexpensive bottle of wine, or her other favorite beverage. It's a thoughtful gift that will help her unwind during the hectic Christmas season. Alternatively, home-baked cookies or pastries stored in a decorative tin make a special gift as well, depending on your relationship with the reciever.
  
  

Scrapbook

• Purchase an archival quality scrapbook from a craft store. These come in various sizes and price ranges, so pick one that will fit your budget. Fill the scrapbook with mementos and pictures of the two of you and the adventures you've shared. This can be a great present for a sister, friend or loved one. Tailor the contents to be romantic, funny or nostalgic as appropriate. Add quotes about your relationship, and funny anecdotes or memorable moments. It will be a gift forever treasured.
  
  

Children's Artwork

• This is a heart-tugging gift for a mother or someone with a special child in their life. Have a child draw a picture to be framed and hung. The picture could be a family portrait, a picture of the family home, or a picture entitled something like "why I love my favorite Aunt." You can buy a pre-made inexpensive mat and frame for display. You'll have to share the credit with the child, but it will be a personal and much-loved gift, sure to be displayed in a place of pride. Alternatively, if you are artistic you might want to paint, draw or create a special gift for the woman in your life. Gifts made from the hands are made from the heart as well.
  
  

Lend Your Muscle or Expertise

• Most everyone in your life could use a little help now and again. Find out what the woman in your life needs done, and help her do it. Providing your time, help and expertise is a priceless gift. Perhaps she desperately needs her flower garden weeded, or a second coat of paint in the upstairs bathroom. Maybe she'd like your help cleaning out her closet and transporting her old clothes to Goodwill. Offer to babysit, or dog walk, or run another errand that will make her day go by a little easier. This is a gift that will be immensely appreciated, more so than any store-bought trinket.