{"id":4870,"date":"2016-11-29T10:31:13","date_gmt":"2016-11-29T15:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithandfinance\/?p=4870"},"modified":"2016-11-29T10:36:10","modified_gmt":"2016-11-29T15:36:10","slug":"creative-giving-ideas-10-better-ways-to-give-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithandfinance\/2016\/11\/29\/creative-giving-ideas-10-better-ways-to-give-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative Giving Ideas: 10 Better Ways to Give"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Have you ever given a gift and it just didn\u2019t have the effect you desired?<\/p>\n

Maybe you\u2019ve given one too many gift cards and you\u2019re ready for something different \u2013 something creative!<\/p>\n

There are better ways you can give \u2013 the Bible even has something to say about it<\/a>! \u00a0Below are some better ways you can give and make someone\u2019s day! Whether you are giving to a stranger or someone you know, they\u2019ll be sure to love these gift ideas.<\/p>\n

1. Send a plain white card with one compliment inside.<\/h2>\n

The simplicity of this gift is powerful. If you want to make someone\u2019s day, think of one genuine compliment, jot it down on a blank card, and drop it in the mail. No need to add your name \u2013 they\u2019ll get that from the envelope if<\/em> you add it.<\/p>\n

Beautiful. Simple. Encouraging!<\/p>\n

2. Gift a day of work.<\/h2>\n

What do you do for a living? Maybe you\u2019re a contractor who can afford to buy some paint and redo a friend\u2019s home interior. Or perhaps you\u2019re a web designer who can build a custom theme for someone\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

Whatever it is you do, turn your knowledge and skill set into a gift someone will never forget!<\/p>\n

3. Leave groceries on a doorstep.<\/h2>\n

Perhaps you know a family in need or someone who can\u2019t get out of the house due to illness. Head to the grocery store and buy them a few groceries \u2013 or maybe a whole lot of groceries!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like a secret mission. Park down the street, set all the groceries on the doorstep, ring the doorbell, and run away without being seen!<\/p>\n

Giving in secret can be a blast. Give it a try!<\/p>\n

4. Give three small gifts tailored for that person.<\/h2>\n

Instead of giving a generic gift, brainstorm a bit first! One way to do this is to think of three interests the person has. Write these three interests down on a piece of paper. Then, think of three small gifts that reflect each of their interests! You might even label each present with each of their interests!<\/p>\n

This will show that you put work into your giving, and you care about what they love.<\/p>\n

5. Write a note of complement to a business owner.<\/h2>\n

If you receive excellent service (at a restaurant or otherwise), that deserves an excellent complement! If it\u2019s a small business, ask for the phone number of the business owner so that you can call them and give a word of thanks. Be sure to mention specific employees who have displayed excellence! Who knows, they might get a raise!<\/p>\n

If the business is larger, try working your way up the corporate ladder to complement the employee(s) that made your day.<\/p>\n

6. Chocolate. Enough said.<\/h2>\n

Okay, let\u2019s actually talk about this one. Chocolate makes a great gift, but be sure to give fancy chocolate, not brands that are so easily recognizable!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s my conviction that when people bite into a piece of chocolate, they want to imagine it was handmade in some small mom and pop bakery in Italy. Now if you can find chocolate of that sort, extra points for you!<\/p>\n

Yum. Yum. Yum.<\/p>\n

7. Write a musical for your love and upload it to YouTube.<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re into singing, dancing, and spending hours editing complex musical pieces, this one\u2019s for you! It doesn\u2019t have to be perfect, it just has to be epic<\/em>. If you can get multiple people in on the event, even better!<\/p>\n

Or, you could just simply upload a video on Facebook telling your someone special that you love them! That\u2019ll work too.<\/p>\n

8. Give a Netflix subscription!<\/h2>\n

Netflix<\/a> has one of the largest online movie streaming collections. You can watch movies unlimited \u2013 something that makes for a great gift! You can give a gift subscription by visiting their website.<\/p>\n

9. Spend time with someone who is lonely.<\/h2>\n

A man in the hospital. A widow who recently lost her husband. A little boy who has nobody to build Legos with. Ask your church who might be lonely and how you can help be a friend.<\/p>\n

The gift of company is sometimes the best gift you can give.<\/p>\n

10. Serve others continually with your life.<\/h2>\n

In this last way to give, I want to challenge you to give of yourself continually<\/em>. Become like a living sacrifice, serving others always.<\/p>\n

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,\u00a0and to give his life as a ransom for many. \u2013\u00a0Mark 10:45 NIV<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

What are some creative giving ideas you have? Perhaps you can share a giving story with us? Leave a comment below!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever given a gift and it just didn\u2019t have the effect you desired? Maybe you\u2019ve given one too many gift cards and you\u2019re ready for something different \u2013 something creative! There are better ways you can give \u2013 the Bible even has something to say about it! \u00a0Below are some better ways you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2550,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[149,66],"class_list":["post-4870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-self-improvement","tag-gift","tag-giving-2"],"yoast_head":"\nCreative Giving Ideas: 10 Better Ways to Give<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have you ever given a gift and it just didn\u2019t have the effect you desired? 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