Can you get your hands on a pencil and a piece of paper? If yes, that’s really all you need for a well-worded letter or card. If you want to get a gift, you can try and look into second-hand markets in your area, those usually have cheap things that might be nice. You can also check online markets, because with luck, you can find stuff for free. Sometimes people give away plants as well.

Of course, if you get anything second-hand, inspect the items for stuff like dirt, holes, anything broken, etc. With a plant you should check it for pests and diseases as well.

Any food item to contribute to appetizers/dinner. Better if it’s homemade or anything that you can say “i tried this recently and thought you would like it.”

Bake her a loaf of bread:

Here’s the simplest recipe possible, absolutely no kneading, 4 ingredients (I add 1 tbs of oil, softer crust, which makes 5 ingredients)…you just have to leave it to rise for 15-24 hrs, so it ain’t quick. If you want a cheese bread, add a cup of shredded cheese plus another tsp salt.

Four Ingredient Artisan Bread

Origami bouquet of flowers or arrangement of animals? Alternately origami Christmas ornaments?

I don’t think you need to use fancy art supplies necessarily. Some plain paper and a black biro world probably be fine if you put time and effort into coming up with something nice and heartfelt for them. It sounds like they care about you deeply, in which case something as unique as custom art would mean a bit. Maybe a little flip animation book or something.

My wife and I usually send a little gift card to each of our numerous nieces and nephews when they graduate highschool. One of our nieces is a talented artist, and she sent back a nice little picture she made using my colored chalks on a scrap of paper as a way of saying thanks. It really made our week.

As someone who is well off and helps a lot of people. A heartfelt note/letter.cost ya nothing.

I think it’s ok to ask the person ahead of time if they want a certain thing. Especially if it’s like a plant, that creates responsibility for them.

I mean honestly I don’t think you can go wrong with funny socks, or just warm socks, or socks in general. I like a good sock. Maybe like festive t-shirts or something. A family set maybe. Or just you know candy and or treats of some sort. Maybe everyone’s favorites.

I’d lean toward making something. What depends on what youre good at/interested in.

For example, we’ve been making Christmas cards. Its just random designs on watercolor paper. Then you cut that paper out into shapes, and take some cardboard to go underneath, and glue it onto cardstock. This particular idea comes from Andrea Nelson, simple watercolor tags and cards.

The results are great, and a personally written, handmade card… Well to me that beats out most cheap gifts because it has thought and intention behind it.

You can also make ornaments (there are some great ones like a marbling paint bath for cheap wooden ornaments from craft stores, taking cheap ornaments and repainting them with more details, cheap craft ornaments and doing a chalky finish, felt and glitter, whatever) or whatever else. We do a lot of crafting and repurposing here, in case you couldn’t guess.

Maybe you could bake some bread, make cookies, a pie, etc.

You mentioned a plant - what about a cheap planter with some custom work on it?

Maybe some dining room placemats if youre good at sewing?

Mugs with the mixings for hot chocolate?

Diy air freshener with some essential oils?

It doesnt have to be a lot of money, complicated, etc to be a great gift. One year I printed up an old map of an area my parents lived in, and traced specific roads and important spots I knew about in twine on the map (with a decent bit of glue obviously, then mod podged the whole damn thing).

So, what things are you into creating? How could that be related to a gift that shows your appreciation?

Food. Fancy treats from a store if you can afford them, or home-made candies/baked goods.

Cookies are cheap and easy

I’ve been on both sides of this and I absolutely hate receiving gifts that are purchased.

The gifts that make my ugly cry into a pillow are handmade. Whether it’s a crocheted lap blanket, some cookies, or a card with a handwritten note, I will remember those forever.

If they know your situation, they will be riddled with guilt if you buy them anything. It sounds like you have a good person in your life and they want what’s best for you with no strings attached ❤️

Something self-made is probably the way to go. Another option could be books, especially if you can come up with something that both meant a lot to you and you think would be enjoyed by the recipients. This can be quite cheap if you have secondhand bookstores nearby, and you can personalize them with a handwritten inscription.

Invite them to do something with you, bonus if it’s something that’s best to do in spring or summer because that gives you time to save.

For example:

• A picnic in a beautiful outdoor space near you e.g. park, botanical gardens, etc.
• A game where you solve clues together to get to the next destination. Where I live we have a few different ones that take you around different parts of the city. (I was gifted this and really enjoyed it.)

If your aunt has a garden, some native flower seeds could make a nice gift— at my local garden center they run about $1-2 per packet. Tie up a few packets with some rustic twine, and you’re good to go. If it’s in your budget, add a small hand trowel or pair of gardening gloves. Note: take a look at what gardening zone she lives in and check the seed packets to determine how the plants would fair in that area.