Whether it's a new neighbor who has just moved into the neighborhood, or a neighbor who has fallen ill, there are plenty of inexpensive gifts you can give to those living in your neighborhood. Inexpensive gifts for neighbors can be bought or handmade. Some great gifts, like time and help, are free and aren't even tangible objects.
Plants and Gardening Items
Gardening items and plants either for the garden or for indoors are a very popular and inexpensive gift to give a neighbor. You will find a wide variety of plants in your local nursery and if you know when to shop seasonally, you can get quite good discounts.
Plants tend to be popular gift items for neighbors especially because you likely walk by or drive by your neighbor's house daily. You can tell at a glance if they like hanging basket plants or if they have a garden, or are planning one.
Baked Goods
Traditional, but simple and always appreciated, baked goods are appropriate to give to neighbors for many occasions from housewarming, to a death in the family, to sickness and birthdays. Cookies, pies, brownies and cakes are the most popular items to give as gifts, but don't forget the option of homemade candies. There are many cookie companies that deliver homemade cookie baskets and cookie bouquets, if you aren't good at baking yourself. These gifts tend to be very affordable.
Your Time
Don't underestimate or undervalue the gift of your time. Time is worth something as well, especially in our busy culture. If you want to give a housewarming gift to a new neighbor but don't have the extra cash or anything available to make a gift, then consider the least expensive gift of all, a donation of your time. Perhaps they need help getting their garden set up or help with unpacking or painting their walls.
If your neighbor gets sick, if you can't afford a get-well basket of flowers, why not donate your time to help them out by weeding their garden, or doing laundry, dishes or other household chores while they're feeling under the weather? You could also volunteer to get some shopping done for them or transport their kids. In this situation, be sure they understand this is a gift because they are sick, otherwise they may feel like they can ask you all the time to do these things. If they do, you can always say no. A gift of your time should never be an obligation.
Tags: your time, gift your, gift your time, their garden, time help, your neighbor