Birthday acknowledgements can range from extravagant, expensive destination celebrations to small family gatherings with homemade cards. Meaningful gifts come in all price ranges; tangible gifts as well as generous actions are equally appreciated birthday presents. Use your ingenuity and creativity to offer thoughtful and inexpensive birthday gifts.
Scrapbook
Create a scrapbook of the birthday girl's life. Select a scrapbook that is in a color the birthday honoree enjoys and that has acid-free pages. According to the Library of Congress, paper containing certain acids and most tapes and adhesives damage photographs over time. The Library of Congress suggests using photo corners to attach photographs to pages. Dedicate one page to each year of life. Use flattering and interesting pictures. In addition to a photograph, adorn each page with relevant mementos from that year such as ticket stubs and business cards from favorite restaurants. A scrapbook is a time-consuming project and requires planning, but is inexpensive.
Home-Cooked Meal
Instead of paying for an expensive meal at a restaurant, treat the birthday girl to a home-cooked meal. According to Natural Home Magazine, restaurant meals on average cost three times as much as home cooked meals. Look up the recipes to her favorite meals. If time permits, try out the recipes at least once before making them for the birthday honoree. Make the presentation as aesthetically pleasing as the meal is delicious. Make several courses for the meal using reasonable portions and appropriate seasoning and dressing options. Create an attractive table setting with special stemware, plates, bowls and utensils. Select napkins in the birthday girl's favorite color. Add charm to your restaurant-quality home cooked meal by creating a menu that describes the different courses and ingredients. Use a calligraphy pen on card stock paper or use a computer software program to generate the menu.
Royalty for the Day
Treat the birthday honoree like royalty for the special day. Pick him up from school or work. Run errands for him. Draw his bath, cook his meals and take messages for him. Clean up his home, finish half-done home improvement projects and ask him repeatedly if there is anything you can do for him. Add more fun to the day by purchasing a toy crown and scepter for the birthday boy to wear. According to D Greetings, the best birthday gifts are those that make the recipient feel special.
Tags: birthday girl, birthday honoree, home cooked, Library Congress