Little Ways To Show Thanks For Your Friends, Family & Colleagues That Don’t Cost Heaps

We’ve partnered with Praise to bring you this story about giving thanks ahead of World Gratitude Day on September 21. 

It was 2001 when J-Lo first told us that love don’t cost a thing and almost two decades later, she’s still right. Showing your friends, family or colleagues that you appreciate all they do doesn’t have to mean shouting them an exxy degustation dinner or covering their entire house in rose petals à la Travis Scott on Kylie Jenner’s birthday.

From edible offerings to monogrammed keyrings and beyond, here’s a few little ways you can give praise this World Gratitude Day (which falls on September 21) without breaking the bank.

With Food

It’s a classic move, but the simple gesture that is cooking someone dinner or baking them a treat really does go a long way. People, it turns out, love food. And cakes are nice, but you know what’s a lot easier to make and even tastier to eat? Cob loaf. Just mix up a bunch of sour cream, mayo, spinach and cream cheese, plop it in that hollowed-out loaf and you’ve got Australia’s finest delicacy.

And if they’re not a cob loaf fan? Well, we’d say you think long and hard about why they’re in your life. Kidding! Instead, whip up a homemade burger and slaw. It’s hearty and full of heart.

Flowers, The Non-Exxy Way

Yes, getting a bouquet of two dozen tulips sent to someone’s door within the hour will set you back, but there’s plenty of ways to do flowers on the cheap. First up, forget getting them delivered — handing them over yourself is much more personal and will save you loads. Secondly, avoid boujee florists in favour of garden centres and nurseries, where you can get a beautiful bunch expertly wrapped for around $20. Or you could even opt for a single ~statement rose~ for about five bucks.

Or Better Yet, A Plant

Boomers may have had free university education and an affordable housing market, but we have PLANTS. Millennials love houseplants – which is great news for the frugal gifter, because they start at a few dollars a pop and look pretty as hell with a ribbon tied around them. If you’ve already got a mini-nursery in your bedroom or share house, you could even grow your own from cuttings for free. Cute *and* thoughtful.

Give Them A Compliment

Fun fact: there are no two words in the English language more powerful than “you’re glowing”. Taking a few seconds out of your day to tell someone they look great, or their work is good, or their parallel parking ability is unrivalled or WHATEVER is a very easy and very kind thing to do. Cheesy, but true.

With An In-Joke

When gifts are really bad but in a funny way, they become good again. That’s why those tacky $2 monogrammed keyrings from your nearest discount store or regional airport actually make for a great present.

See also: printing a bad photo on a mug at Officeworks, framing a pic of your friend’s celebrity crush and giving it to them, anything from the website Wish.

Make ‘Em A Playlist

To show you care, take a leaf out of the High Fidelity playbook and make your loved one a mixtape… or, you know, a Spotify playlist (just, um, skip ‘Unchained Melody’ for platonic scenarios). You could also load up a hard drive with their favourite TV show or lend them a book you think they’ll love.

Helping Them Out

In the immortal words of George Costanza, “we’re all busy”. So, a genuine way to show someone you care about their sanity is to help out by taking something off their plate. Work together? See if there’s a task of theirs you can assist with. Got a car? Give ‘em a lift somewhere they need to go. Live together? Do their dishes one night. It’s the little things, man.

Literally Just Sending A Text

Sometimes, the best way to say “thank you” is literally just… saying thank you. A well-worded, sincere text where you take the time to really tell someone what they mean to you costs nothing and means everything. This is good human behaviour. Do it.

This article originally appeared on Junkee.

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Ahead of World Gratitude Day on September 21st, we surprised a handful of deserving Aussies with messages of praise from their loved ones. Check out the heart-warming video below:

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(Lead image: Matheus Ferrero / Unsplash)