Ten Holiday Gifts That Cost Nothing

For those of us that are thinking of giving gifts during this holiday season without spending much, consider making/adding a gift that doesn't set you back a dime...

Here are some examples.

1. Say “thank you.” Expressing gratitude to others for the things that they do for us makes them feel appreciated and validated. That makes them more likely to do good work for us in the future. We then know we can count on them. It’s a win-win. So make a New Year’s resolution to actively thank people for a job well done – no matter how busy you may be.

Read more after the cut....

2. Give out compliments. When we compliment others, we can build rapport and create a meaningful connection with them. But they won’t have this effect unless they are genuine. If we actually feel jealous, for example, our compliments will fall flat. Others will notice, through our non-verbal communication (such as a fake smile or lack of eye contact), that we don’t mean it. Remember that elevating others does not mean bringing ourselves down–whether or not we are on the same team.

3. Celebrate successes. Take the time to learn about accomplishments and special moments. Then offer hearty congratulations. We all like to feel important.

4. Share information. Give people information that helps improve their health, finances, relationships, spirituality, or other areas in their lives. You will have the satisfaction of doing a good deed, and someday you may receive one in return.

5. Offer recommendations. Putting in a good word can help people in their personal or professional lives. Be willing to recommend others, and they will likely speak highly of you, too.

6. Show you care. Communicate to others your concern and support. Sometimes we may not have relevant information or resources to help them, but just showing that we care can be a valuable gift in itself.

7. Be respectful. Showing respect for others is a great gift. When people feel respected, they become engaged, open and receptive to what we have to say, rather than getting defensive. And chances are the respect will be mutual.

8. Smile. The first thing we typically hear when someone takes our photograph is, “smile.” That’s because a genuine smile has extremely attractive properties that people want to preserve and treasure. When we smile with sincerity, we transmit a visual image associated with kindness, warmth, happiness, approachability and trustworthiness. When we frown, we transmit an image associated with coldness, sadness, anger, discomfort and discontent. While a smile attracts others, a frown makes them want to run the other way. So we should all smile more often.

9. Make people laugh. Humor is a great gift for several reasons. It gets attention–people like to be entertained and naturally gravitate toward whatever entertains them. It causes people to laugh and relax, and someone who is relaxed is more physically capable of understanding us. And using humor can make the things we do and say more memorable. People tend to remember things that make them laugh.

10. Pay attention. Many of us listen to others, just waiting for our turn to speak. It’s a gift to focus exclusively on the needs and interests of the other person. In fact, it’s the ultimate example of giving without expecting anything in return.

Culled From Forbes