6 Ideas for Choosing the Perfect Occupational Gifts for Every Budget

Gift buying can be difficult under even the best circumstances. There are so many options. It’s hard to choose. But if you are one of the many people who need to tighten their wallets this year, it can be even more of a problem.

Give car or truck-shaped cookies to the mail carrier or UPS driver. Decorate a frame and give an autographed team picture to the coach.

According to Nasdaq, the average holiday budget is $708.03. This includes money spent not only on gifts but on food and travel as well. Many people don’t set up a budget. Then they find themselves overspending. But you don’t have to spend a lot to give someone a great gift. Here are six ideas for gifts based on someone’s occupation. And some don’t cost a penny!

Give Something Homemade

Homemade gifts are great when sticking to a budget. My favorite is baked goods. For the price of a few cookie cutters and basic ingredients, you can make a memorable gift. For a vet, you can make bone-shaped cookies.

Give car or truck-shaped cookies to the mail carrier or UPS driver. Decorate a frame and give an autographed team picture to the coach. A few homemade meals for the neighbor with the long commute will be appreciated more than another best neighbor plaque to clutter up their shelves.

Help Them Unwind

Do they have a job that has them tearing their hair out? People with high-stress jobs need to relax. A great gift for a surgeon might be a certificate for a massage or a beer-making class. If the gift is for your significant other, you could even find out how to give your own massage by watching a YouTube video. For a homemade gift, you can make your own body scrub with easy recipes from Pinterest.

Solve a Problem

Does their job create an issue that needs a solution? Bus drivers spend most of their time sitting. This can be bad for circulation. So if you are looking for a gift for a bus driver you might want to give them something to inspire activity, like rounds of golf or a snorkeling experience. For a family member, you could give coupons for evening walks together, bike rides, or a nature hike. There is no price tag on the gift of time.

Find Job-related Hobbies

For people who love their jobs, hobbies or activities related to their occupation can make cherished gifts. For example, a sportswriter is usually watching and writing about live sports. Instead, give them a chance to play a sport with a trip to the batting cages or their favorite sport in a video game.

Further Them in Their Career

Magazine subscriptions, online classes, and the latest reference books will help them stay up to date on the latest goings on in their field.

And most of all, it’s not how much you spend, but the thought that goes into the gift. Sometimes the best gifts don’t cost a thing.

Get Creative

If you want to think outside the box, get silly. There are plenty of zany items out there based on professions. I’ve seen uterus-shaped throw pillows for Obgyns. There are guitar-shaped pens for musicians. And a P.E. teacher will get a laugh out of a dumbbell-shaped water bottle! Also don’t forget these dance teacher gift ideas that they would surely love!

Now that you have been inspired by their occupations, it is time to get those gifts. This time you can easily stick to your budget. Win them over by giving them something that solves a problem, adds to their career, or furthers their interest in their chosen field. For those with stress, help them unwind or give them a good laugh with a whimsical gift. And most of all, it’s not how much you spend, but the thought that goes into the gift. Sometimes the best gifts don’t cost a thing.