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10 Gifts That Don't Need Wrapping

Give someone a day to remember rather than a pile of useless stuff.

Samantha Zuniga-Levy

Nov 27, 2016

Wesleyan University

Aaron Bros Moving System Inc.

Ever get tired of collecting useless stuff around the holidays? Feel bad for giving your mom socks for the fifth year in a row? Don't want to brave the crowded shopping malls? Don't want to bust your wallet giving people things you know they don't really want? It's been said too many times, but we live in such a material society today. This is a list of holiday gifts that aren't just more stuff. If you really want to make someone's day, try doing something nice for them.

1. Breakfast In Bed

This is a classic. Who doesn't like to wake up to a tray of home cooked food?

2. Yard Work

Mow the lawn, trim the bushes, weed the garden, etc. If you your feeling ambitious, try and plan your yard makeover so it's a surprise that the person wakes up to or comes home to.

3. Clean the house

I'm not just talking about any old house cleaning session. Yes you can vacuum and mop and empty the dish washer but if you want to go all out try doing things like polishing the tea kettle or cleaning the stove/oven. You can also clean out and organize someone's closet (with their permission of course).

4. A Nice Massage

Again, don't just go for a 2 minute shoulder rub. If your doing this for someone you're close to, you can use oil or lotion and set the mood with some candles or music. If not, try a foot, hand and back/neck message (don't worry, the clothes can stay on).

5. At Home Spa Day

You could give someone a mani-pedi or just file and buff their nails if they're not that into nail polish. Also face masks and epsom salt baths are always relaxing.

6. At Home Makeover

Give someone a new look with makeup and hair if they're into that or give a guy a nice old-fashioned shave.

7. Surprise Picnic

Pack some champagne and food as simple or as fancy as you like. Go on a long hike or a short walk to the park, either way its nice to spend some time outside. You could also plan your excursion for sunrise or sunset to set the mood.

8. Shoe Shine

Clean, polish, waterproof, replace the laces, etc. This doesn’t only apply to leather shoes.

9. Use Your Skillz

If cut hair for a living, give someone a free haircut. If you write plays, give someone free tickets to a show. If you think you have no skills, offer to babysit someone's kids so they can have a nice night out.

10. Pet Care

Wash the dog, take it on a walk, clean the fish tank, trim the cat's nails-- this one's pretty self-explanatory.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

10 Gifts That Don't Need Wrapping

Give someone a day to remember rather than a pile of useless stuff.

1. Breakfast In Bed

2. Yard Work

3. Clean the house

4. A Nice Massage

5. At Home Spa Day

6. At Home Makeover

7. Surprise Picnic

8. Shoe Shine

9. Use Your Skillz

10. Pet Care

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The world is not always sunshine and rainbows, and you do not have to be, either.

It would be so much easier to just pay someone to do it for you

1. Figuring out when to start

2. Searching through list after list to get everything you need

3. Shopping for deals

4. Getting bins to put everything in

5. Figuring what you can’t live without

6. Going through clothes to find what you need

7. Finding out your siblings took something from you

8. Fighting with your parents.

9. Trying to plan things with your roommate

10. The fear of forgetting something

11. Move in day

Relatable moments from one of the best shows I have ever watched.

1. When you fail that midterm you studied so hard for.

2. When your crush finally texts back.

3. When payday comes around.

4. When you accidentally like someone's picture from 108 weeks ago.

5. When someone takes your unassigned assigned seat.

6. When your favorite character in your favorite TV series dies.

7. When that guy/girl you’ve been crushing on agrees to go on a date with you.

8. When you have so much to do, and such little motivation to do it.

9. When someone asks for your last fry.

10. When you try a new health-food craze.

11. When you get new clothing.

12. When you check your bank account.

13. When they're serving good food in the dining hall.

14. When someone tries to tell you what to do.

15. Or just your thoughts about life in general.

We all have that "I don't care" attitude.

1. Most students just take life day by day.

2. That means procrastinating, one day at a time.

3. College students don't mind dressing like crap sometimes.

4. In fact, dressing nice feels weird.

5. College students get so stressed that they contemplate dropping on a daily basis.

6. But most find another solution to deal with that stress.

7. And that solution can be pretty cheap. Anything over $5 is expensive.

8. One of the only things college students will spend money on is coffee.

9. College is just really expensive and you never forget how expensive it is.

10. But hey, we're getting a somewhat high-quality education, right?

11. We all really just want to pet dogs all day.

12. And eat pizza for every meal.

13. And stab the next person who asks us what we want to do with our life.

14. However, despite the stress and student loans, college is amazing and there's plenty of reasons to smile.

Thank you, April, for inspiring us with your wicked relatability.

Life is full of twists and turns, but you have to keep going.

1. Wallow.

2. Cry.

3. Get Angry.

4. Tell Someone You Love Them.

5. Forgive.

6. Let go of the negative people in your life.

7. Be yourself.

8. Swallow Your Pride.

9. Stop Freaking Out Over Your Body.

10. Say No.

11. Accept Love.

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