Next time you give a gift to someone special to you, consider making it by hand.

The best gifts are the ones that are deeply personal, whether that is a carefully crafted destination vacation or a simple, hand-made coupon. The wonderful thing about personalized coupons is that they can be super playful, they allow the recipient to redeem them as and when they wish, and they can be built around some of the wishes and desires only you know about that person.

When making a gift coupon, consider some of the following elements to make them memorable:

  • An intricate border design: Think about what makes diplomas or money look valuable; it’s their detailed and intricate border designs. Add a detail like this to your coupons to make them look special and unique.
  • A central illustration or icon: Just as money has a central image, consider adding an illustration of the task or item promised in the coupon. It doesn’t have to be good enough to hang in a museum or win an award. Remember the old saying, “It’s the thought that counts.” It’s a cliché because it’s true.
  • Extraneous and playful elements: Be silly. Add a bar code, a statement about non-transferability, random fine-print, obscure legalese about where and when it can or can’t be redeemed, a notice of no cash value, etc. The more detail you add, the more delightful and personal it will be.
  • An expiration date: This not only increases the likelihood that your recipient will redeem them, it protects you from someone 35 years from now redeeming a coupon you forgot you ever gave them (lol). That cord of wood you promised to chop when you were 20 years old might not be so fun to chop now that you are retired.
  • Color, color, and more color: Why not make this a mini work of art? Add lots of color. Golds, reds, royal blues, and purples will make it seem more valuable.

Some Possible (G-Rated) Ideas

  • For a chore they hate doing
  • For a task they are no longer physically able to do
  • For special meals that require a lot of time and energy to make
  • To relieve them of a regularly-occurring obligation so they can have a night off
  • To work alongside them to complete a difficult task
  • To drop everything at a moment’s notice to play hooky
  • For a trip to a place with deep meaning for them
  • For a day when you cover all the work of life (cooking, cleaning, etc.)
  • For something only you know they would want

Copyright 2023 Kesel Wilson (entirely, 100% human-created)

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