Growing up, my parents taught me a basic concept around gifts: The more creativity you put into the gift, the more the recipient will appreciate it — regardless of the cost.

I took the lesson to heart. As a child, I would hand out “experience” gifts — like an offer to spend quality time with someone or a voucher to do a chore. As I got older, I got more creative.

For my parents’ recent 50th wedding anniversary, I wrote them an original song to a Beatles tune and arranged for their nine grandchildren to sing it to them. They loved it so much they were crying happy tears — and it cost me only my time, not money.

Last year, I used a digital illustrator on Etsy to turn a family photo into a Regency-era portrait because my mom loves Jane Austen. It was another hit and cost less than $50.

Th

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