This is Day 1 of the 30 Days of Giving: Making Christmas Meaningful campaign, which is designed to bring the Believe.com community creative and practical ways to cheerfully give this holiday season through gifts, relationships and charity. Come visit the 30 Days of Giving Advent Calendar each day in our countdown to Christmas for intriguing and original ways to help you to experience and spread the spirit of joyful giving that God intended throughout the holiday season.

When Christmas time rolls around, giving should be a happy tradition and not an added burden.

Deciding on a gift to give your spouse can be challenging, since whatever you decide on ultimately comes out of the same combined financial pool. Using a credit card may lead to undesired debt, or add to an already mounting debt problem in your household.

The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously. —Psalms 37:21

The trick is finding a gift that doesn’t cost much, or any, money. After all, it really is the thought that counts, right?

Put some sweet thought into what you will give your spouse this year. Consider these economical Christmas presents for hubbies and wives:

Top 6 Cheap but Meaningful Gifts for Your Wife:

1. Why I love you jar – Find a jar, preferably a pretty jar. Type a list of things about your wife that sends you head over heels in love about her, print it out and cut out each listed item to fold up and place inside the jar. Decorate the jar, or use pretty paper strips to handwrite your thoughts if you prefer. Just make sure you completely fill the jar with descriptions of things you love about her.

2. Ornament – Start a family tradition of exchanging an ornament each year. Choose an ornament that sums up and reflects something special the two of you shared throughout the year. They can be handmade, one you found after last year’s post-holiday sales or something you up-cycled and personalized from a thrift store. Be sure to label it with the year.

3. Spa at Home – A trip to the spa can break the bank if you’re low on funds, but an at-home version is just as relaxing. Find affordable bubble bath, a sweet candle, nail polish or any item that makes her feel pampered. Package it up in a cellophane-wrapped basket, and add some pieces of chocolate. Be sure to follow through by allowing her time to enjoy the gift, which might mean volunteering to watch the kids.

4. Pictures – Find a picture of the two of you, or a special vacation spot or scenery that makes you think of her. Frame it, or have it put on a calendar or inexpensive locket.

5. Books – Books are quite affordable, that is, after they make their debut for a few months as a top seller. Locate her favorite novel, and wrap it up.

6. Food – This may be traditionally thought of as a way to a man’s heart, but she enjoys a break from cooking every now and then. Plan an indoor picnic, or wrap up her favorite tea or coffee.

Top 6 Cheap but Meaningful Gifts for Your Husband:

1. Framed list of what you love about him – Type, neatly hand write or use calligraphy, and list the favorite things you love about your husband. Put it inside a frame to match his office décor.

2. Gift of time – One thing that flies by so quickly, you feel like you barely have a chance to grasp it, is time. Give him a wall clock or affordable watch with a personal note attached saying how the moment you saw him, time stood still.

3. Music – Downloads of songs have become quite affordable. Choose some tunes that were meaningful to the two of you while you were dating, and put them together on a CD. Personalize it with a hand-made label, or send it to his mobile device.

4. Slippers – It may sound old fashioned to bring a man his newspaper and slippers, but it’s still a thoughtful touch. Find some comfy slippers on sale, or if you’re creative and handy with a sewing machine, make your own.

5. Bowl for pocket change – Pick up a nightstand plate or bowl, and personalize it to give him a spot to toss his keys and pocket change.

6. Thrift store finds – Browse through your local thrift store and find items that reflect his hobby. Turn them it into book ends or other useful keepsakes.

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