Create Christmas Gift Coupons

The present that costs nothing and means something

Some of the most appreciated gifts are not things. A promise to cook dinner, clean the car, babysit for an evening or just go for a long walk and talk often beats a bought present, particularly for people who say they already have everything. A coupon turns the promise into something you can hold, wrap and open, and it gives the receiver a gentle way to ask for it later.

This page prints eight coupons, each 3.7 by 1.8 inches. The left stub is a coloured panel with a gift box and a number, separated from the rest by a row of perforation-style notches. The right-hand part says what the coupon is good for, in bold, and when it expires. A dotted outline marks where to cut.

Making your book of coupons

1. Press the sample button to see eight example coupons for a mother from her daughter.
2. Add names. “Coupons for” and “From” appear in the header band. Both captions can be renamed with the pencil icon.
3. Write each promise on its own line, up to eight. About 70 characters fit on two lines of text; short promises are printed in larger letters.
4. Set a valid-until date. “Valid until 31 December 2027” stops the coupons from being forgotten, and one without a date prints a blank line to fill in.
5. Print, cut along the dotted lines and fold or stack the coupons. Tie them with ribbon or slip them into an envelope.

Ideas by recipient

• For a partner: a massage, a night off from cooking, a breakfast date, choose the film, a handwritten love letter.
• For parents and grandparents: help with the garden, a tech support visit, a lift to appointments, a monthly phone call, a day of cooking for the freezer.
• For children: a camping night in the living room, choose dinner, an extra bedtime story, a trip to the park, ten minutes of extra play.
• For friends: a coffee on me, a night of babysitting, help packing for a move, a hand with decorating.
• For colleagues: cover one shift, bake a cake for the team, take the lead in the next meeting.

A few rules that make coupons work

Be specific. “Wash the car, inside and out” is a promise that can be kept; “help with the car” is vague. Be generous about the date, since busy people need time. And make it easy to redeem: tell the person that they can hand the coupon back whenever they want. Then keep your side of it. A coupon that is never honoured is worse than no gift at all.

If you prefer a voucher for a shop or an experience, look at the Christmas and holiday gift certificates. To wrap the coupons, label the parcel with a gift tag, and keep track of what you plan to give each person in the shopping and budget planner.

Questions people ask

How many coupons are on a page?
Eight, in two columns of four, each numbered from 1 to 8.

Can I leave some coupons blank?
Yes. A line you leave empty prints a coupon with two ruled lines so that you can write the promise by hand.

What does the valid-until date do?
It is printed on every coupon. Leave it blank and each coupon prints a line for the date instead.

Can I use the coupons for something other than Christmas?
Yes. The gift-box artwork suits birthdays, anniversaries and Mother’s or Father’s Day, although the colours are festive.

What paper should I use?
Standard paper works. For a coupon book that feels like a real gift, print on 160 gsm card and punch a hole in the corner to tie the set with ribbon.

Are these legally binding?
No. They are a personal gift of time or effort, with no legal or financial value.