Great Gift Idea for teachers/ grandparents and those with too much clutter!

[Carina]

PLANT A TREE
PRACTICALLY FREE!

99 swag bucks
or unknown # of Kellogs rewards points ( sorry we don't have that program in Canada so I can't see the # needed.)

I just spotted it in my Swagbucks Rewards 'charity' section. I know it would be an appreciated gift by many people over yet another xmas mug or candle and its VERY easy on the budget!

http://treecycler.com

http://treecycler.com/findacode/

There are international locations to plant a tree as well as many US locations.

Hope this idea can help someone

 

[Carina]

Not one single person liked this idea

thought I was onto a good one

 

[Eastern]

I think it would be better to give the person a handwritten coupon that says "I will plant a tree of your choice in your yard next spring". The charitable tree donation is kind of impersonal as a gift unless you know the person is really into something like that.

I probably would not make a donation to any charity as a gift/in lieu of gift unless the person requested it.

 

[DawnM]

Sorry, I would not like to receive this gift. Unless I ask for a gift of a tree to be planted, I would feel that you had purchased what YOU wanted in my name.

I do give donations in other people's honor as a gift, but only because they have asked me to.

 

[powellrj]

Unless you are sure its a charity they support, I feel like its a bad idea.

 

[TCB in FLA]

My mom "bought" a goat or something in DH's name a few years back, and he wasn't impressed. Not that he wanted an actual gift or was against people in Africa getting a goat -- but he told me that there are other charities he would have rather supported in his name. DH is retired military and would have been impressed with a charity that supports veterans or military causes -- or one of the groups he volunteers with locally. My mom went with something of interest to her rather than the recipient.

However, if you have codes not being used, that would be a great way to use them rather than letting them go to waste.

 

[pjlla]

Not one single person liked this idea

thought I was onto a good one

Don't feel badly. I think it is actually a great idea.... especially for someone who might REALLY appreciate it. But to some, it might seem like a cop-out. My parents bought my kids animals through Heifer Inter'l a few years ago (goats I believe) and my kids were totally unimpressed and rather disappointed. I think they weren't old enough yet to appreciate that this gift had been made in their honor.

We have made food donations to our local food pantry in my MIL's honor a few times. I think she appreciates it. We will take our budget and coupons, hit the store (kids and I) and get the best healthiest foods we can for our money. Then go home and I take a photo of the kids with the "haul" and then we pack it up and take it to the food pantry along with a note that the donation is being made in MIL's honor. Then the kids and I wrote a Christmas letter to DMIL and include a photo of the kids with the food.

This year I think we will make a donation to DMIL's church memory fund (or whatever other fund is currently going on) in her honor. At least that way it is close to her home.

Again, not a bad idea,but perhaps just not ideal for everyone. How about a "save the whales" or "save the rainforest" or "adopt a sea otter" type of thing? There is an organization out there that is well rated with the BBB and you can donate to all kinds of things like that! I think it is https://www.nrdcgreengifts.org/?s_src=CKGG-NRDC-GG-A02-HP.HP-GG-SE-SE-US-NRD-BO-ALL-Z00 Check it out!.........P

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Some of those ideas are things you do when a person dies and you want to remember them.

 

[Carina]

Unless you are sure its a charity they support, I feel like its a bad idea.

because yet another Xmas mug is a brilliant idea for a teacher? At least this idea is clutter free.

 

[rwielatz]

My girls are adopted from China. In the past we have made donations to a charity in China that pays for educational costs and runs schools for older orphans, who otherwise would not have access to an education. These donations were made in honor of my girls teachers. We would send an xmas card with the gift receipt to the teacher. They have always been extremely touched and appreciative. I think its a wonderful idea, especially if u can relate it to something that the teacher is interested in or a cause they support.

 

[luvmy3]

because yet another Xmas mug is a brilliant idea for a teacher? At least this idea is clutter free.

So is a giftcard.

I agree with that pp, while its a nice thing to do as far as great gift ideas, I don't think it really is. unless, like that pp mentioned, its a charity that has great meaning for the receiver.

I'm not sure why you are getting defensive, you are allowed to feel its a great gift just as others are allowed not too

 

[MickeyP]

because yet another Xmas mug is a brilliant idea for a teacher? At least this idea is clutter free.

Wow!! I wouldn't give a mug, but I wouldn't give a letter either (and that's all it is).
I have learned that we give to others what we would like to receive. I would never give this because I would never want this myself. Trees will be planted no matter what. Now someone has paid $$ and my name is somehow attached?!?! Ok, thanks? I'd prefer a candy bar with a cute poem.

 

[Eastern]

because yet another Xmas mug is a brilliant idea for a teacher? At least this idea is clutter free.

No one said anything against the idea, then OP posted a second time that she wondered why no one seemed to like her idea. People are telling her why they don't really like it. The only thing positive you can say is that 'at least this idea is clutter free'.

 

[MickeyP]

Homemade cookies, candy, gourmet anything, Edible Arrangements is also clutter-free if that is what you're going for. Yum.

Not sure about fruitcake. That could be considered clutter.

 

[Marionnette]

PLANT A TREE PRACTICALLY FREE! 99 swag bucks or unknown # of Kellogs rewards points ( sorry we don't have that program in Canada so I can't see the # needed.) I just spotted it in my Swagbucks Rewards 'charity' section. I know it would be an appreciated gift by many people over yet another xmas mug or candle and its VERY easy on the budget! http://treecycler.com http://treecycler.com/findacode/ There are international locations to plant a tree as well as many US locations. Hope this idea can help someone

because yet another Xmas mug is a brilliant idea for a teacher? At least this idea is clutter free.

A number of people have commented recently that the disboards can be so mean. So rather than comment, I kept my opinion to myself - even after you bumped your own thread looking for feed back. But now I feel the need to reply.

If you want to give a clutter-free, inexpensive gift, why not have your child write a nice note to their teacher? Have your child recount something special about their relationship with her. Maybe she helped your child thru a difficult time in math, or made history come alive for the child, or maybe she suggested a book that your child loved. Add an Amazon.com GC that you got from Swagbucks and call it a wrap. Still clutter-free and costs you nothing OOP. And the teacher will appreciate the personal touch.

 

[CarlisleMom]

I am a teachers assistant in a K classroom. One of the best clutter free gifts from a student was a note from the parent, a picture from the child and items that I use everyday.

These items could include - certificates, stickers, clips, colored paper, cardstock etc. I use these thru the year and usually pay for out of my small paycheck.

 

[Carina]

If you want to give a clutter-free, inexpensive gift, why not have your child write a nice note to their teacher? Have your child recount something special about their relationship with her. Maybe she helped your child thru a difficult time in math, or made history come alive for the child, or maybe she suggested a book that your child loved.

That is a nice idea

 

[tchrrx]

My favorite gifts are ones that show that my students truly know my personality. My best student gift ever was a pair of footsie Mickey pajamas. They are incredibly silly, and I very rarely wear them (OK....they're on right now, but that's b/c it's snowy and cold and DH is at work today...), but I know that that student knew my love of Disney & being comfortable.