Here are a bunch of gift certificate ideas - though not the type that adults usually give to each other (and therein lies an appeal). Do you recall giving coupons to your parents as a child, as I did? - "good for one yard clean-up" and the like... something that you promised to do, as a gift for someone else.

You’ve seen some suggestions of this in other sections... because a gift certificate of this sort answers to various needs. But it’s something that most people forget that they have as a gift - the power to please that comes from themselves.

...Creating a "gift certificate", or coupon, for a particular action simply makes this overt.

Most people are "too busy" - and everybody knows it. Therefore, a gift of your time isn’t anything to be sneezed at! In fact, it may be far more valuable to the receiver than a token grabbed off the shelf. ...Not only will the person get something done, he’ll also get you!

Tune up your mother’s car. Teach something to a friend. Put up your arthritic uncle’s Christmas lights next year. Mow the elderly neighbor’s lawn. Give your husband a monthly massage. Help your sons build a tree house. Don’t complain any more about doing the family chores (!). Give your daughter’s bike a new paint job. ...Excellent presents!

The only caveat I might mention about this type of gift is that it may be a lot easier to make up a coupon than to follow through on its promise! It would be sad if what started out as a gift, making you feel good, ended up as a millstone around your neck... especially if the giftee sensed this as well.

...Make sure you have a personal commitment to enjoying the promise in its fulfillment as well as in the making.