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Sentimental gift ideas

Updated

A sentimental gift works when it holds a memory only you share with the person: a date, a place, a voice or handwriting. Good examples are a star map of the night you met, a jar of written memories from friends, or a family recipe printed in the original handwriting.

Sentimental does not mean expensive. Many of the gifts below cost little or nothing. What they need is details, so each idea says what to collect before you start.

At a glance

Gift ideas, who each one suits, and typical cost
GiftBest forTypical cost
A star map of the night you metA partner who keeps keepsakesFrom $49 per print
A memory jar from friends and familyA milestone birthdayUnder $25
A family recipe in the original handwritingSomeone who cooks family dishes$25–$75
A letter for each year you have known themA long friendship or marriageFree
A photo book with captions in your wordsA partner or a parent$25–$75
A recording of your voiceFamily who live far away$25–$75
A drawing of their childhood homeSomeone who misses their home town$75–$150
An old family photo, restored and framedSomeone who loves family history$25–$75
Jewellery engraved with a date or coordinatesSomeone who wears jewellery daily$75–$150
A trip back to a place that mattersSomeone who values shared timeOver $150
A list of things you have learned from themA parent or a mentorFree

  1. A star map of the night you met

    A star map print from Star Crossed Skies shows the stars above the place you met, at that date and time, with a title of up to 80 characters and a message of up to 200. For a parent, use the night you were born. For a friend, use a night you both still talk about.

    A fantastic way to remember the important moments in your life! Thanks a lot!
    Mark G., Trustpilot review
    Make your star mapRead more: The night we met star map

  2. A memory jar from friends and family

    Ask the people who love the person to write one memory each on a small card, and collect the cards in a jar. Give everyone a clear deadline. It suits a milestone birthday or a retirement.

  3. A family recipe in the original handwriting

    Scan a recipe card written by a parent or grandparent and have it printed or engraved on a board, a tea towel or a frame. Ask relatives for the original card. Handwriting brings a person back in a way a photo often does not.

  4. A letter for each year you have known them

    Write one short letter for each year you have known the person, with one memory from that year. Number them and tie them together. It takes time but costs nothing.

  5. A photo book with captions in your words

    Choose one photo for each month or each year and write two or three lines under each one. The captions are what make it sentimental. Print it as a hardback book.

  6. A recording of your voice

    Record a voice message, a song or a bedtime story, and put it in a sound wave print with a code or a soft toy with a small speaker. Test the recording before you give it. It suits a grandparent far away or a partner who travels.

  7. A drawing of their childhood home

    An artist draws the house where the person grew up, from an old photo or a street view image. Ask a brother or sister for the best photo. It suits someone whose family no longer lives in that home.

  8. An old family photo, restored and framed

    Find an old photo of their parents, their grandparents or a younger version of them. Have it scanned and repaired, then frame it. Many photo shops can fix tears and fading. Return the original print safely.

  9. Jewellery engraved with a date or coordinates

    A simple necklace, bracelet or ring engraved with a date or the coordinates of a place you share. Keep the engraving small and private. Check the size and the metal first.

  10. A trip back to a place that matters

    Plan a day or a weekend in the place where you met, grew up or first lived together. Plan one thing you did then and one thing that is new. It suits someone who values shared time over things.

  11. A list of things you have learned from them

    Write down specific things the person taught you, by word or by example, one per line. Give it in a card or frame it. It suits a parent, a mentor or a long-time friend.

What makes a gift sentimental?

A gift is sentimental when it carries a specific memory. The details do the work: the exact date, the place, the words someone wrote. A plain object becomes sentimental when you add one of these.

Ask yourself what only you know about the person. The answer is usually the start of the gift.

How do you give a sentimental gift without overdoing it?

Match the gift to the relationship. In a new relationship, a short note or a shared photo is enough. After years together, a star map of your wedding night or a photo book of the years fits.

Keep the words short on anything that hangs on a wall or is engraved. Save longer thoughts for a letter in the card.

Questions

A star map for this occasion

More gift ideas

Start with the night you want to keep.

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