Memorable Quality Time Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List

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Ways you can give quality time together and create special memories with those you love.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve stopped needing or wanting as many material gifts as I did when I was younger, and have instead been enjoying alternative gifts, like gifts of quality time. But I’ve realized that it’s not clear to everyone what quality time gifts are, or how to give them — which is why I’m breaking down everything you need to know, from what quality time is, to the best quality time gift ideas, and even how to wrap and give gifts of quality time.
Here’s a gift-giving problem you might find yourself facing: you want to give someone a gift, but they said they don’t need or want anything, they’re hard to shop for, they already have everything they could ever want, or they said that they just want to spend time together. Or maybe you want to give your time as a gift instead of a physical gift because you’re short on money right now, or you don’t get to spend as much time with your gift recipient as you’d like to and you want to change that.
Whatever the reason, this list has quality time gift ideas for everyone you know: your significant other, parents, grandparents, kids, or friends. For each of the quality time gift ideas that I share, I’m including ideas for if you have a larger budget or a smaller budget (which includes ideas that are free or lower-cost).
Use these quality time gift ideas to spend time with those you love and create lasting memories.
What is quality time?
Quality time means giving someone your full, undivided attention, and being truly present in the moment you’re sharing together. It’s about the quality of the time more than the quantity of it — so it’s important to set aside distractions like your phone, work, or other everyday obligations, and focus on building a meaningful connection with the person you’re spending time with.
You can spend quality time with someone by having a deep conversation, enjoying a shared activity, or even sitting together in comfortable silence while you each read a book or the paper. Quality time is about creating moments that matter with those you love.
What makes quality time together special is that it’s not so much about what you’re doing, but who you’re doing it with. Even something as simple as a walk around the neighborhood or cooking dinner together can feel significant if both people are engaged, enjoying each other’s company, and feel connected. Quality time strengthens relationships and reminds the people we care about that we value and love them.
What does it mean to give a gift of quality time?
Giving a gift of quality time isn’t about big or expensive gifts — it’s about gifting the opportunity to have special shared moments together doing something enjoyable. A gift like this can be deeply appreciated and valued by the recipient. It seems to be a growing trend that many people are choosing experiences and quality time gifts over typical store-bought gifts, because many people already have so many things in their homes, and an opportunity to spend time with those you love creating memories feels a lot more special.
Quality time gifts work well for anyone you want to spend special time with or who wants to spend time with you — like your friends, parents, siblings, extended family, or significant other. In these times of rising prices for just about everything, many Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities, making quality time gift ideas a good option if you’re on a budget. All of these quality time gift ideas include options that are no- or lower-cost, as well as if you have a larger budget.
12 Quality Time Gift Ideas
Use this list of quality time gift ideas to create the perfect present for your husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, kids, mom, dad, grandmother, grandfather, other extended family, or friends.

1. An experience to share
Recommended for: Anyone on your list — significant other, parents, grandparents, kids, friends, other relatives
The key to giving an experience gift of quality time is that it should be an experience you’ll be doing together, not an experience the recipient will be doing with someone else. There are many experiences for a variety of interests and budgets. Some examples are concert tickets, a specialty tour like a kayaking tour or a helicopter tour, amusement park tickets, a sunset cruise or brunch cruise, sporting event tickets, etc.
Bigger budget: Helicopter tour, concert tickets, major league baseball tickets, golfing or driving range, tickets to see a play or musical.
Smaller budget: Seeing a local band, going to a minor league baseball game, going to a rock climbing gym.
Additional ideas for kids: A voucher for lunch or dinner and a movie together, one-on-one; a gift certificate to go for ice cream together at an ice cream shop, tickets to a children’s museum.
Additional ideas for grandparents: If you have a grandparent who would rather stay home than go out, you can give a certificate for a special day together. You can enjoy spending time together, even if you’re just watching tv at home. You can also make and/or eat a meal together, work on a puzzle, play cards, or do some gardening.
2. Scheduled coffee dates
Recommended for: Friends or relatives — a cousin, grandparent, aunt, uncle
Provide a coffee shop gift card and a list of suggested dates to meet for coffee throughout the year, whether weekly, monthly, or bimonthly. You’ll always have an upcoming coffee date to look forward to and catch up!
Bigger budget: A generous coffee shop gift card inside of an insulated travel coffee mug; could also add a bag of coffee to have at home.
Smaller budget: A coffee shop gift card in any amount you can afford.
3. A puzzle that you can do together
Recommended for: Parents, grandparents, kids
Select a puzzle with an image based on your gift recipient’s interests — if they love going to the beach, choose a beautiful beach scene; if they love animals, choose something with animals. Then let them know that you hope you can do the puzzle together, and come up with times you can spend together working on the puzzle. It’s always more fun to do a puzzle with someone, and an opportunity to catch up and have a conversation while you’re working on it.
Bigger budget: Add a puzzle board, which is a great way to be able to move the puzzle around and keep the pieces organized.
Smaller budget: Find a puzzle within your budget, either online, or at a local store.
Additional ideas for kids: Optionally, instead of a puzzle, you can gift a Lego set that you can do together.

4. Plan a picnic
Recommended for: Friends, significant other, kids
For a simple yet thoughtful gift, plan a brunch, lunch, or early evening picnic in the park or at a scenic location like the beach. You’ll need a blanket, a meal or snacks, napkins, plates, and drinks or a bottle of wine. You can even select a playlist if you want some background music, or bring a game to play. It’s a fun way to enjoy each other’s company while also enjoying the outdoors.
Bigger budget: Get fancy snacks at a gourmet grocery store, or takeout from a local restaurant.
Smaller budget: Pack inexpensive, yet tasty food, like chips, crackers and hummus, baby carrots and dip, etc.
Related: The Best Gifts for Women – 50 Fabulous Ideas for Birthdays and Holidays
5. Host a game night
Recommended for: Anyone on your list — significant other, parents, grandparents, kids, friends, siblings, other relatives
Ahead of time, choose 3 to 7 games that work for the number of players you’re going to have, and depending on how long the games typically last — whether you’re planning to have a one-on-one game night for just the two of you, or hosting the whole family or a group of friends. Prepare numerous snacks or appetizers to share while you play the games. It’s a fun way to bond and be silly. Whoever wins the most games can brag that they’re the game night champion!
Bigger budget: Gift your recipient some new games to play.
Smaller budget: Host the game night with games you already have.
6. Plan a date night
Recommended for: Your significant other
Whether going out or staying in, fully plan a date night, from what restaurant you’ll go to or what you’ll cook or order in, what you’ll do for dessert, and an activity for after dinner, like watching a movie at home, playing games, going out to see a movie, a play, or a sports game. Cater the evening to what you know the recipient enjoys.
Bigger budget: Make reservations at a nice restaurant, then go to the movies, a play, to see live music, or to watch a sports game.
Smaller budget: Stay in, cook an inexpensive meal, play a game and/or watch a movie on a streaming service you already have.

7. Cooking or baking together
Recommended for: Parents, grandparents, significant other, friends, kids
If your gift recipient enjoys cooking or baking, you can give the gift of creating a meal or dessert together. It’s a fun and meaningful way to spend time together — trying a new recipe, making memories, and then getting to eat your food creations together!
Bigger budget: Gift a cookbook and gourmet ingredients, like a really good olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or fancy vanilla beans.
Smaller budget: Find a recipe or recipes on the internet and print them out, choosing recipes that don’t require any overly-expensive ingredients.
8. Plan a special at-home movie night
Recommended for: Significant other, kids, parents, grandparents, friends
Plan a fun movie night at home — the key is to make this feel more special than a typical movie night. I wrote an entire post about how to do this: 19 Ways to Make Your At Home Movie Nights More Exciting. Provide movie suggestions (bonus points if you know of a movie your gift recipient has been wanting to watch), ideas for movie snacks and beverages, and other ways to make it feel special.
Bigger budget: Gift a cozy throw blanket and snacks for the movie night in addition to a list of suggested movies. You can even rent a newly released movie at home on a streaming service.
Smaller budget: Gift some movie snacks like candy, or whatever you know the recipient likes to eat while watching a movie, and provide a list of movies to choose from that are on a streaming service you already have, along with dates that you suggest watching them.
9. Go on a hike or walk together
Recommended for: Anyone on your list who enjoys physical activity
Choose a hike or walk to go on and enjoy being in nature together, seeing new sights and having uninterrupted conversation. Be mindful of the length and terrain of the trail to be sure it’s doable for who you’re with. Pack water and a snack like granola bars or trail mix if you’ll be out for a while.
Bigger budget: You can plan a restaurant to stop at for lunch after, because you’ll probably work up a hunger.
Smaller budget: Post-hike, find a picnic table or place to set out a picnic blanket and eat sandwiches that you packed in a cooler in your car.
Related: The Best Seafood Gift Baskets From Maine

10. Have a craft day or sign up for an art class
Recommended for: Friends, parents, grandparents, kids
For a relative or friend who loves doing crafts, plan out a crafting day or night that you can do together, keeping in mind something they may have mentioned wanting to try, or something you know they enjoy, like watercolors, ceramics, knitting, needlepoint, etc.
Bigger budget: Book time at a local studio, such as a ceramics class, pottery painting studio, paint and sip, or other art workshop.
Smaller budget: Go to a craft store and select a kit to do together, or get supplies and find instructions online. Something like buying an inexpensive watercolor paint, brushes, and a watercolor pad, and watching instructional videos online or just winging it. Or buying yarn and knitting needles and teaching yourselves how to knit.
Additional ideas for kids: You can gift a kids craft book and supplies so you can craft together, like how to do origami, how to make friendship bracelets, or a science experiment kit.
11. Go on a bike ride
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys biking or has been wanting to try it
Research if your local area has a scenic bike path nearby and plan a bike ride together. Bring water and snacks so you can stop halfway for a break. If you already have bikes, this can easily be a no-cost excursion; otherwise, you can find a local shop to rent bikes from.
Bigger budget: Take a day trip to a scenic area with great views for your bike ride, then stop for lunch.
Smaller budget: Bring your bikes to a local bike path and enjoy a morning or afternoon biking together.
12. Plan a cozy weekend getaway
Recommended for: Your significant other
Plan a cozy weekend getaway by booking a hotel or rental property at a mountain, on a lake, at the beach, or another scenic location, and enjoy having no plans and just relaxing in each other’s company.
Bigger budget: Find a luxury hotel or rental property with a scenic or water view.
Smaller budget: Find something in the off-season that will be more affordable; for example, a ski condo in the summer, a beach rental in late fall. Or, find a more rustic rental in a great location that may be lacking a few luxuries but is packed with charm. Another option: go on a day trip instead of an overnight trip, or plan a staycation and attend some free local events.
Related: 15 Cute Coastal, Nautical, and Beach Gifts for Women Under $15
How to package & wrap quality time gifts
Now that you’ve read through all of these quality time gift ideas, you’re probably wondering how you would wrap gifts like these. Presentation is important so that it’s clear this was a well thought-out gift and not something you came up with at the last minute because you forgot to get something for the occasion.
One way to present quality time gifts is to create or print a voucher or ticket that explains the gift, or write about it on the inside of a greeting card. Another way is that you can purchase a gift card to symbolize the event, such as a movie theater gift card, restaurant gift card, or or a gift card to the shop that you’ll be getting supplies from — a nice market for picnic supplies, or an art store for art supplies, for example. You should also write down suggested dates for the event to take place so they know you’re serious about it.
Another idea is that you can purchase a picture frame and frame a description of the gift, saying that you can then use the frame for a special photo from your quality time together. If your gift involves something physical like doing a puzzle or a game night, you can gift them a new puzzle or new game(s). If your gift involves going to an event, like a play, sports game, or an adventure tour, you can purchase the tickets ahead of time and wrap them in a gift box.
I’m sure you can come up with many other creative ways to present your gifts of quality time, if you use your imagination.
Why quality time is a great gift
- Sharing experiences: Shared activities build deeper connections and relationships, and strengthen the bond between people.
- Creating memories: Quality time gifts are often more memorable than receiving a store-bought gift that gets placed somewhere and rarely thought of again.
- Meeting the needs of others: For those whose love language is quality time, these quality time gift ideas will make them feel loved and appreciated.
What is the quality time love language?
Love languages are the different ways that people like to give and receive love. There are five love languages, one of which is quality time. People with a quality time love language feel most loved when with those they care about, especially when given your undivided attention. They enjoy sharing time together, especially when they’re able to have a special connection with you in the moment.
Even if you don’t know what your gift recipient’s love language is, you can’t go wrong with the quality time gift ideas in this list.
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Memorable quality time gift ideas for everyone on your list
There are so many ways you can give the gift of quality time. These quality time gift ideas are only the beginning — if you consider the interests and desires of your gift recipient, you can customize a gift that you know they’ll love.
Many of the quality time gift ideas in this list are two-part, meaning that first you give a token of the gift or the promise of the gift, and then you need to follow through with doing the activity with the gift recipient. It’s important to follow through with the full gift in a timely manner so the recipient doesn’t end up feeling like you don’t want to spend time with them.
I’m definitely going to be utilizing some of these gift ideas in the upcoming year! The most important thing to remember is that your time and attention is the true gift. No matter which of these quality time gift ideas you choose, your gift recipient will be happy that you want to spend time with them, no matter the activity.
Have you ever given or received quality time gifts? Is quality time your love language? Share your thoughts in the comments.