*This is a collaborative post.

To some people, a sentimental gift is something as simple as a bouquet of flowers with a heartwarming message. To others, sentimentality isn’t material and the circumstances surrounding the gift are usually what makes it so memorable and emotional. Different folks like different strokes, so it’s hard to pick a universal gift idea that will make everyone shed a tear. But I pride myself in being an unusually thoughtful gift-giver, which is why this list shares a couple of sentimental gift ideas to consider if you want your recipient to feel loved, emotional, and perhaps even shed a tear or two.



A book of your story so far

This is perhaps one of the most sentimental gifts that you could give to anyone. We’d suggest reserving this for someone really special to you, such as a partner that you love dearly or a friend that you’ve known for an incredible amount of time. A Book of Us is essentially a recollection of all the amazing things you’ve done together, all of the ups and downs that you’ve experienced, and some of the more emotional moments you’ve shared.

Make no mistake; this is something that will take a long time to make and it requires days or potentially weeks and months of planning depending on your writing skills and the time investment you're willing to give. However, it’s absolutely one of the most sentimental gifts you can give someone assuming they can appreciate it. 

Anything you’ve made yourself

Of all the interesting gift ideas you could try out, sending your recipient something that you’ve made yourself is perhaps one of the more memorable things that you could ever do. Putting in the time and effort to create a gift for someone is essentially investing a lot of time into their happiness. To create something with your own time and effort is a huge undertaking, especially with the busy lives that we live today. If you manage to create something from scratch to give to your recipient, then it’s definitely going to show in the final result.

But what kind of things could you make? There are plenty of ideas to try out. You could bake a cake, cookies, or even create a dessert. Edible gifts are always memorable but there’s extra work to make sure it actually tastes good. You could try knitting something, designing a shirt, or even making a poster. Anything practical that your recipient can keep around for a long time is a great candidate for a completely personalized gift.

An experience that will be remembered for years to come

If you know that your recipient puts no value in material things, then perhaps an experience is what they need to feel emotional and loved. Cooking for your partner and enjoying an intimate candlelit dinner could be something they remember for years, especially if you’re not accustomed to cooking and aren’t the type to do something so romantic. For others, taking them on a trip to experience something they’ve always wanted to can be one of the most memorable moments of their life. Whatever you decide, focus on creating an unforgettable experience.