Flowers are beautiful, and they always bring a smile to someone’s face. When someone dies, it’s natural to want to show them some love. Sending flowers is a great way to express your condolences, but sometimes, sending flowers isn’t enough, and it’s also expensive and time-consuming. What should you send instead? These ideas will let you say something meaningful without breaking the bank.
1. Sympathy Gifts Baskets
A condolence gift basket is another good idea for showing your support. They’re usually filled with snacks, drinks, and other small items that people enjoy during times of grief. Some people fill these baskets with comfort foods, while others opt for healthy treats. Either way, they’re thoughtful and appreciated. For families with children, you can send items the children can use to entertain themselves (ex. craft kits, coloring books, chalk, etc.) or snack foods that the children can open by themselves.
2. Donations to Charities
This is a simple way to give back and to show your appreciation for the life they lived. You can honor their life by donating to a charity that was close to their heart or that you have a connection with.
3. Memorial Videos
Memorial videos are a wonderful way to remember someone who has passed away. They allow you to share stories and memories from the past, which can be very comforting. Plus, they’re free! All you need to do is record yourself talking about the deceased and upload it to YouTube. People can watch it whenever they want, so this is a great option for those who aren’t sure what else to do.
4. Tribute Books
Tribute books are also known as obituaries. They’re collections of biographies, poems, and quotes that pay tribute to the lives of the deceased.
5. Music
Music is often used in funerals to help ease pain and stress for mourners; it plays a role in helping process the grief and come to terms with death. Send songs that remind them about the person who has died.
6. Handmade Crafts
Handmade crafts are always appreciated, but they have even greater meaning when you make something special just for someone who has died. For example, you can gift a handmade blanket that they can use to help them when they are grieving.
7. Letters
Letters are a great way to tell someone how sorry you are for their loss, and they’re relatively inexpensive. In the letter, you can share memories of their loved one and express how much they meant to you. This is a great idea to send to a family experiencing the loss of a loved one because they will cherish the words you share with them.
8. Online Tributes
Online tributes are similar to memorial videos, except they’re not recorded. Instead, they’re written messages that you post online. You can leave them on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp, and Pinterest.
You can send plenty of things instead of flowers, such as a condolence card, a sympathy gift basket, a donation to a charity in their name, music, tribute books, handmade crafts, or even a memorial video. If you don’t have the budget or time to send flowers, then maybe you should consider the above options.