26 Gifts for the Self-employed Spouse

It’s Christmas, and you are getting that special self-employed person in your life something special, right? (Self-employed people, you may want to pass this along to your spouse and thank me later.)

I’m not into the whole spend-a-bunch-of-money-to-show-your-love thing. Christmas just so happens to be a great time of year to show some love and gratitude. Many of the gifts below are, or could be free if you get a bit creative. Have fun!

(Most of these are affiliate links that raise money for charity.)

A Loving Spouse

Completely free, and the best gift you might ever give. You won’t believe what some love and affection will give your spouse. They’ll start believing they can conquer the world, and they just might do it with you behind them.

31 Days to Build a Better Blog

The first edition rocked my world, now the second edition is even better. Your spouse will make money with this one.

iPhone

Any smartphone may do the trick, but not as efficiently as the iPhone. I get stuff done waiting for the doctor and on trains and buses. Worth the extra money to be more efficient and spend more time with family.

Desk Toy

Keeping my hands occupied as I think through a problem or idea is important for me. Try these magnetic Buckyballs to get your inspiration flowing. You can also tell your friends you have rare earth metal on your desk.

Water Bottle

I’m always sipping on water. It’s important to keep your body hydrated to avoid stress, headaches, and bad ideas from forming. You can’t beat Nalgene for BPA free style.

Bluetooth Headset

I have no less than three of them and just picked up this one from Plantronics. I’m more comfortable when I talk, so I’m still in a good mood when I come, plus I’m more creative when I’m at work.

Moleskin Notebook

I’m a tech guy, but I love capturing thoughts on plain paper with a nice pen.

Nice Pen

Speaking of nice pen, this one doesn’t even come close to breaking the bank. I bought this package a few months ago for less than $5.

Now, Discover Your Strengths

The de facto place to start when it comes to learning about your strengths. It also includes a free online profile to identify your top 5.

Free Agent Academy

I’m of course biased since I’m a leader here, but you can’t be successfully self-employed on your own. This is the place to be surrounded by other people who can and will help.

New Website Design

At the top of my list last year was redesigning Coach Radio. I connected with Rob and he’s since helped me on a number of projects. He does great work at a fair price.

New Website Theme

Maybe your spouse just needs a new theme and has the knowledge to do the work himself. Coach Radio runs on the Standard Theme, and it’s very easy to manipulate most design pieces on the backed.

Starbucks Gift Card

A few years ago I got four or five gift cards from friends and clients; but I didn’t drink coffee. Thankfully they didn’t expire and I learned to love coffee. Now I treasure these little cards.

MacBook Air

This is on my wish list, but also out of the price range anyone would spend on me. I’m pining after the lighted keys, for the work I do every morning at 5:30 am by the fire.

Lunch Meeting

Schedule a lunch meeting to catch up with your spouse in the middle of the day. It can be big and fancy or a quick trip to Taco Bell. I guarantee it’ll make his day.

Comfy Chair

Yes it’s expensive, but this is where a business owner spends at least 90% of their time, making money and providing for his family. Worth it in my book.

Office Lighting

Where you do, what you do, matters, and that extends to the office environment. Set the mood with the right lighting.

Headphones

My wife just discovered the power of writing while listening to classical music. These headphones block out the background noise, won’t break the bank, and I’ve been loving them for over a year.

TOMS Shoes

For every shoe you buy, a child in need will also receive one for free. Can’t beat that.

4# Red Vines

Anyone will talk to you if you give them Red Vines, or maybe that’s just me. Regardless, this is a good candy.

Amazon Gift Card

You can’t go wrong with this one. It’s rare when a week goes by without me buying from Amazon. If I had to do the grocery shopping, I’d probably find a way to do it all through the website.

A Walk in the Park

Even in the middle of the day, I get outside, just to take a break and rejuvenate. Grab your spouse and make them do it with you. They’ll thank you later.

Kindle

I’m on my second version of the Kindle and I love it. Christine has even gotten hooked on mine when I’m reading a book someone has sent me. If your main squeeze does a lot of reading, this is the way to go.

Dog

Between clients (or during phone calls) I love petting my dogs or throwing balls to the dogs we sometimes watch (our dogs are too lazy to chase balls). It’s somewhat of a stress reliever and gets the creativity flowing. Almost every PetsMart works with an adoption agency and that’s a great place to start.

Netflix

This has been my wife’s favorite gift each year for her birthday and I’ve enjoyed using it along with her. With their recent price increase, we’re switching to the streaming option only.

French Press Coffeemaker

Pouring water and coffee grounds together and pressing a button is the lazy man’s way of making coffee. Slow down, and think about your upcoming day while you’re letting your brew steep for four minutes. This Bodum Brazil French press is cheaper and way better than its counterparts, using stainless steel rather than plastic for the important parts.

Help me by adding to this list. What do you wish your spouse would get you for Christmas?

photo by Jeremy Bronson