If you're looking for a unique gift this holiday season, one that will have a great deal of meaning for both you and your recipient, I have an idea for you. It's called "Journal in a Jar." This has been met with such rave reviews in the past, from both givers and recipients, that it's back by popular demand.

The idea is to assemble in a glass canning jar (or other container) everything your recipient needs to write the story of his or her life. Add a blank journal with plenty of pages and a few pens. Include 365 specific questions that will act as daily idea starters for your recipient's journal writing, such as: Why was your name chosen for you? What was happening in the world when you were born? What is your personal secret to happiness? You can include as many questions or prompts as you like. If you provide 365, you ensure a complete journal that touches on all areas of a person's life. Or you could adapt this idea to 52 questions, one per week in the new year.

Once you have assembled the gift, you will want to add a tag or card that explains what it is and how the recipient will use it. It could look like this:

RECIPE FOR YOUR LIFE HISTORY: The purpose of this gift is to help you preserve a written account of your life.

INSTRUCTIONS: Combine a generous slice of your life history, a dash of nostalgia, several cups of facts and feelings, and a few deliciously interesting questions. Draw one slip of paper each day until all are gone. Paste or write the question at the top of a blank page. Fill in your answer. Enjoy the memories that celebrate something very important: you!

This is an idea for kids, too. Here are just a few prompts: Draw a picture of your favorite pet or animal. Draw a picture of your favorite thing to do in the summertime. Draw a picture of your favorite place to go. Draw a picture of your favorite thing to do with Grandma or Grandpa.

For an older child or teen: Tell about your favorite pet. What kind of animal is it? When did you get him/her? Tell about your hardest day at school. What is your favorite band?

To help you get going, I have posted hundreds of prompts for all age groups, as young as 5 and as old as 105, at my Web site, www.DebtProofLiving.com. Find it by going to "Mary's Web Desk." It's under "QuickLinks," on the left side of my home page. You can copy and paste the questions to your word processing program and add your own unique questions. Print, cut apart and drop them into the jar or other container.

Journal in a Jar is not a gift you can make on Christmas Eve. You need to get started now, and while you're at it, make one for yourself. Your finished journal will become a legacy for your children.

Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living." You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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