You’ll also like these quick printable last-minute gift ideas plus easy printable personalized gifts for moms, dads, and grads.
We’ve shared our favorite gift guides and DIY gift ideas plenty — but we also know that sometimes the best gifts are experiences or acts of service.
We also know that sometimes a really great handmade gift just isn’t quite ready in time for the holiday, whether that’s Christmas morning, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, a birthday, or just a “thinking of you” gift.
So whether you’re thoughtful like that, or forgetful (or lacking time management skills) like that or just a procrastinator who needs a gift quick — we’ve got your perfect DIY gift idea with these free printable IOU coupon vouchers!
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What’s an IOU? What are IOU coupons?
IOU is a phonetic acronym of the words “I owe you”. So an IOU coupon is a paper saying that you, the giver, owe the recipient something. IOUs are often used in casual speech for small money loans with a friend or family member lender, as a verbal IOU.
Some IOUs could be legal documents with a loan amount, signatures, etc, but the typical IOU is an informal debt acknowledgement form rather than a legally binding loan agreement. You can even buy packs of sticky note printed IOU certificates for things like repaying cash, drinks, dinner, etc.
In other circumstances, IOU coupons are priceless gifts that show the recipient that you care and want to give them your time or a meaningful experience.
These free printable IOU vouchers make an easy sentimental gift idea or a “rain check” for an event, activity, service, or a handmade gift that isn’t completed yet. Without any strain on your wallet!
3 Customizable IOU Vouchers
Just for our favorite Remodelaholics (that’s you!) we’re offering up a free printable IOU coupon booklet with 3 options, all customizable to personalize for your recipient and gift:
Download Printable IOU Coupons
This customizable PDF allows you to enter in the to/from names, the IOU gift, and more, right in the PDF.* You can also just print the coupons and write the names in by hand if you prefer.
*For best results, use the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from a computer.
Preview images contain watermarks; the PDF digital download does not. For personal use only.
Printable IOU Coupon for a Handmade Gift That’s Not Finished
Use our free printable IOU coupon to gift a voucher for not-yet-finished woodworking project (or knitting, crochet, sewing, or other handmade project).
You can enter your own text right in the PDF for the recipient and gifter’s names and gift item — plus tell the recipient how close to finished you are with the project and when you’ll deliver it!
You can customize this printable IOU voucher with
BONUS: Print the first page of any of our printable woodworking plans to give a photo and description along with the handmade gift IOU coupon!
Printable IOU Coupon for an Event / Service / Gift
Give one-on-one time, a donation made in the recipient’s name, tickets to a concert or place of your choice, a home-cooked meal, or a great big bear hug.
This is also a great option for a voucher for a physical product gift that you ordered online that hasn’t arrived yet!
Enter your own personalized text for
Page 2 of the PDf download is best for gifting one item, as the template includes to/from — for multiple items, page 3-4 to make an IOU coupon book.
See below for a list of IOU voucher ideas.
Printable IOU Coupon Booklet
When you heart is bursting (and/or your wallet is empty), a printable IOU coupon booklet is a FREE gift that’s heartfelt and appreciated now, and when it’s redeemed in the future.
You might remember making a booklet like this for your mom or grandma when you were in grade school — we promise she’ll appreciate it just as much now!
Customize the IOU voucher booklet front cover with the recipient’s name, and then use our editable coupon vouchers to add custom personalized coupons.
How to assemble an IOU coupon book
List of IOU Voucher Ideas
Give a kind gift idea for a special occasion from Valentines Day to Father’s Day, Christmas, or a birthday.
Fun coupon book gift idea: Give a booklet of 12 IOUs, one every month for a year!
Free IOU Coupon Ideas That Only Cost Your Time
Giving of your time and service can bring pure joy to the recipient, and create memories for years to come! Add these ideas to your printable IOU coupon booklet.
Event or Experience IOU Coupon Ideas
Gift an event or experience that you can do together, or give the gift of alone time in your printable IOU voucher book.
IOU Coupon Ideas for Kids from Parents
Kids spend a lot of their time doing what they’re told, when they’re told — let them break the mold and create their own day or do something backwards like dessert before dinner. They’ll love getting a printable IOU coupon book from you!
IOU Coupon Ideas for Siblings
Rather than doing a sibling gift exchange with toys, siblings can make a printable IOU coupon book full of experiences or service ideas!
IOU Coupon Ideas for Couples (aka Love Coupons)
In case it needed said… do not offer any of these printable IOU coupons that you aren’t willing to actually fulfill when your partner redeems it!
This content was originally published here.