Make an honest, quick last-minute gift with fun and free printable IOU coupons personalized for your gift and recipient. Give an “I Owe You” certificate for a future service or event, or download our customizable PDF template to send an IOU receipt for a handmade gift that’s not out yet.
You will also love Quick printable last minute gift ideas Plus Easy printable personalized gifts for moms, dads, and graduates.
Free printable IOU coupons
We got involved Our favorite gift guides and DIY gift ideas A lot – but we also know that sometimes the best gifts are experiences or acts of service.
We know that sometimes too A truly wonderful handmade gift that isn’t quite ready at the right time For the holiday, be it Christmas morning, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, a birthday, or just a “thinking of you” gift.
So whether you’re overthinking like that, forgetful (or lack time management skills) like that or just a procrastinator who needs a quick gift – we’ve got the perfect DIY gift idea with our FREE Printable IOU Coupon Codes!
This post contains affiliate links. Learn more and read our full disclosure policy over here.
What is IOU? What are IOU coupons?
IOU is a phonetic abbreviation for the words “I owe you.” So an IOU coupon is a piece of paper that says that you, the donor, owe the recipient something. IOUs are often used in informal speech for small money loans with a friend or family member, as verbal financial receipts.
Some IOUs may be legal documents with a loan amount, signatures, etc., but a typical IOU form is an informal debt acknowledgment form rather than a legally binding loan agreement. You can even purchase packages of printed sticky notes IOU certificates for things like cash back, drinks, dinner, etc.
In other cases, IOU vouchers are invaluable gifts that show the recipient that you care and want to give them your time or a meaningful experience.
These free, printable IOU coupons make an easy sentimental gift idea or “rain check” for an event, activity, or service, or a handmade gift that isn’t yet complete. Without any stress on your wallet!
3 customizable IOU coupons
Just for our favorite Remodelaholics (that’s you!) we’re offering a FREE printable IOU coupon booklet with 3 options, all customizable to personalize for your recipient and gift:
- IOUS coupon for an unfinished handmade gift
- An IOU coupon for trying or doing a service or anything you wish to give a coupon for
- Printable coupon booklet front cover with many coupons for experiences, service business, etc.
Download printable IOU coupons
This customizable PDF allows you to enter names to/from, gift IOU and more directly into the PDF file. * You can also print coupons and handwrite names if you prefer.
* For best results, use the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from your computer.
Preview images contain watermarks. Digital PDF download no. For personal use only.
A printable IOU coupon for a handmade gift that doesn’t expire
Use this free printable IOU coupon to gift a coupon that hasn’t expired yet Woodworking project (or knitting, crocheting, sewing, or any other craft project).
You can enter your own text directly into the PDF for recipient and user names and gift items – plus tell the recipient how close you are to finishing the project and when you’re going to turn it in!
You can customize your printable IOU coupon with
- To: recipient’s name and From: your name
- What will be the handmade gift
- Whether a gift is about to expire, in progress, or on your list (#remodelaholic)
- When you give the gift—for example, when the end heals, when it’s warm enough to build it, when it’s finished—or when pigs fly, if you’re feeling salty and/or want a gag gift.
Printable IOU coupon for an event/service/gift
Give alone time, a donation in the recipient’s name, tickets to a concert or venue of your choice, a home-cooked meal, or a big bear hug.
This is also a great option to get a coupon for the gift of a physical product you ordered online and it hasn’t arrived yet!
Enter your custom text for
- From and to names
- gift
- Refund terms (for example, when the package arrives, the date of the event, before the expiration date, etc.)
Page 2 of the PDf download is best for gifting a single item, the template includes from/to – for multiple items, page 3-4 for creating an IOU coupon book.
See below for a list of IOU coupon ideas.
Printable IOU Coupon Booklet
When your heart is pounding (and/or your wallet is empty), this printable IOU coupon booklet is a heartfelt and appreciated free gift now, and when redeemed in the future.
You may remember making a booklet like this for your mom or grandmother when you were in grade school – and we promise she’ll appreciate it just as much now!
Customize the front cover of your IOU Receipt Booklet with the recipient’s name, then use the editable coupon slips to add personalized personalized coupons.
How to Compile an IOU Coupon Book
- Download PDF here and insert text into these printable IOU coupon pages for your free digital download. Or print the pages and write them by hand.
- For best results, use the latest version of Adobe Reader from your computer. The Adobe Reader mobile app will also work fine.
- printing press on your home printer.
- chopped off Cut each voucher certificate with scissors or a paper cutter.
- stapled Front cover and coupons together. You could too
- Clip with a bulldog clip or a binder clip.
- Punch a hole and use a book ring or rubber band to attach it.
- Make two holes and tie them with a piece of string or yarn.
List of IOU delivery ideas
Make a cute gift idea for a special occasion from Valentine’s Day to Father’s Day, Christmas or Birthday.
Fun Coupon Book Gift Idea: Give out a booklet of 12 international worksheets, one each month for a year!
Free coupon ideas that only cost you your time
Giving 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.
- A big bear hug (grandparents love this!)
- Do an activity alone
- An extra hour of hobby or screen time (kids love this!)
- Coupon Sleep (Parents Love This!)
- Home cooked meal
- Do a chore for them, especially what they hate…. Like cleaning toilets (hint)
- Neck massage or foot rub (from you)
- Continuous bubble bath
- Marathon movie
- starry night (See our favorite apps and tips here)
- Watching the sunrise together
Event or experience IOU coupon ideas
Mark an event or experience you can do together, or give the gift of alone time in this printable IOU coupon book.
- A weekend getaway to a destination of your choice (great for a partner, or fun for a kid and parent too!)
- Breakfast / lunch / dinner outside at the place of your choice
- Movie or live show of your choice
- A day at the museum/zoo/park
- Donate time or money to a cause of your choice
- At home Redbox (or live streaming) movie night with a grocery store trip to eat
- One new outfit (great for tweens and teens who love clothes! Or a shopping trip with friends)
- 1 day at the spa/golf course/hiking/etc
- Take a class or class online together
- Road trip!
- Try a new breakfast/lunch/dinner/dessert place
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 would love to receive a printable coupon book from you!
- A blank coupon to fill out – you might be surprised what they *really* want!
- A day yes, planned by the child
- Skip the chores of the day or have mom/dad do one of your chores
- One week from mom/dad making your bed
- Pick up any one item from the grocery store
- An extra hour of screen time
- Stay up an extra 30 minutes after bedtime
- Eat dessert before dinner!
- Met for lunch at school
- An extra bedtime story
- Choose what you will have for dinner
- Do the activity of your choice individually
- Breakfast in bed (seriously, kids love this!)
- Game night or video game time together
- skip school day
- Stop it all for a pillow fight or dance party
- Build a fort (from blankets or snow)
- Stay in your pajamas all day
- Double allowance for a week
IOU coupon ideas for siblings
Instead of exchanging gifts with the sibling, siblings can make a printable coupon book filled with experiences or service ideas!
- Brother makes your bed for a week
- Brother does one of your chores
- Do the activity of your choice individually
- Make a homemade dish or snack of your choice
- Read a book about playing a game or video game together
IOU Coupon Ideas for Couples (aka Love Coupons)
In case it needs to be said… DO NOT PROVIDE ANY PRINTABLE IOU COUPONS THAT YOU WON’T ALREADY WANT TO MEET WHEN YOUR PARTNER RECEIVES IT!
- Weekend or day trip
- Date day or night in the city
- A quiet night in (your introverts will appreciate it!)
- Breakfast in bed
- Dinner by candlelight
- One wish granted
- Get out of trouble, no questions asked
- Ask me anything / tell me a secret
- You choose the next TV series
- Do one chore (like flushing toilets or picking up the dog!)
- One honey project
- “I need a compliment now.”
More cheap and easy gift ideas
