I buy lots of calendars at Xmas to send to friends. They are an inexpensive and useful gift which I think remind you of the giver when you turn a page each month. I also have one in every room of the house, alternating between cats and gardens
. I prefer the slim calendars with a line to write on for each day. I also buy family organiser calendars, with several columns, for my busy children and I write the birthday of each family member on them, which they find a very useful aide memoire.
Until a couple of years ago I made my own calendars using family, pet and garden photos I had taken throughout the year. There are a number of free calendar making programs, like this one, on the net. I used double-sided A4 glossy brochure paper, which is like that used on the calendars you buy, then had them spiral bound at a local print shop. For sending abroad at a cheaper rate I printed a collage of photos on heavier weight card and attached a small calendar at the bottom and a ribbon 'hook' at the top. They were all very popular.
My sister made us all calendars of family pictures last year -- it was a big hit. I have a couple friends who are talented photographers as well as gardeners, and they've sent me some beautiful calendars of their own garden photos.
I have a tradition of buying this calendar for myself every year:
It always has really interesting paintings. This year I bought this one:
And I always have one of these "note nook" calendars:
