The Perfect Gift
When you decide to live with less, birthdays and other holidays can be challenging. I love the idea of a thoughtful gift, but don’t want to give or receive any more “stuff”.
I am not sure what others find more confusing, that you don’t want to give gifts or that you don’t want to receive them. Not wanting to give and receive “stuff” does not make you cheap, ungrateful or thoughtless. In fact, thinking about a gift that will enhance someone’s life or just make their day a little brighter is kind and very thoughtful.
Let people know that you have been downsizing, living more simply and uncluttering. With a simple explanation, they might not just understand, but embrace exchanging gifts more minimally. Talk to friends and family about putting a moratorium on gift giving for all or certain holidays. You might find they are relieved to stop looking for the perfect gift, save money, and really focus on the actual holiday. The best way to celebrate a special occasion is to spend time with the people you love, but, if you must give gifts, give ones that matter or that are useful.
What would you add to the following list of gifts for a minimalist?
- Books
- Concert or event tickets
- Movie passes
- A class – cooking classes, wine tasting, art classes, dancing lessons
- Music – create a playlist or CD including favorite song
- Art – a painting or limited edition photograph by a local artist
- Homemade gift certificates – good for a car wash, housecleaning or yard work
- Vegetable plant or tree that you can move outside
- Words – write something from the heart
- Donate – give time or money to a worthy cause
My birthday was earlier this month and I received a wonderful book, flowers, a cooking class and a gift certificate to a movie theater. I am so grateful that my gift bearers took the time to think about about what would make me happy.
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My wife and I have switched almost entirely to “experience” gifts (concerts, museum trips, mini-vacations). This lets us create more memories and have fun without actually having to own more things we don’t really need. When we do buy actual gifts, we try and buy from local artists. For example, we bought pottery from a local artist, hired a photographer to take a nice set of pictures of us, etc.
I’ve thought about asking family to start making donations in my name to ASPCA or a similar charity for my birthday too.
Excellent post!
Brett, I love the idea of “experience” gifts. My husband and I just attended a cooking class that he bought me for my birthday and it was a blast. We had a great night out together, and for the price of a nice dinner out, got to learn new recipes and cooking techniques. It was so fun!
We give coffee shop and grocery store gift certificates. Also, if the person loves a certain store for shopping for clothes, we might choose to give a gift cert. for that store.
Along with the coffee idea, I’d add things like quality tea, wine, beer, whiskey, etc. Yes, the containers of these consumables creates a small amount of waste, but most could be recycled. This way you’re still giving/receiving a gift, but not accumulating any “stuff”.
Love it! You can almost never go wrong with a bottle of wine…or champagne!
Great ideas Courtney.
I have been simplifying and trying to accumulate less stuff. So in a way I thinking I am becoming a minimalist
For so many holiday seasons now I only write cards to loved ones and they do the same. Also I try schedule stuff that I want to buy (e.g. new computer when it’s time to upgrade) around the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. They roll out the new expensive model and the one just below that is sold at a cheaper rate. So I go for the latter option. This way I feel like I got myself a gift as well
I am going to try the homemade gift certificates. It sounds like fun.
For my nephew’s birthday recently, I made him a chefs hat and bought cooking ingredients for him to make a meal.
I also handmake a lot of Christmas and birthday gifts using recycled materials.
Courtney, you gave great gift ideas!! Great, great, great!
Happy June Birthday to you!
Great list! I’ve started asking for a couple things – either a donation to an organization like JustOne, Compassion International or charity:water, a gift card to a local restaurant or bottles of wine.
I know there are people who just really love to give so hopefully everyone can find something in that brief list that they’d enjoy giving.
Great ideas. Anything edible/potable is good, assuming you know the recipient’s tastes. Perhaps expand that to anything consumable, which is almost the same. but adds things like craft, gardening, or other hobby supplies to the mix.
Oh, what’s with the photo of the headless people… am I missing the intended symbolism?
My daughter has 6 kids ages 2-10. She is raising them to not expect a lot of stuff and to find joy in being together. Each year for Christmas we choose a local attraction, zoo, museum, etc, to purchase an annual pass. This gives them a way to enjoy family time all year long!
Bernice
http://bernicewood.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/ahh-the-american-dream/
What great ideas. My boys are 14 and 16 with part time jobs. This year their birthday presents was me paying off their xbox game layby’s. Both of the boys loved it and told me that it was a great present.