Christmas is typically a time of abundance and excess, but more and more families are turning to a minimalist Christmas that focuses on family and friends instead of things this year. If you are making the transition towards a more minimalist Christmas, then you may be feeling a sense of guilt about not buying as much stuff for Christmas morning. Especially when we are being called on to support businesses at the moment. However, Transitioning to a minimalist Christmas doesn’t mean forgoing presents. Instead, the buying of presents just for the sake of buying things is to be avoided. Instead choose just one really meaningful gift for the people on your list!
With the focus being on finding gifts that mean something to the recipient, you can cut down on the amount you need to buy. Buying meaningful gifts is also a great way to cut down on the clutter in your home and eliminate gifts that often just get thrown away or regifted a couple of months down the line.
Experience Gifts
Experience gifts are one of the best ways to buy minimalist presents for your family at Christmas. Experiences can help create new memories, strengthen relationships and develop new hobbies. A membership to a zoo, art gallery, science centre, theme park or museum are all great experience gifts. Some membership packages also incorporate passes for multiple institutions which makes that gift even more enriching. You could also get a ticket to a sport’s game or a concert that they would enjoy too. Enrollment in a class, lesson, or activity that they would enjoy is also a fun gift. You can pair this with something for them to open on Christmas morning that is tied to the gift – such as an apron for a cooking class or some new pencils for an art class.
Gift cards are also a great minimalist gift idea. You can get a gift card to their favorite restaurant, a movie theatre, for a manicure, or for a massage. Taking them out for a day to do all their favorite things is a great way to deepen your relationship.
Consumable Gifts
Consumable gifts are another great choice for minimalist gift giving. Things that they will use that won’t sit around and clutter their home is perfect. Edible or drinkable gifts always go down well. Another great idea is finding supplies for a hobby that they enjoy, such as craft or art supplies . You can also extend that to all hobbies like exercise, sports, camping or anything else they might be interested in.
How about making them a themed hamper of something they will enjoy, or setting them up with a foodie subscription box? You could create a movie night basket with a DVD, popcorn, treats and comfy pajamas to wear while watching is a great hamper idea. You could also do a game night box with games and treats to enjoy as a family. If the person you are shopping for could use a little pampering, you can put together a basket of things for an at-home spa night.
Gifts that will last a lifetime
You could also practice minimalist gifting by getting them a gift that they will use every day for many years to come. You can justify spending a bit more money on this as it’s a gift that will age with them. A Hermes blanket, Christian Dior jewellery or Guess Watches are things that will not clutter up their house and will add to the functionality of their day. Search for things that will make their life easier and make them feel good.
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