Clutter Free Gifts You'd Actually Want to Give (and receive)
I think we all want to the best gift givers we can but sometimes we have challenging gift recipients. Whether it’s Christmas or birthday, we want to feel like we know the person well enough to give them a gift but sometimes it’s just hard.
Nobody wants to give something that might end up in the “re-gifting” pile! And I”m sure we all have horror stories on the topic.
Clutter free does not mean BORING and can actually be some of the best gifts. They typically fall into 3 categories:
Experiences
Services
Consumables
Here are some of my favorite examples from each category.
Experiences and Events
Concerts, plays, comedic shows, sporting events, operas, or art exhibitions. You can search by specific venue in your area or by artist to investigate schedules. You may even want to check other cities for an additional adventure!
Of course you have to check calendars but this is a great gift for kids and adults. You can make a whole memory- filled day out of it with fun meals and time to explore the area.
You don’t even have to have a specific event to schedule around to plan a Day Date. This can be an exceptional gift because you are taking the time to plan out the day to enjoy with that person. Planning ahead shows thoughtfulness and love and writing it down on a card gives them a gift to open.
This is a wonderful option with kids as well as adults because they get the individual time with you. It could be hiking, going to a new or different restaurant, riding bicycles, or just playing tourist together in your own city. The dedicated and scheduled time together is the gift. Just don’t forget to take a picture together. 😁
Services
Gift card/ certificate. These could be to favorite stores, restaurants, coffee shops, or even services like car wash or nail salons. Don’t overlook essentials like gas cards or stores like Ace Hardware or Home Depot.
A gift certificate for a unique service like color analysis, a wardrobe consultation, or a makeover could be fun, too. These are the things we think about doing but don’t take the time to schedule on our own.
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Of course, the gift of organization is always appreciated. Neatsmart does offer gift certificates that are always appreciated.😉
Memberships to a museum, zoo, Costco, or gym are a gift that won’t create clutter and will certainly be appreciated. Subscriptions to paid content and services like Audible or Amazon are another option that fall under this category
We are really into writing letters as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas. It’s an excellent way to mark time and reflect on what you love about that person. They can be short notes or long missives, whatever your style.
Use nice stationery and plan it out ahead of time for maximum impact. These are the treasures people keep forever!
Another variation we’ve done is writing and sharing about you. This was definitely geared more towards the kids when they were younger but it was a lot of fun and they definitely remember it. My husband wrote a Top 10 List of his favorite songs from growing up complete with explanation and a gift card to buy the songs. Do people even buy songs or albums anymore? The trip down memory lane was fun and a new way to connect with his kids that they could keep forever.
You could write a Top 10 List of:
favorite songs
favorite movies
places you loved visiting or
places you want to visit
most impactful books or Bible verses
people who were influential growing up
favorite pieces of art
The explanation of why these are signifiant is the true priceless gift of intimacy and vulnerability. This has become one of our favorite gifts ever and we still talk about it!
The one clutter free gift that you can purchase at a store that I recommend is a Label Maker. They fit everyone, are always in style, and are definitely needed! It’s the kind of gift that no one ever thinks they need but are super grateful to have. Everyone needs a label maker!
Basic label maker I recommend a lot.
New version and comes with an adapter
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