Clutter-free, Minimalist Gift Ideas
Since embracing a minimalist lifestyle, our family’s gift-giving tradition has become giving more experiences and less stuff.
It can take some outside-the-box thinking and increased intentionality to celebrate the holidays like a minimalist. But investing in minimalist, clutter-free gifts is worth it.
Here’s why.
Chances are that whomever you are buying for already has a home filled with lots of wonderful things (the average American home has over 300,000 items in it).
Americans own twice as many things as we did 50 years ago. But even with more things, Americans do not report to be any happier. In fact, 54% of us now report feeling overwhelmed by clutter and 78% of us say we have no idea how to manage it.
While stuff can make us happy temporarily, research shows that experiences contribute to lasting happiness.
The work of researcher Thomas Gilovich at Cornell University has found that people tend to get less happier with material purchases over time, and more happy with experiences. People adapt to physical things, so even the nicest car or newest phone soon become commonplace, while memories tend to get fonder over time.
“Our experiences are a bigger part of ourselves than our material goods,” Gilovich explains. “You can really like your material stuff. You can even think that part of your identity is connected to those things, but nonetheless they remain separate from you. In contrast, your experiences really are part of you. We are the sum total of our experiences.”
If gifting experiences leads to increased happiness without contributing to America’s clutter problem, then it’s a win-win.
Here are clutter-free, minimalist-approved gift ideas:
Free or Low-Cost Experiences:
Explore a new neighborhood or city on foot.
Visit a free museum or art exhibit.
Spend an afternoon fishing.
Host a movie marathon with homemade popcorn.
Plan a picnic in the park.
Have a beach day.
Stargaze in your backyard.
Organize a family game night.
Have a home cooking or baking day.
Build a fort and tell stories.
Host a themed dinner night.
Take a sunrise or sunset walk.
Have a karaoke night with favorite songs.
Volunteer together at a local charity.
Create a DIY spa day at home.
Go for a bike ride around your neighborhood.
Teach a skill you’re proficient in, like knitting or woodworking.
Plan a scavenger hunt.
Go bird watching.
Gifts that teach a new skill:
Painting classes
Language lessons
Piano lessons
Ukulele lessons
Photography lessons
Adult dance lessons (Flamenco, Salsa, Swing)
Sessions with a personal trainer
Golf lessons
Tennis lessons
Ski lessons
Rock climbing lessons
Horseback riding lessons
Gift cards:
Favorite restaurant
Ice cream parlor
Coffee shop
Favorite grocery store
Laundry pick up service
Spotify (or other music streaming service)
Kindle Unlimited subscription
FreshDirect (or other grocery delivery service)
Spa day.
Comedy club.
Paintball or laser tag adventure.
Escape Room.
Trampoline park.
Moderate to Extravagant Experiences:
Go on a winery or brewery tour.
Plan a weekend getaway.
Go glamping.
Book a hot air balloon ride.
Take a helicopter tour.
Go white water rafting.
Book a limo ride to look at Christmas lights.
Attend a sports event.
Go bowling or mini-golfing.
Rent kayaks or paddle boards for a day.
Take a day trip to a nearby city.
Go skydiving or bungee jumping.
Visit a local historical site or landmark.
Go on an exotic animal encounter.
Book a cruise.
Book a family portrait session with a professional photographer.
Plan a ‘yes day’ where kids choose the activities (within reason).
Go on a family camping trip.
Tickets to an outdoor city tour (many cities have walking tours)
Memberships:
Zoo membership
Aquarium pass
Botanical gardens pass
The holidays are about connecting with loved ones and making memories. Less stuff makes this more possible, no matter the season.
Let’s not load our loved ones down with more stuff. Give the gift of experiences and help make this Christmas a happier, more memorable one.
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You can now find my new book Declutter Your Heart and Your Home: How a Minimalist Life Yields Maximum Joy everywhere books are sold!
(It’s on sale for 50% off on Amazon today!)
The intention is good, just remember that committents, even ever so useful or fun, also can create clutter. In your calendar…
I would be pissed if someone gave me a parenting or motherhood class. It’s as if you’re calling me a bad parent or mother.
Me too! And I’d be thinking, “Great, just what I need…homework.” 😑
Yikes! Majority of your suggestions run well into hundreds and thousands of dollars!
What is truly difficult to do is find non cluttering gifts for under 100$
Now THATS an article I’d share on social media!
Thanks for reading! I’d say around half the ideas are higher cost gifts. I love the idea of no cost gifts! You might like this article: https://nosidebar.com/99-experience-based-gift-ideas/