Clutter-Free Christmas Gifts

What can you do to ensure that you and your loved ones get clutter-free Christmas gifts?

Not only for Christmas, but for any occasion where gifts are exchanged?

Well first let’s consider the purpose of gifts.

When you give a gift it gives you a feeling of satisfaction from doing a kind act for another person.

When you receive a gift you feel valued and appreciated.

And sometimes we give gifts because it is seen as the appropriate, accepted and “right” thing to do.

We also don’t want to be thought of badly if we don’t give a gift.

But gifts don’t always fulfil their intended purpose.

This isn’t a Christmas story, but the message holds true for any time gifts are given.

When I was engaged to my ex-husband, family and friends kept asking what we had on our gift registry.

This was a new concept to me. In the UK we tend to give money for a wedding rather than buy a gift. 

At this point, we had already been living together for a few years and had all the essentials for our home.

So I put about 3 things on a registry list at Macy’s, and I couldn’t think of anything more.

And I simply said that we don’t need anything.

What I didn’t realise was that family and friends were going to buy presents regardless. And if we didn’t say what we wanted, they would buy what they thought we wanted.

I was completely astounded to find that my best friend and future mother-in law had organised a huge bridal shower for me. There were about 40 guests, which meant 40 gifts.

And whilst it was lovely to see so many people and spend a lovely afternoon together, at the end of it we had a couple of carloads of gifts.

There were tea towels, crystal vases, crystal bowls, candlesticks and all kinds of decorative items in a variety of different styles.

We didn’t have space for all these decorative items and had to buy a whole shelving unit to put in the middle of the living room just to keep things from piling up on the floor.

Overnight our home had become very cluttered.

And then for years, we were trapped with things that weren’t really bringing value to our lives. Instead, they were taking up space and creating conflict.

And as these items were gifts, we felt obliged to keep them.

So there are a few lessons that I learned from that experience:

The gift is not only for the receiver, it is for the giver too.

When you are receiving gifts:

Those who care about you want the opportunity to do something nice for you. So it is up to you to give clear directions. If you don’t need “stuff” gifts, then put experiences, memberships, gift vouchers, restaurant ideas or anything you would enjoy on your gift list. 

If you don’t, be prepared for people to guess, and they will guess according to their values, not yours.

When you are giving gifts:

When giving a gift first of all ask, and really listen to what the recipient is saying. Think about the person and their needs and values. And whenever possible, give a gift that is consumable or an experience.

When I am giving gifts I am also mindful of the environmental impact of the gift, so I will be looking for sustainable, plastic-free or zero waste options wherever possible.

Here are some ideas for Christmas gifts that won’t create clutter for the person receiving them:

Experience gifts:

Movie or Theatre tickets – Send the recipient to a show that will enjoy, or buy tickets to go together.

Tickets to an exhibition – Buy tickets for an exhibition your recipient will enjoy.

Admission to a museum – Some offer unlimited visits within a year, allowing your recipient to visit many times over.

An annual membership to a museum, gardens or institution – Our favourites include the National Trust and RHS.

A gift voucher to a favourite restaurant – Consider an upscale offering of a cuisine your recipient enjoys.

A spa voucher – pick a local spa that’s easy for your recipient to get to.

A class the recipient will enjoy – Cookery, art, wreath making, writing. The list of possible classes is endless. Look for classes offered by local businesses or find an online class like these creative classes offered by Craft Courses.

Active gifts:

A voucher for an activity – A paddleboard class, yoga or even paragliding anyone?

Kayak or bike rental – support a local business by buying a gift voucher

A boat trip – This can be anything from a leisurely lunch cruise to a white water experience

A walking tour – This can be a great way to discover secret local gems

A guided city tour – Gift a bus tour and give your recipient the chance to be a tourist for the day.

A session with a personal trainer – Give the gift of fitness with a personal training session

Time gifts:

Babysitting – Give parents the gift of time by taking care of the children for a few hours

Running errands – Help put yourself or organise a local service

Cleaner – We could all do with a helping hand, so book some cleaning sessions for someone who doesn’t already have a regular cleaner.

Doing an activity together – A gift doesn’t have to be expensive. Taking the recipient out to a free venue can be a lovely treat too.

Hosting a dinner – Invite the recipient over and cook a meal or order food in.

Volunteering – Many charities would love extra help, particularly over the Christmas period. So you can give the gift of time to help out strangers in need.

Consumable gifts:

Personal care products – bonus points for package-free, zero waste options.

Chocolates, nuts and sweets – Shop local independent stores for sustainable packaged options

Local produce – Support local producers by buying their jams, chutneys, cheeses and wines

Coffee, tea, wine or beer – Go for a luxury version of something your recipient likes

Home gifts:

Declutter coaching – Instead of buying items that may end up as clutter, gift your recipient (or yourself) a declutter coaching session and reap the benefits all year round, not just for Christmas.

Get in touch to customise an offering for yourself or for your recipient.

These gift ideas are just a small selection of the thousands of clutter-free Christmas gifts you could get.

I hope that these have got you thinking about meaningful gifts you could give your nearest and dearest.

Wishing you a merry and clutter-free Christmas!