One of my good friends every year takes what she was given at an in-laws house and promptly drops it off at Goodwill the following week. She says it’s simply stuff she won’t use, and only remains in her house out of guilt. A few years ago she vowed to not keep holiday “stuff” just because it was given to her. If you’ve had a similar experience, or just want to avoid the passing of “unnecessary things” this holiday season, here are some gift ideas for family and friends in your life that are practical, simple and easy to assemble.
The key aspect to not passing around more “things” that just create clutter, is to gift consumables. Consumables are anything that you use up rather quickly and are pretty necessary or used daily. See the list below for more great gift ideas.
For aesthetic value, it’s important to pick a theme with minimal decoration. The theme will suggest where or what the gift will be used for. For example if gifted hand warmers, buy coffee and trailmix, pick a few pine needles, glue it to a brown paper bag and now you have a hiker’s gift bag. Suggesting the activity with the theme of the gift makes it even more memorable and thoughtful. Here are some suggested theme ideas:
You can do a lot with just ribbon, a box, or a plain gift bag.
The last part of the gift is the most important. Write a handwritten note explaining what type of experience this gift will bring and why you are grateful for this person in your life. To be generous during the holidays can be very simple if you think of the person specifically and you notice their daily needs. A gift can be practical and thoughtful.
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