“So this is Christmas, and what have you done?” says John Lennon is his poignant song, which was actually all about the end of war and stopping fighting, loving one another and being at peace.
And that in essence is what Christmas is all about right? Quality time with your family, spending time with loved ones, acknowledging the year you’ve had, the highs and lows, the tears and laughter, and looking forward to what the New Year holds.
Except I fear it’s long been quite the opposite and I posted this on Facebook the other day and had so many people agree with me:
“In some ways I feel I’ve always loved Christmas time with my family, but over the last 5 years of
adopting a minimalist life I find the excessive gift buying of more ‘stuff’ hard to deal with and unwarranted.
That and the commercialism of a religious birthday that agnostics (like me) never seem to even acknowledge and that it often becomes a super stressful time of the year for people who don’t get on well with their family or feel compelled to buy for people they don’t like but want to keep up appearances with.
I prefer to give experiences, not stuff, but if i did shop anywhere it would probably be this place – love the title!”
So I decided to share some ways you can make this a very special time of year WITHOUT buying stuff, breaking the bank and getting all stressed about who to buy for and what!
5 Gift Ideas for a Minimalist yet Joyous Christmas
- Give the gift of experiences, not stuff
- Give to charity instead
- Make your own gifts
- Use recycled or second hand goods
- Give your time instead of gifts
Let’s delve into these one by one shall we? And I’ll use personal examples from my own friends and family since this is a time of the year you’re meant to be spending with them anyway.
#1: Give the gift of experiences not stuff
One of my fave mottos that I live by and even wrote about in my book is that you should give experiences, not stuff. I do this every day. Living out of a suitcase means I rarely feel the need to buy or accumulate anything, but what I will do is buy experiences or invest in others.
If I go to a new country I will often sign up for an amazing tour or a unique cultural experience or show rather than buying a souvenir – namely because up until I got my studio I didn’t really have a place to put my souvenirs. Memories last forever so it’s far better to ‘do, see and experience’ something unique.
So why not take the same approach at Christmas and buy an experience for your loved ones? It could be a Hot Air Balloon ride, a ticket to a concert of their favorite artist, an afternoon tea at a fancy hotel, a paddle boarding lesson…the list goes on and on.
My friend Matthew Gallizzi commented on my Instagram shot and said “Strongly agree. I bought my brother a plane ticket on Virgin. EXPERIENCE. 😉
This year I’ve bought my folks a 1 hour relaxation massage because they’ve both been working hard on projects all year like doing up their second property, volunteering, helping me paint my apartment and helping my sister do up her house.
For my sister (and she knows this) I’m buying her Michael Hyatt’s 5 Days To Your Best Year Ever program and more importantly working through the goal setting process with her next week as that’s FAR more valuable than any gift (she’s already delighted).
Imagine how much more impact that will make on their lives than any box of chocolates, new underwear or some computer game.
Caveat: I did buy my Dad some very fancy handmade New Zealand chocolates!
#2.Give to charity instead
Scott Harrison from Charity Water really instigated this idea for me with his September Campaign where you give away your birthday age in a donation, or start your own campaign for your birthday where people donate to you so you can help build a well to give more people fresh, clean water.
I remember doing this years back for my sister’s birthday when I wrote her and said “Hey Debs, I donated your birthday age in years to Charity Water, here’s what that money is going towards”.
One of the most memorable gifts my Dad ever gave me was when he donated to the Word Vision (since he knows I adore animals) and I got a certificate to say I’d funded a Piglet’s life for the year, which I loved!
Jeremy and Addie at CultureCurious commented on my instagram photo of the ‘No Shit Gift Shop’ too with this great idea:
“I have similar feelings as well. This year we’re not doing any gifts. Instead, we’re donating to non-profits that match the interests of our family members. For close friends, we’re going out for meals and spending time together.”
#3. Make your own gifts
When you receive a handmade gift from someone you care about isn’t that extra special? It shows they’ve taken the time to create it for you and work on it and time is the most precious gift you can give.
I’ve had some cool gifts given to me like an original painting from my Mum’s, and she also has her artwork printed onto cards that she gives out for birthdays and Christmas cards. Or my sister who stenciled my fave Yoda quote onto some locally sourced wood that she stained last year but it was actually misquoted as I’d been saying it wrong for years….hilarious!
#4. Use recycled or second hand goods
Don’t want to go making your own gifts or didn’t make time this year? Why not buy second hand perfectly good books, ornaments, furniture, paintings or whatever takes your fancy that someone will really appreciate and gives it a second life?
I looked in some cool opp-shops the other day and found some amazing gifts like crazy old antique watches, beautiful lamps and old style world maps. There’s real treasure to be found in what people no longer need or want in their life and it’s great to feel you’ve helped recycle something and not added to the excess waste of new stuff made every year.
#5. Give your time instead of gifts
As I mentioned before, time is the most precious gift you can give and what better thing to do at Christmas than volunteer at a shelter for a day or help serve Christmas lunch at a community center? How about simply being PRESENT with your family and lend them an ear and listen to them rather than judging them or getting into those familiar family rows that inevitably happen over the festive season.
Jen Shea left this comment on my Instagram photo which I loved:
“Well said Natalie. I have something really special planned for my daughter and to me it’s the experience that will mean more to the both of us (as are all our other experiences…) than any ‘physical’ presents or gifts. Memories last us a lifetime (if we are really lucky). Plus another way is to give time like WellingtonTimeBank.org.nz
So there you have it, 5 useful and alternative options to maxing out your credit cards or stressing out running around the shops buying a whole lot of stuff just because that’s the ‘done thing’. I challenge you to have a minimalist Christmas where giving your time, love and laughter count more than any material offering.
Let me know what you intend to give this Christmas?