Giving Experiences Instead of Gifts for the Holidays

There has been a trend in recent years to minimize consumerism and clutter by buying less things during the holidays. It might be a nice change to give “experiences” instead of things to older children and other loved ones. Most kids and many adults don’t really need more material things. (Bonus: ordering gift certificates so easy by phone or computer.)  I have also spotted a number of offers on Groupon and Living Social for massages, manicures, etc.

These experiences turn into memories–you can’t have too many great memories from childhood.

• Give a child a hand-made coupon or card with a promise to go to the children’s museum to see that new exhibit, a get-away ski weekend or ice-skating at your local pond–complete with lunch and hot chocolate afterwards. It’s best to suggest a date so this promise is seen as concrete.
• Give a spouse a coupon can be for a dinner and movie or a concert. It is best to be pretty specific with this plan of an IOU. It might be fun to design a coupon that includes all the suggested details and dates.

Give gift certificates/cards for services that we see as splurges, such as:

• car detailing or car washes
• pet grooming
• manicure/pedicure
• hair salon/barber shop appointment
• house cleaning services
• personal training or nutritional counseling
• a massage or other body work
• a facial
• sporting event
• window cleaning
• landscaping
• a get away at a B & B
• an ice skating class
• a class at the local adult ed program
• professional organizing services 
• professional family portrait

Personally, I would take almost any of the above for myself as a recipient.

One more option to minimize the consumerism part of the holidays  is to get together with friends and family and go on a “holiday play-date”, such as an ice-skating party, cross-country skiing (at night!), a nature walk or a drive through the most over-the-top holiday-decorated neighborhoods in lieu of exchanging gifts. Who knows, you and your family could start a new tradition (and create less clutter) for years to come.