Experiential gifts can last a lifetime, but material ones often last until your next clean-out. Children in the United States have too many toys, and it’s stunting their imaginations and sharing skills. We adults have too many toys as well, and this time of year only adds to that problem. Let’s shed this idea that we’re being “good” friends/family members by giving each other material things and instead look at some gift ideas that may be more impactful to the recipient.
- Call a gift truce, or replace the physical gifts with a meal: When we can, my brothers and I go out for a siblings-only dinner. This way we can all enjoy each other’s company and not stress about what to buy each other.
- Host a holiday party for all of your local friends- it doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, it can be BYOB and/or potluck. You provide the house, the music and the occasion- don’t underestimate the gift that hosting in your space actually is! A gathering will be remembered longer than anything in a box or bag.
- Give your children or grandchildren a membership to their favorite museum. My aunt once bought me a membership to the Museum of Natural History when I lived in NYC- I couldn’t get enough of the dinosaur bones and animal displays! I brought different friends every time and we had a blast.
- Take a cooking class together, or host a wine tasting party.
- Digitize and share your collections. In 2011 I collected and scanned all of my mom’s recipes and put together a cookbook with my aunt and very artistic cousin, who did beautiful watercolors for every category page. Yes, we were gifting a tangible object, but we turned boxes and boxes of recipes into one accessible and organized cookbook, and my mom’s family and friends were all choked up. I’ve also converted VHS tapes to DVDs, and turned thousands of photo negatives into CDs and slideshows. Use a company like iMemories or ScanDigital– I had great experiences with both.
- Dinner Theater tickets. Concert tickets. Stand up comedy. Sporting events. So many ways to create memories.
- Take your family out for a hot chocolate and drive around the neighborhood at night and admire the lights and decorations.
- Offer a service: Babysitting, house sitting, cleaning, organizing… Or my personal favorite, a ride to or from the airport when my husband can’t drive me.
- If your friends have a small business, help two people at once by gifting their service to another friend. Do you have friends who are caterers, massage therapists, personal trainers, interior decorators, or estheticians? Pay that friend for their talents, for another loved one to enjoy the treat. It’s a gift to your business owner friend as well… I can personally vouch that there’s nothing like the gift of a new client, and possible repeat future business.
- A donation to your loved one’s favorite charity can be a touching gift. Or, go through your closet or bookshelf or pantry and give your unneeded items to charity. This is a great way to start off the new year with some positive energy, not to mention some space freed up before the holiday sets in!