Inside: Here you’ll find a not so minimalist list of gifts for minimalists of all ages. *For your convenience this post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you. As always, shop around and buy used first.
Curb the Clutter
The holidays are fast approaching. They have me decluttering and prepping in order to confidently take on this season of excess.
Prior to minimalism, I would go absolutely crazy purchasing gifts for my family. Each year, worse than the previous one. I thought it was just my thing.
Click here for our Before and After Story
However, this Holiday season doesn’t have to be like every other. We don’t have to impulse purchase and spend a crazy amount of money, causing our family and others to accumulate unnecessary items. Items that ultimately provide short term joy, and long term clutter.
When your perspective on purchasing and owning material items changes, it will inevitably flow into the way you give and receive gifts.
A “less is more” approach to gifting during the holidays will help you cut back on the clutter while stock piling your favorite things about Christmas: closeness, connection, memories and cozy moments.
This post is packed with a not-so-minimalist list of gifts for minimalists of all ages. Here you’ll find everything from simple, tangible gifts to wild and crazy experiences.
Note for 2020: A handful of these ideas are simply unavailable to us during 2020. Experiences are hard to come by this year, but that doesn’t mean we have to give more random gifts this year. It simply means we need to get more intentional.
Here’s to curbing the clutter, preventing accumulation and opting to give with intention this Holiday season!
FREE Printable Holiday Gift Coupon Templates
100 Christmas Gifts for Minimalists
- Movie theater tickets
- Car detail service
- House cleaning, organizing or decluttering services: Organizing With Katie Love -local favorite
- Consumable products
- Salon blow out: Refined Beauty Hair Salon, Rouge Hair Studio – local favorites
- High end beauty product they’d never buy themselves
- Family Photo Shoot: Kristy Photography, JamieLynn Photography –local favorites
- Swimming lessons (We love ISR. It’s a bit of a commitment, but worth it!)
- Fitness class
- Gym membership or online workout subscription: YMCA, BeachBody On Demand, Yogaglo
- Online Course: You can find some of my favorite online courses and memberships here.
- Birchbox
- Zoo membership
- Museum membership or day pass
- State Park parking pass: Where to purchase Michigan Recreation Passport
- Chauffeured wine tasting tour
- Wine
- Overnight getaway (bonus points if you also offer to babysit)
- Indoor adventure park coupon: Rock climbing, trampoline park, mini-golf, laser tag
- Family vacation in lieu of gifts
- Pedicure or Manicure
- iTunes gift cards
- Monthly membership for perishable goods: Vinebox, BlueApron, Hello Fresh
- Massage
- Pre-made freezer meals!!
- Window washing service
- Lawn mowing service
- Concert tickets
- Day trip and lunch at a local event: Art Prize, Jazz Festival, etc.
- Audible subscription
- Spotify Premium, Pandora Plus, XM radio
- Canoe, tubing or kayak trip
- In home chef for an evening
- A unique spa experience: mud wrap, body treatments
- CSA shares (Community Supported Aggriculture)
- Restaurant or take-out gift certificate
- Road trip gift basket: candy, chips, gas card, iTunes gift card
- Replace a beauty product that’s running low: face lotion, exfoliant, makeup etc.
- Unique lessons: scuba diving, horse back riding, cooking classes, music lessons
- An awesome experience: race car driving, back stage passes, paintball
- Unique camps: Ninja Warrior Camp, college sports camp
- Comedy show tickets
- Tickets to the local theater
- Escape room
- Sporting event tickets
- Perishable themed gift basket: wine, beer, gourmet snacks
- Book and coffee gift basket/ Amazon gift card for a book & coffee shop gift card
- Really any type of themed gift basket: movie night, game night, baking, art etc.
- Family water park day trip or overnight stay
- Kids day out coupons: Day hike, aquarium, zoo, fishing, ice-cream, theater, amusement park.
Tangible Minimalist Gift Ideas For Kids
I recognize that giving experiences instead of stuff can often be easier than it sounds. It can be difficult to make the shift away tangible gifts. Especially if you’re a doting grandmother who has been gifting an abundance of toys for as long as you can remember. No matter what you give this holiday season, it’s important to do so with intention.
Here are a few gift ideas that encourage imagination, improve fine and gross motor skills, and promote education. These toys range in age groups and price, significantly.
Keep in mind, this is not a list of must-haves. Rather, consider it a list of suggestions to point you in the right direction, help keep out the junk and focus on gifts that truly keep on giving.
- Personalized calendar or photo book: Shutterfly or Snapfish
- I See Me books
- Melissa and Dough wood building blocks, Treemagination wooden blocks
- Osmo Ipad Genius Kit –Compatible iPad required
- Perishable foods/snacks you don’t typically purchase: Cracker Barrel syrup, favorite sugary cereal, Nutella, Sprite, Gatorade, Pringles
- Books: Cindertoot, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? The Giving Tree
- Live butterfly garden
- Build your own robot, littleBits, or droid inventor kit
- Plants
- Laser Tag Guns –Our all-time favorite family past time
- Science experiments: Crystal growing kit, geode kit
- Moonlite Projector
- Face paint crayons
- Water table
- Musical instrument: toddler music play, keyboard, guitar, ukelele
- Games to bring the family together: Rug Checkers, Sorry, Princess Cupcake Game, Risk, Ticket To Ride
- Dress up clothes
- Box of paper, scotch tape and a stapler (seriously! Always a winner)
- Critter case and magnifying glass
- Wall decals
- Doll House
- Solar System String Lights by Steam Powered Girls (I think I love these more than my kids)
- Homemade play dough kit (mix dry ingredients in bag and include further instructions)
- Camping supplies: sleeping bag, lantern, tent
- Gardening tools, seeds
- Regift something from your own childhood (I had saved a handmade doll from my grandmother and gifted it to my daughter. She adores it!)
- Bathing suits, sprinkler and goggles (go great with swim lesson gift certificate)
- Lap Desk
- Hunting equipment
- Needed sports equipment: New cleats, balls, clubs, leotard, or money toward team fees
- Swing set: One big gift in lieu of multiple smaller gifts. Extended family can donate to the cause.
- Basketball hoop
- Fairy garden accessories (we love to build our own natural houses and decorate with fairy and animal figurines)
- Sidewalk chalk
- Magnatiles
- Gonge Riverstones, Foam Climber
- Kindle E-Reader
- Bike
- Bike accessories: helmet, bell, basket
- Scooter
- Wagon
- Fishing pole, tackle box and lures
- Monthly kit subscription: Kiwi Crate (My kid’s LOVED this gift. Careful to not select auto renew!!)
- National Geographic Magazine Subscription
- Tree swing
- Play kitchen
- Bubble bath
- Paints and craft supplies: Pearlescent watercolors, Shrinky Dink Paper
- Lego Car/Wheel Parts
- National Geographic DaVinci Build Your Own Catapult Kit
For more inspiration on the topic of holiday giving check out:
A Grinch Agreement: What It is & Why You Need a Few This Christmas
20 Experience Gift Ideas For Grandparents (and You!) to Give this Christmas
How to Help Family Stop Giving Too Many Christmas Presents
30 Perfect Gift Ideas For Minimalist Moms
7 Perfect Gifts for Minimalist Dads
A Note to the Minimalist…
Remember, we must model gratitude and contentment for our kids in all circumstances. This means if we get bombarded with a bunch of toys we may not have chosen to purchase, we still show gratitude.
Ultimately people just want to love you and your kids. Let them. Model the grace and gratitude you hope to see in your children.
I recognize it took my 35 years to arrive in this place and I haven’t been here for all that long. It’s an adjustment for my family as much as it has been for me.
Take a big breath and prepare accordingly.