November 27, 2020
(Minimally updated December 2024)
Ready for Christmas gift ideas? I’ve got amazing resources for truly minimalist Christmas gifts that are unique, handy, and practical. Come see how to think about it a new way.
As quickly as it got here, the Thanksgiving celebration is sooo yesterday. Don’t blink, because the next holiday will seem the same. And we need to hurry and buy our winter things, because on December 26th the swimsuits and sand buckets will be in all the stores. Am I exaggerating? Maybe a little.
The excitement over shopping the deals (Black Friday) will also fade, and we will be left with ordinary plans mixed with holiday plans. I’m not rushing you; I’m actually asking you to slow the process down and think deeply about how you’ll celebrate.
As popular as farmhouse decor, the minimalist trend is here to stay. And there are many ways to experience minimalism. Minimalist gift-giving is only one of them.
I know what you’re thinking:
“WAIT. IS GRAMMYE A MINIMALIST??”
(Sigh.) I’m not a minimalist. I love them, and I would always vote for them. Honestly. But I can’t claim to be one.
That whole minimalist lifestyle is something I admire from afar. Oh, I think about it. That one day I might have a table with nothing on it, or a lamp that is easy to dust. Maybe one day I will have a closet with everything in place. I want to, but it would be a journey.
I think they have it right. The minimalists. I’m just not there yet.
So why suggest Minimalist Christmas Gift Ideas?
Maybe because it’s a buzzword, something you see all the time, and you want to hang on the fringes. Or maybe you just want to be a practical gift giver, and minimalism is a good description.
Either way, when you think about it, it’s a good idea for gift giving. A great idea, actually. Minimalism.
- Kind of… not consumerism.
- Kind of… not getting stuff you don’t need or want.
- Kind of… giving something meaningful.
So, it’s also not giving tiny things (“Here’s a lobster fork! And an earring! Merry Christmas!”).
It’s about being less indulgent.
And more purposeful, making things count.
I could go for that. Could you?
ENJOYING GIFT GIVING AT CHRISTMAS
Do we enjoy it? Sometimes, we really do. It’s fun, it’s tradition, it’s exciting. Especially when we get it right. And we should.
- We should enjoy it,
- And we should get it right.
But the downside, a really hard truth: One article I read on this subject referred to a report that gift giving was actually a poor use of money, that an enormous amount of consumer funds were spent on unwanted gifts. (I’m sharing the mention; If you click the links below, it’s the one by Bri.)
That fact almost hurts my feelings. Unwanted gifts. Whether I’m the recipient or the giver, “unwanted” is not what we’re after.
But gift giving is a huge deal for us.
It is stressful — planning, shopping, preparing, receiving, all of it. And we want it to be right.
Which means we really have to put more thought into what we’re doing.
And we all remember this important formula:
Stress + Thinking = More Stress.
Have you experienced it, too?
So more thinking? It’s already hard to do this.
Here’s the thing we think about already:
WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES A GIFT PERFECT?
The happiness on both sides, right? Given in love, received in joy?
You know it’s true. People wait anxiously as paper is removed, watching for the expression that says the gift is a good one.
So that’s not a surprise, just a fact.
But it doesn’t start in that moment, does it?
Backing up from the moment, that “perfect” experience starts with the planning.
It starts with the event with the rules. (Whatever the event is: Family exchange, Secret Santa, $20 limit, surprise gift, kids you don’t know well etc..)
The planning sets the stage, then everyone springs into action. Shop, ask questions, shop more, prepare.
Prepare to be both overjoyed and disappointed with grace.
Difficulty increases when we don’t know the person well enough, or they already have everything, or we can’t afford something impressive. Or something else. It can just be difficult.
But we’re obligated to participate, aren’t we? Which reminds us of…
The Unwelcome Annual Visitor:
As things get cranked up, something appears that makes everything seem more burdensome.
Our “fun” fades quickly, and Obligation rears its ugly head. Robs us of our Christmas joy more effectively than the Grinch.
Obligation makes us spend a whole Saturday in our matching red shirts to take a picture for the annual family Christmas card, no matter what else we needed to do that day.
It keeps showing up, suggesting expensive gifts, criticizing our taste, and making us spend enormous amounts of money.
Obligation works for the gift wrap companies, making millions.
It force feeds us indulgent foods, makes us buy new outfits, and drags us to parties.
Obligation overloads our calendar, complicates our family gatherings, creates conflict, and makes us weary.
Once Obligation settles in for the season, it invites friends like Jealousy and Resentment to join the party.
Obligation hangs around long after the holiday, even drags our fat pants out of the closet as the season winds down.
That’s your recipe for Holiday Stress, the dish served at almost every seasonal event.
It’s everywhere, and we can’t seem to escape.
All that Obligation.
That’s just wrong.
And we need a solution.
We need something basic, something real, something meaningful.
What is it we want?
Seriously: What is it we want, if we take away the indulgence, the fluff, and the traditions we’re stuck in?
Isn’t it joy, celebration, and relationships? (If so, why does Obligation show up uninvited?)
It’s not about trying to save money on gift giving. It’s about trying to get to the true gift — relationships.
There is plenty of really good stuff to say about Christmas, the real thing. But today it’s about gifts.
Suppose we focus on joy, and on relationships, and on experiences together. The laughter of people who are truly happy. The time together that we’ve missed.
So How Do We Give Minimalist Christmas Gifts?
What you need, to get you serious about a more focused gift giving experience this season is this:
- a lot of ideas,
- and a lot of reasons for them.
Once you get started, you’ll see it’s a different way to think about it, and incredibly exciting. Just to read the suggestions will have you off on a new search.
I’m telling you, this is better than the mall, friends.
Remember: Ideas and Reasons.
Here’s a start on thinking outside the box:
Minimalist Gift Ideas
Subscriptions make a great gift. You do need to know the preferences. For instance, you respect those on a budget who say they just can’t do Disney Plus or Amazon Prime (but you know they would love it). Why don’t you make that your gift for a year (or more)?
Gift cards to a favorite restaurant (Like Chick-fil-A) can be such a welcome thing. For those who have to eat out frequently, this can be truly helpful.
Relief gifts are often appropriate in close relationships. This has definitely been a season when we talk about the economy and its effect on us. One example: prepaying a utility bill or a grocery tab for someone you care about could be a huge stress reliever.
Special treats feel like even more of a luxury at certain times. Could you offer a manicure or hair color session to a friend or relative? Or maybe a gift basket of unexpected toiletries to have a spa night?
And for stocking stuffers, what about…
Flashlights, ice scrapers, all-in-one tools, all these are things we need. Maybe because we need multiples, maybe because we misplaced one?
You know what we don’t give as gifts much anymore? Books! We just don’t think of it. But you know reading is soooo good. Cozy up at night with a warm blanket and dig into a story.
When in doubt, give that gift card! Walmart gifts cards will get used. So will Amazon gift cards.
These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg.
For lots of amazing resources for truly minimal Christmas gifts that are unique, handy, and practical, please check out these great posts.
And let the minimalist thoughts begin!
Check Out These Articles:
65 Minimalist Budget Gift Ideas by Bri. (Such important truths for that minimalist kind of thinking.)
Gift Ideas For Minimalists by Sheila. (Somebody get me that 8-in-1 kitchen thing, please!)
Gifts of Experiences by Kris. (Give a haircut or a cooking class? Brilliant!)
Sometimes this happens, that other people write the exact articles I wish I had.
The big questions:
- Who’s in charge?
- Who is it that determines the gifts, the games, the events?
If it’s you, how can you connect to your people in a meaningful way this season?
That’s what I’m trying to do.
It’s so easy to recommend products. I do it all the time. Product Recommendations by Grammye. See? Because useful things are so… well, useful.
And I love gifts — giving and getting. I love wrapping them, and I love the season. I just want to keep it real.
If you’re on the same track, read my post on A Simpler Christmas To Bring You Joy.
For more gift ideas, check out my 5 Secrets to Giving the Perfect Gift.
Or maybe you are interested in these:
The Surprising Truth About the 12 Days of Christmas
Surviving Christmas After Losing Someone
Thanks for letting me say it, and thanks for being here. Just knowing you came to check it out makes me happy!
Thank you for visiting! At GFP company is always welcome!
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Are you on Pinterest? That is a crazy fun place! You can find so many helpful things. Take a look at what I’ve saved for you! A lot of things that never make it to the blog. Here are my Pinterest pins, and I have lots of categories/boards if you’re looking for something specific.
-Grammye
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