I love this fun and inspirational list of clutter free gifts that was compiled by members of the Clutter Clearers’ Peer Support Group and the Declutter Your Life and Mind Facebook Group.
General Items
- Photos or a photo collage
- Digital – birthday calendar
- Digital – family recipes
- Ear Ring Holder – to organize earrings and/or jewelery
- Beautiful box and/or bag to store something specific
- A portrait or painting that you did yourself
- Homemade gifts are always welcome and appreciated – I love homemade, natural bath products
- Photos of an event or someone special
- Plants – Amaryllis, Paper White, Hyacinth or Succulents – I think they are bulbs
- A letter written to a loved one
- Handmade Cards
Consumables
- Groceries or grocery gift cards
- Candy ie. caramel corn, peanut brittle, truffles
- Chocolate is always in style
- Wine/spirits/juice/fancy tea/coffee/kombucha/hot chocolate
- Spice mixes
- Orange pomander – orange studded with whole cloves, rolled in cinnamon – (I made one of these for my mom once)
- Herbs from your garden (fresh or dried)
- Homegrown or store bought bouquets
- Treats in a jar – cookie ingredients and recipe
- A tray of homemade cookies or other holiday delicacies
- Edibles (not sure what they meant by that) – I think anything you can eat lol
Experiences
- Event tickets – plays, movies, concerts, etc. (with a plan to go with the recipient)
- Theme Park Pass – Zoo Membership
- Fitness Membership
- Coffee gift cards with a planned Coffee Date
- Gift Cards for restaurants (A great family gift)
- Subscription to a Meal Delivery Program like Hello Fresh or Chef’s Plate
- Spa Days
Acts of service
- Coupons for doing chores around the house ie: dishes, laundry, babysitting, dog-walking…
- Coupons for foot rubs, back rubs, etc.
- Charitable gifts in the person’s name
- Car Detailing (could be a gift card)
- Car Wash Card (my partner would love this)
Green wrapping ideas (for all you crafty ones)
- Newspaper, magazines, potato print or rubber stamped plain paper, brown paper packages tied up with (coloured) string; or ornamented with pine cones, other natural items or paper snowflakes (I love making paper snowflakes)
- Homemade holiday ornaments – salt or cinnamon dough cut outs, paper garlands
- Homemade cloth bags if you enjoy sewing
- Wrapping paper for gifts made from kids artwork
- And the #1 popular non clutter gift that everyone loves – when in doubt give……. Money $$$
What are your ideas for Clutter Free Gifts?
This is a great time to work on some problem areas in your home before the end of the year. Do you need some guidance and accountability to get started? Let’s work together. You can always book a free Coffee Chat with me.
Happy Decluttering!
I’m reading through your list thinking about ideas for my Mom. She really needs nothing, and it can be difficult.
Here’s another idea for the “coupon” category: if you live close enough, gift a bird feeder and the service of refilling it for them.
The holidays shouldn’t become a burden, either for the gift givers or the recipients. Great post.
Thanks Seana, Yes so many of us really need nothing. I love your idea about the bird feeder. Is there really a service like this? I had no idea.
I’m a huge fan of clutter-free gifts. What a great list you have with so many excellent ideas.
Our youngest daughter, Cassie, started us on this path decades ago. When we asked her what she wanted for her birthday, at the ripe young age of 8 or so, she said, “I want experiences, not things.” And from then on, that’s what we gifted her.
Cassie was never interested in life’s stuff. She was more interested in doing, seeing, and exploring than collecting objects. She had an enormous influence on our family.
Hi Linda, That is so amazing and so unusual for an 8 year old. What a great thing for your family though. So many families and/or people have a hard time making the switch from an actual gift to an experience. I love experiences and adventures myself.