My Photo

Categories

.

LETTING GO

Having trouble letting go of things you know you don't really need?

1. Pretend you're moving. Ask yourself: is this item worth packing up, carrying out (or paying a mover to pack up and carry out) and unpacking?

2. Cultivate a healthy attitude. You're not just getting rid of stuff -- you're recycling, or giving it to someone who needs it more than you.

3. Once you've filled bags with trash and donations get them out of your space as soon as possible, preferably the same day. The visual improvement will inspire you.

GIFTS THAT CUT THE CLUTTER

WHAT'S A CLUTTER-FREE GIFT?

Something that doesn't add physical things to the receiver's life.
Something that benefits without adding a burden.  

Something someone loves, wants or needs --
but doesn't have to clean, store, display, keep track of or make room for.

It simplifies the life of the receiver (a gift in and of itself!) as well as yours.
It relieves pressure if you don't know what to get or they already "have it all."

Listen up!! 
Holidays don't have to be about opening the next box.
Or spending money you don't have.
Or time in crowded stores.

It's not what's inside the box but what's inside your heart.


TYPES OF CLUTTER-FREE GIFTS

Consumable
Financial
Service
Experience
Education
Membership
Technology

"What?" you say!   Read on for some great ideas  . . . 


CONSUMABLE
Temporary clutter.  These get used and disappear.

  • Homemade Baked Goods:  Make a batch of your (or their) favorite recipe.  Who wouldn't love that?!!
  • Frozen Meals:  Put together homemade dinners and freeze them in individual pans.  For someone who's had surgery, given birth, is elderly or single and hates to cook.
  • Culinary Gift Baskets:  Fill with flavored vinegar, oils, exotic spices, herbs, jams, mustards, imported teas.  Fill a glass jar with candy, dried cherries or homemade cocoa mix.  For the cook or epicure.
  • Postage stamps!  Why not?  Wait on line and select a few special editions sheets.  The right person (elderly or super busy, perhaps) will be grateful.

Other great consumable gifts:

  • Mixed case of wine: For the oenophile or wannabe.
  • Beer-of-the-month club:  Yup, there's even a monthly club for pizza!
  • A pound of pistachios
  • Homemade cookie mix with baking instructions
  • Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon
  • Arts & crafts supplies
  • Kids bath items:  Fun soaps, sponges.
  • Shower gel, body lotion:  Only if it's something they'd buy themselves.


FINANCIAL
Set up a Custodial Stock Account:  Perfect for a niece, nephew, grandchild.  Each holiday or birthday purchase shares in the amount you want to spend.  Make it a less-volatile blue chip so the stock is worth something when they turn 18. 

Rather not buy stock?  Set up a savings account or college fund. Don't forget to say "you won't be excited about this now but when you're older you'll think it's the best gift ever!!"


GIFTS OF SERVICE
Something you or someone else does for the receiver.  Pay for or do something you know they'll enjoy.  Make a coupon or coupon book.  Put an expiration date on each coupon and follow up with the receiver.  They may feel awkward about "cashing in" so reassure them afterwards that you want them to redeem the coupon(s).

Something you do:

  • A night of babysitting
  • Breakfast in bed
  • Driveway shoveling
  • A foot massage
  • Carwash
  • A computer lesson (see Gifts of Education below)

Something someone else does:

  • Massage gift certificate
  • Manicure gift certificate
  • Spa dollars gift card
  • Pre-pay their next hair salon visit!
  • A month of housekeeping services
  • Session with a professional organizer (Give them an Organizing Matters Gift Certificate!)


COMBINATION CONSUMABLE & SERVICE

  • Massage oil & coupons for foot massage, back rub, etc. Use your imagination!
  • Basket of ingredients & coupon for your services to come over and prepare the meal.


GIFTS OF EXPERIENCE & QUALITY TIME
Teach that giving and receiving is not just about consumer goods.  Create a coupon book for things they do with you or a person of their choice:

For kids:

  • Trip to the zoo
  • Get an ice cream with Mom
  • Go out for pizza with Dad
  • Museum afternoon
  • Movie & popcorn day

For adults:

  • Airline tickets:  For the receiver to come see you!
  • For sports fans:  A single game, a series or season tickets.
  • Pair of theatre or concert tix:  Or a "performance of your choice" coupon.


GIFTS OF EDUCATION
Classes or lessons (group or individual) in something the receiver expressed interest in.  Fits any budget (single class or series) and shows you've been paying attention to their "I'd love to learn Portuguese" remarks.

  • An evening with a personal chef
  • A week at cooking school
  • Italian lessons
  • One month of ballroom dance classes
  • Gymnastics
  • Private yoga instruction
  • Music, voice, magic lessons!
  • Session with a computer expert! Call in the geek squad for someone who has trouble navigating the internet, sending emails, saving word files, etc. 


MEMBERSHIPS
The gift that keeps on giving!  Join for someone or the entire family.  Buy their annual membership or a few months/visits:

  • Zoo membership
  • Museum membership
  • Season pass to amusement park
  • Gym membership
  • 10-class card at yoga studio


TECHNOLOGY

  • itunes gift card (its not just music: audio books, movies, video games)
  • Computer software:  Buy entirely or contribute to an expensive one.
  • Netflicks membership:  Buy for a year or a few months
  • Refurbish your old ipod for young child to listen to bedtime podcast stories.
  • Online books:  New twist to traditional magazine subscriptions (big clutter source)
  • Computer hardware:  Technically, not clutter-free.  But if the receiver has been pining for something, like a wireless router, and it will give them something of value for a long time then make an exception!


BENEFITS OF CLUTTER-FREE GIFTS

  • Environmental:  minimize wrappings, paper, packaging.
  • Receiver:  enjoys unique, useful fun gifts without added clutter.
  • You:  streamline shopping time, save money, feel good!


WHY & WHEN TO GIVE THEM

  • You don't want to add more clutter to someone's life.
  • You can't think of a "traditional" item someone wants or needs.
  • The receiver is someone you've gifted for years. (Does Dad really need another tie?)
  • Or someone who already "has it all"
  • You want to engage people in the dialog of streamlining.
  • You want to reduce consumerism.Your finances are low.


TIGHT ON MONEY RIGHT NOW? 

This is a way to simplify, be thrifty and still feel good.  And an opportunity to change your holiday paradigm forever!  You may find it liberating to change old patterns, like running up credit card debt.  Or getting caught up in the shopping frenzy and spending time in crowded stores, on long lines or stuck in traffic.


A NOTE ON TOYS
If you really want to buy a toy for someone then at least avoid those that need batteries!  


And remember:  It's not what's inside the box but what's inside your heart.

P.S.  Wikepedia defines consumerism as:  the equating of personal happiness with the purchasing of material possessions and consumption.