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This year, we will not be participating in the traditional gift giving. In fact, we did a tradeoff this year, and decided to give a gift basket to a family in need, rather than spend too much money on each other. Not everyone will want to go this route, and we’re not saying everyone needs to. It’s great that every year billions of people work hard to bring loved ones a happy and memorable holiday season. But there tends to be a trade-off for trying so hard. It probably comes as no surprise to you, but gifts add up and become very expensive, very quickly. Its important to note that spending a lot of money on a gift does not equal a better or happier Christmas. In fact, you may end up doing the opposite. Gift receiving can become stressful if you’re given a gift you really do not like. This year, if you have decided to give gifts, try giving gifts that will be loved and used while saving money! It’s a minimalist holiday win-win.
Talk to your loved ones before giving a gift. Sometimes it’s better to know exactly what a loved one needs, rather than surprising them. Many times the gift they really want tends to be much cheaper than the gift you were going to give. While this does remove the anticipation of receiving a gift, it also ensures your gift will be put to use and is needed rather than unnecessary.
Name brands can be overrated. There’s many brands available that are much cheaper, but similar quality. We tend to opt for name brand items because we feel “safe” with our purchase, when nine times out of ten a store brand is just as good. Stores don’t want to put their name on an item and then have it be a poor quality – this will affect their store as well. Do your research before buying a name brand item, you may be able to save up to 70% on an item by opting for the store brand instead.
Give gently used items. Try not to cringe your nose at this one. There’s nothing wrong with giving an item that has been gently used. Most second hand stores ensure the items they sell are in excellent or near new condition. You can get great items to give as gifts from thrift stores or second hand stores, and not break your bank doing so. The only item you may want to be wary of buying from these stores are electronics.
Edible items. This is a great option for someone who is trying to stay clutter free. Edible items such as chocolate, or sweets can be quickly eaten, leaving the space for something else. Plus – homemade treats are always better than store bought!
Utilize websites such as Amazon and Ebay. You may be surprised by how many items are added to these sites daily, and for low low prices. And many times the item is gently used or brand new. Read descriptions carefully before buying anything from these sites, and make sure to ask any questions before placing a bid or committing to buy.
Go digital. So much of our daily recreational lives are now spent in electronic form: books, music, videos, etc. Try opting for digital items for the high tech friend – gift cards (iTunes, Amazon) or subscriptions (Hulu, Netflix) are available for online stores and paired with a handmade card you’ve got a minimalist heartfelt gift.
Give a gift that is priceless. We recently talked about gifts that can be given and are priceless: Your time, love, and attention. If you’re flexible and are OK with not giving an item this holiday, you can instead spend a day together. Give the gift of your time spent together, undivided attention, and unlimited love.
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- Money Saving Tips For The Holidays
- Make This Holiday Season Memorable
- Avoiding the Allure of the Marketing Efforts
For tips on how to begin your decluttering journey, you can Start Here, or snag a copy of the 30 Day Challenge (our Minimalism and Decluttering eBook).
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