10 Ideas to Get Creative with Your Gifting

Ah, the age-old question: how to find the perfect holiday gifts for everyone on your list?

Some people are born great gift-givers. They thrive off of coming up with thoughtful and personal gifts for everyone. But the rest of us struggle year after year to find the right gifts. Some of our loved ones are easy to shop for, but we all have that one person who has everything and it's quite the challenge to think something up for them!

For organizers like us, just the thought of giving a material gift that might not hit the mark gives us anxiety! No one wants to give a gift that isn’t loved or used, and will ultimately turn into clutter. That is the worst possible outcome.

So, this year, we would like to challenge you to give with a little more intention.

Many of us give material gifts because it’s the easier, more common thing to do. It's tradition, after all! However, giving a physical gift is more likely to contribute to the recipient’s clutter at home and, more often than not, those gifts end up just being discarded or re-gifted down the road, which is truly a waste for everyone involved. This year, with the added challenges of rising prices, post-pandemic inflation, and supply-chain issues, creative gifting may help alleviate the strain on your wallet and negate some of those unavoidable shipping delays or ‘back-ordered’ challenges.

If you are stumped with your holiday gifting this year, or are just looking for ways to give more meaningful gifts, we compiled a list of 10 ideas to help you get a little extra creative with your gifting this year!

10 Ideas for Creative Gifting

1. Give unique experiences

Gifting unique experiences is a fantastic, clutter-free gift. After almost two years of limited activity options due to long term pandemic closures, this is a no-brainer and a guaranteed win. People are hungry for experiences and this is a great way to support the industries that have suffered a huge hit over the last year or two. Some examples of experiences you can give are; buying tickets to concerts, events, shows, entertainment, or learning subscriptions. It can also include booking a trip or a spa service for much needed relaxation!

2. Only shop local/small businesses

Supporting local businesses will not only decrease the likelihood of shipping delays, but will also pour your dollars right back into your local and beloved community. If you still come across a lack of inventory, consider a gift card or certificate instead. This still gives your local businesses a boost but gets rid of the pressure on them to deliver by the holidays.

3. Think outside the box

This one will take a little extra time and creativity, but it is by no means a challenge. Make a list of things the person on your list enjoys (i.e. cooking, basketball, wine, gardening, etc.). What are their passions or hobbies? Do some research! Find an unusual, new, or unique gift that they would enjoy that is directly linked with their interest. If they love coffee or tea, instead of just buying them holiday-flavored K-cups from the grocery store, find a unique subscription-based company that offers a coffee of the month! Putting that little extra bit of thought into your gifting will not go unnoticed!

4. Thrifty gifting

Shopping at second-hand stores can include thrift shops, antique stores, consignment stores, or even Buy Nothing groups (usually found on Facebook based in your local town or city). This approach entirely eliminates the circulation of new items in the market. You can call your gift Vintage! It’s a great option for sustainability and our environment, since most items we use end up in landfills. It can also be a more affordable way to find useful and unique gifts for your loved ones!

5. Things they can DO

Gifting fun projects, crafts, games, DIY activities that can be done at home can be a great way to gift something that is an experience in itself, without spending big bucks. Similar to our first idea of giving experiences, but on a smaller scale if you are short on cash. The key here could be the gift of quality time, especially if the activity can be done in a group or at least with one other person to share the experience with.

6. Gift boxes

You can find interesting, affordable, and themed gift boxes for almost everyone on your list. These can be pre-made or personally crafted boxes to match the personality of the person on your list. A quick Google search will yield a handful of results but some popular ones include: Knack (knackshops.com), BoxFox (shopboxfox.com), and Packed with Purpose (packedwithpurpose.gifts).

7. Books

Books are a great gift idea that a lot of people tend to forget about. Not everyone is a reader, but books are a great gift for people as they can cover pretty much any topic or interest. Gifting books for decoration, such as photography or coffee table books can also be an option if the recipient is not an avid reader but loves interior design and decor! Chances are, you can probably find a book for everyone on your list.

8. Donations

If someone on your list truly does have everything (or happens to be the type who will just buy things for themselves) consider making a donation in their name to a cause they feel passionate about. This is a great way to have a meaningful impact and still give intentionally and thoughtfully.

9. Gift your time

The last year or two has been tough on many of us financially. If you are tight on funds, consider gifting your time. An example of this would be to set aside time once a week or once a month to make dinner with a family member or friend. Make out a card or little hand-made coupons displaying quality time in the form of I-O-U’s and stick to your promises! Material things come and go in our lives, but spending extra quality time with a loved one will make memories that will last much longer than any gift.

10. Swapping

There may be things in your life (or closet) that you aren’t using anymore that someone may love to have or use. Host a swapping event prior to the holidays and invite friends to bring items that they may not want/use and then swap your stuff! Someone may have exactly what you are looking for. And, as a plus, anything leftover can be donated to a local organization or charity.

So often we get trapped in the mindless cycle of consumer culture gifting. It is ingrained in us that we must buy the newest gadget or updated version of whatever style of clothing or accessory is hot at the moment. We buy more and more, only to keep items for a short time and then discard them shortly after. Even worse, most of what we receive during the holidays turns into clutter (gasp!). By using just a few of these ideas, you can break this cycle and hopefully feel inspired to give a little more intentionally this year.

What is one of the most memorable gift you have ever received? Let us know in the comments below!