‘Tis the season for Christmas shopping yet again. If you’re like me, the old ways of buy-buy-buying just don’t cut it anymore. We all have people who are extra challenging to buy for (They already have everything! They’re picky! They buy expensive gifts and I can’t afford to buy them anything that nice!) and sometimes we find that our values are changing. Maybe you want to spend less or give something that’s ethically sourced. These factors all make giving (and getting!) just that much more complicated. I don’t have solutions for every obstacle on your list, but I’ve found some nice ways to simplify your giving, invest in items that carry a bit more meaning, or shift the focus from consumerism to connection.
- Ask. I don’t mean to oversimplify this because I know family can be tricky, but if you have a hard-to-shop-for person on your list, what’s the worst that could come from simply asking them if there’s anything they would like? “Hey, I’m trying to be really intentional about my gift giving this year and I would love to give you something I know you’ll love. You can give me a few options so it will still be a bit of a surprise, but would you be open to that?” or “Are there any things you have wanted for awhile and just haven’t been able to justify treating yourself to? I want to buy you that dream-thing!”
- Employ a little creative stalking. Think less ‘masked-man-under-cover-of-night’ and more ‘who do they follow.’ Start with Pinterest. If they have an account, what are they pinning, following, liking? What color themes do you see? Repeating styles for home or clothing? Then head over to Instagram. Many people follow cool independent clothing companies or non-profits that sell merchandise to support their cause. You can also check to see if they follow certain actors, hashtags, shows or sports teams. Follow their lead.
- Amazon wishlists. This is similar to the first bullet, but if they haven’t shared their lists with you in the past, you’ll have to ask to connect on Amazon. This is a great way to knock it out of the park every time. (And take a few minutes to make sure your list is up to date while you’re there!)
- Personalization/customization. This is my favorite secret weapon. Etsy is loaded with products that can be personalized. Look at monogrammed products and jewelry. If the person you’re buying for bought a house this year, consider a pillow or picture with their address or coordinates on it. You can also plug important dates (their anniversary, birthdate of a child, etc) into this site to make a custom star map. Kyle did this one year as a gift for me with the date of our first kiss.
- Subscriptions/memberships/special events. This one is especially fun because it’s a great way to make your gift experiential and could be purchased as a couple’s gift to kill two birds with one stone. (Trust me, after reading this list, you may be inspired to ask for one of these things yourself!) Ideas include: affinity magazine subscriptions, local cooking classes, museum memberships, YMCA memberships, prepaid yoga or barre classes, housecleaning services, co-working space memberships, deprivation floats or massages. You could also ask if your loved ones knows of any Broadway shows or local plays they’d like to attend. I also really love the idea of offering to pay for a retreat, class or local event. There are several I’ve had to shell out cash for or skipped because I didn’t want to pay. You could ask them to pay for the whole thing if it’s reasonably priced, or help contribute toward it.
- Purchase (local) art. No matter who you are, a pretty picture looks lovely framed on the wall. I personally believe art makes a great gift as long as it’s not too politically charged or niche-y. I love abstract art from the following artists: Handwritten Studio, Chelsea Michal Art, Kaitlyn Heriford and Lindsay Letters.
- Give gifts that support a cause or sustainability. Here are a bunch of organizations you can feel good about supporting (and they have great stuff): ESPWA, Treetops Collective, Noonday Collection, Public Thread, Crowned Free, Elevate People, Cuddle + Kind, Everlane, Conscious Clothing, and The Giving Keys to name a few.
- Buy gift cards/pay ahead for services they already buy (or need but never purchase). Talk about practical! Gas, nails, hair salons, restaurants, day care, kids’ lessons, movie theater, massages, date nights including babysitter.
- Photography session. Your in-laws or parents may have everything they could ever want, but everyone always wants a fresh family photo.
- Shameless plug. I have a couple of Amazon lists created to help you shop! I’ve created one that’s specifically items I’ve previously purchased or sourced for my clients (you may have even spotted some of them in my reveal pics!). I can vouch for most of the items because I’ve seen them in person. My other list is a mix of things I own/love for hosting or just being cozy. Enjoy!
Need some ideas just for kids? I pulled together a list of helpful tips and links that can help you buy less and make this Christmas more meaningful.