Gifting Joy, Not Stuff

Ever since I read Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Art of Tidying Up a few years ago, I have tried to be more mindful about minimizing extra stuff and unnecessary purchases. It is very easy to become convinced in today’s consumer-oriented culture about all of the “newest” and “best” things that we “need. ” Even if we had all the money in the world to buy every last gadget or gizmo, plenty of research shows that having more stuff does not lead to happiness or fulfillment. On the contrary, having too much stuff can provoke anxiety and stress, among other negative feelings.

Julia wrote last week about the joy of holiday shopping with friends, but her point was more about enjoying the experience than collecting up as much stuff as possible. And I’m not trying to be Mr. Grinch either; I love a great holiday outfit or surprise gift as much as the next gal. I also always appreciate a thoughtful gesture or the chance to indulge in something that I might not ordinarily do for myself. But I’ve also received enough unneeded items as gifts over the years to make me rethink how I give to others.

In the spirit of useful holiday gifting that is not based on stuff, I’ve compiled a few ideas to help you give joyfully without bringing in any of the negative associations with too much stuff.

• Gift certificates for a future meal at a beloved restaurant, for show/movie/music tickets, or even for a spa treatment. These can be a great way to let your recipient enjoy something that you know they’d love, or at least might like to try, at a future time when it suits them. Beware of expiration dates because no one likes to feel pressure to rush into an outing.
• Memberships to a museum, music venue, Netflix, gym or any other place that you think your recipient might like to spend time, but might not want to splurge on for themselves. This can be an ideal way to show you know what they like and to even support a healthy habit.
• Donations to a charitable or community organization that your recipient would appreciate or like to support based on what is important to them. There is no shortage of meaningful organizations out there and they all need support. They will usually send your friend or loved an acknowledgment of your donation on your behalf. If you need ideas, Charity Navigator‘s site provides a plethora of information on organizations so you are sure to find something that fits your recipient.
• Practical items, or something you know they would use, like warm a pair of luxury Cashmere socks or fancy olive oil or cooking spices. These are things everyone uses in their daily life, so you know they’ll get used.