How to Rethink Gift Giving to Cut the Clutter
Simplify the holidays by giving minimal, more meaningful gifts to everyone on your list this year.
There are so many things to love about the holidays. Maybe you enjoy the festive lights, lively parties, or cherished family traditions.
Holiday gift shopping, on the other hand, is not so magical. It can be stressful. We often feel like we haven’t done enough for our loved ones, so we buy more and more gifts each year. We go into debt to show our love and gratitude.
Shopping online and clicking “buy now” or “add to cart” is easier than ever. Or we are so busy trying to keep up with work or kids’ school activities that we leave gift shopping to the last minute. That’s when we end up running around to all the stores, panic-buying generic gifts that are impersonal and not useful.
Sound familiar?
Too many holiday gifts can easily become clutter. (Photo by Nicolas J. Leclercq, Unsplash)
What if we gift less “stuff”?
Think about everyone you’d like to give gifts to this holiday season. What do they really need?
I’m willing to bet they don’t need more coffee mugs, or t-shirts, or sets of lotion. Most people have way too much stuff as it is. (That’s why they call me to help them get rid of what they don’t need! 😉)
So let’s think about it. What do the people on your list really need?
Is it time?
Connection?
A day off?
A new experience?
We can gift these things to our loved ones this year.
Instead of the usual gifts, imagine giving gifts that create connection, bring joy, or offer rest. Gifts don’t have to take up space on a shelf or end up in the donation pile in March.
When we rethink gift giving, we shift from giving things to giving meaning.
Plus, when we give fewer physical things, we reduce waste, packaging, and pollution from shipping — and we avoid adding clutter to someone else’s home. Minimalist gift giving is naturally more sustainable.
Why we over‑give (and how to break the pattern)
We are taught that generosity is good, and it is. But it’s easy to mistakenly think that giving more “things” makes us good or worthy of love.
We give too much because:
We feel pressure to match what others give us.
We feel guilty if we haven't really given our time or attention to loved ones throughout the year.
We confuse convenience with thoughtfulness.
We associate spending money with showing love.
But the truth is, a meaningful gift doesn’t have to be expensive or take up space. It just needs to be intentional.
When you focus on what would be meaningful for another person, your whole season will feel lighter. Just a little mindset shift can make all the difference.
Consider some of these alternative gifts
It can be difficult at first to think of gift giving in a different way. Our habits of shopping at a big box store or ordering something online are hard to break. So here are some gift ideas that won’t add to someone else’s clutter but will add joy.
Experience gifts can create connection if it’s something you can do with someone else. Plus, they create a sense of anticipation, which can boost happiness.
Tickets to a play, concert, or sporting event
A local class: pottery, cooking, photography, dance
⭐ Go very local and get tickets to a high school play, church musical, or local performing arts event. You’ll have a fun, unique experience while supporting fundraising efforts in your smaller community.
Most people love receiving cookies during the holidays. You could also share a recipe card when you gift food you’ve made. (Photo by Behnam Norouzi, Unsplash)
Consumable gifts don’t hang around long, so they’re not going to sit on a mantle or on a shelf collecting dust.
A curated box of local treats - you can support a local chocolatier or baker. Check farmers markets in your area for vendors who’d love your business.
A collection of special teas
A bottle of high‑quality olive oil
A DIY spice blend or homemade baked goods
A coffee bean subscription that gets delivered every month
Subscription to a community supported agriculture (CSA) program that delivers seasonal food from local farms
Time gifts are things you can do for someone else, and this is a great option if money is tight but you still want to give a special gift to someone you care about. These can be acts of service or gifts of your company.
Babysitting or pet sitting
A day of help tackling a project a friend or relative has been putting off
A coupon for a “coffee date” (or brunch, tea, dinner, etc) they can redeem with you anytime. You could find ways to make this special and show that you’re giving the gift of time, attention, and connection because you care.
Pet sitting or gift cards for dog grooming or doggy daycare are helpful gifts that don’t take up space. Plus, they show that you care about someone’s special pet. (Photo by Buddy AN, Unsplash)
Next, we have helpful gifts that solve a problem or provide something useful for someone else.
Car detailing
Meal subscription for a busy month
Subscription for a streaming service, app, or content (New York Times games subscription, for example)
Gym membership or ClassPass package
Doggy daycare visits for their beloved furbaby
A gift certificate for a session with a professional organizer — like Designing With Less!
A subscription to a streaming service is a great gift that doesn’t take up space but is still useful. (Photo by freestocks, Unsplash)
Sentimental gifts are also good options in a tough economy because they aren’t expensive but are so thoughtful.
A handwritten letter with special memories, you could include some small mementos that would be cherished
A framed photo with a story written on the back
A video compilation of friends sharing memories
Curate a playlist of meaningful songs and share your stories or why you chose those songs (a la an ‘80s mix tape!)
If you’d still like to give someone a more traditional gift, try to find something second-hand or vintage. It’s a more sustainable option than buying new, and you’re more likely to find something unique.
Minimalist gift giving doesn’t mean giving nothing
It means giving with purpose.
It means giving gifts that align with what matters most:
Connection
Time
Memory
Presence
This holiday season, try to think about how you can give less stuff. You might discover that the season becomes more meaningful.
Because the best gifts don’t always come wrapped in boxes. They come wrapped in presence, time, thoughtfulness, and love.
If you need help clearing out some of your home’s clutter (maybe you’ve got some generic gifts you’ve received over the years but never used), don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always here to help you sort through everything and donate what you no longer need. Then you can design with less and truly enjoy your home again.
Xoxo,
Michelle
