Tips for Clutter-free Gift Giving
So often when we’re decluttering, my clients mention that they haven’t gotten rid of a specific item yet, even though they don’t use it, because it was a gift. It turns out that gift giving can often result in clutter! This holiday season, and throughout the year for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions, consider giving non-tangible gifts rather than objects in order to avoid unintentionally creating clutter in your own home or in the homes of others.
The lists below provide some ideas to get your juices flowing as to how you can provide immaterial gifts to your loved ones. Following the gift-giving idea lists are a section on the importance of detachment in gift giving and a final section that discusses best practices for giving physical gifts whenever you decide to give someone something material.
Non-Tangible Gift Ideas
Tickets to events:
Concerts, symphony, etc.
Comedy shows
Circus shows
Dance performances, ballet, etc.
Sports games
Gift certificates for experiences:
Museums
Portland Japanese Garden, Lan Su Chinese Garden
Rage rooms or escape rooms
Spas
Massages
Salons
Restaurants
Rock climbing gyms
Skiing or snowboarding
Waterskiing, rafting, or other watersports
Skydiving excursions
Tattoo or piercing studios
Mini golf courses
Travel opportunities, domestic or abroad
Chartered wildlife-watching tours
SCUBA/snorkeling guided tours or lessons
Theme parks or water parks
Classes / Trainings:
Pottery
Painting or drawing
Blacksmithing or other metalworking
Glassblowing
Woodworking
Leatherworking
Screenprinting
Quilting
Knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitching
Sewing or tailoring
Basketry
Dog training
Archery
Horseback riding
Tennis
Golf or disc golf
Sailing
Kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding
Yoga
Partner acrobatics
Dance
Martial arts
Musical instrument tutoring or voice lessons
Improv or acting
Cooking
Mixology
Or, get creative and make your own gift certificate by coming up with a personalized experience to share with a loved one (such as a home-cooked meal, or a special picnic in a favorite place).
Subscriptions:
Meal kit service
Music or video streaming platforms
Online video game subscription, battle pass, or game pass
Language learning apps
Subscriptions to CSAs or meat CSAs
Ridwell or other waste-reduction service subscription
Services that people need but might feel embarrassed about:*
Therapy
House cleaning
Landscaping services
Budgeting app subscriptions (such as YNAB)
*Be sure to only gift these if you know for certain that the gift would be welcome; please don’t gift these in a passive-aggressive or judgmental way, in which you are revealing your perspective that you think the person needs the service.
Other:
Digital gift cards for video games, music, etc.
Monetary donation to a charity in a person’s name
Good ol’ cash
Gifting consumables can be another way to avoid creating permanent clutter in someone’s home:
Food: fresh or dried fruit gift baskets, chocolate, baked goods, nuts, etc.
Beverages: tea, coffee, hot chocolate, beer, wine, liquor, cocktail mixers, etc.
Cannabis products (where legal)
Gift Giving Attitude
Because emotional attachment is a major factor in creating and perpetuating clutter, when you give a material gift, it’s important to cultivate a feeling of detachment. In the event someone doesn’t actually like or use a gift you gave them, they should be able to pass that item along without feeling guilt or shame, and without fearing that they’ve hurt or insulted you. Consider how you would feel if you received a gift that you didn’t ultimately like or would use. Wouldn’t you want to be able to pass the item along to someone else who would enjoy it without feeling like you have betrayed the gifter? Remember: a gift is a symbol that shows someone you care about them or are proud of their achievements. It should never be a material investment that becomes a debt or a tool for emotional manipulation.
Best Practices for Physical Gift Buying
If you’re going to buy items, consider buying local, handmade, and environmentally conscious products to support businesses and craftspeople based in the greater Portland area and to reduce your carbon footprint. Search for winter markets in your area to shop for unique handmade items.
Buying used goods is another way to reduce your environmental impact. You can shop at a local thrift store (even better if it’s one where the proceeds go to a good cause, such as The Mustard Seed & Book Nook) or at an estate sale. If you’re looking for a specific item, you can always check local marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor, Offerup, etc.
Check out the links below to learn more about local women-owned businesses that offer gift certificates and/or hand-crafted goods:
Mental Bakedown
Gothic/horror/holiday baked goods and confections
Sparkle Coven Fairy Hair
Hair tinsel
Malachite Silver Co.
Handcrafted jewelry
Tango Nexus
Argentine Tango classes
Cascade Mermaid
Mermaid class/performances, facepaint, balloon animals, glitter tattoos, fairy hair
Local Artist Shannon Amidon
Encaustic (beeswax) painting workshops
Firebird Healing Arts Alliance
Reiki Healing & Tarot Reading
Local Artist Linda Robertson
Art classes in Photo Encaustic, Mixed Media Collage with Wax, and Quick Sketching
Elk Rock Yoga
Yoga classes
Velvet Morning Creative
Portrait & Brand / Business Photography
Geneviev’s Boutique
Handmade toys, clothing, and hair accessories for kids and dolls
Kindness Rock Painting
Rock Painting workshops
(503) 848-9191 or info@curvychiccloset.com
Heart Mountain Wellness
Shamanic healing sessions, sound baths, ceremonies, and more
Wild Hearts Market
Handmade gifts
Ray 2 Z Cooking
Gourmet meal delivery service and artisan pickles
Skin Sense Spa
It’s a spa, and they do spa things!
Miss Renee Healing
Tarot & Astrology readings, Reiki
Small Dose Magic
Earrings, necklaces, prints, tote bags, and stickers
Float North
Float therapy / sensory deprivation, massage therapy, and sound therapy
Note: This blog post was written exclusively by me and my partner, two humans living in Portland, Oregon! I refuse to contribute to the slop that is clogging up the internet these days. I won’t even include the words to explicitly describe what I’m referring to here in case that gets picked up by a search engine, but I have a feeling you’ll know what I’m talking about. ;)
