Under-Consumption Gift Guide

This time of year, the Internet is packed with articles full of the latest and greatest products to buy for those near and dear to you. But buying only what you need and repurposing anything you can, while aiming to consume less, is super “in” right now. It’s about embracing experiences over material goods, being intentional with purchases, and minimizing your environmental impact. And as the holidays roll around and we’re shopping for people who seemingly have everything, gifting with underconsumption in mind is a great way to provide a present that people will cherish in a way that speaks more than materialism.

Want to gift the under-consumption way? Here are some ideas on how to embrace this trend this holiday season.

Gift experiences over things

The longer we live, the more things we acquire. Does anybody really need more stuff? And between birthdays and holidays, your grandkids and great grandkids are probably collecting a ton of toys and clothes. Gifting them an experience gives them the ability to do something they may not have otherwise had the chance to do. Sign a loved one up for a photography class, book them a dinner cruise, gift them a day at the spa. These types of gifts can enable people to get out of their daily routines and have fun, which is a priceless gift. 

DIY your own gifts

Get crafty and find items around the house that you can repurpose into gifts that someone would love. Here are a few ideas from DIY expert Veena Crownholm’s Instagram page, where she’s often whipping up something crafty and fun on.

1. Mason Jar Baking Kit: Find an old mason jar, clean it up, and fill it with all the premeasured ingredients needed to make something delicious – like holiday cookies or hot cocoa. Decorate the jar with some ribbons and write out the instructions for cooking the recipe on a tag and tie it to the jar. 
2. Homemade Sugar Scrub: Look up some recipes online and use ingredients from your pantry like granulated sugar, coconut oil, dried roses, or lavender from your garden. Accent with scents like a touch of vanilla. Here’s an easy recipe for a sugar scrub you can use to treat your skin by Eating by Elaine. 
3. A Fancy Potted Plant: Have an old terra cotta plant pot sitting around in your garage? Give it a fresh coat of paint and fill it with a beautiful plant. Try one of Veena’s cute fruit pots. 

Regift something around the house

This may initially sound tacky, but hear us out. Think of all the things you’ve been gifted that you don’t use – that sweater with the tags still on that you purchased just because it was on sale, the grow-your-own herbs kit that a friend gave you years ago that you haven’t even remotely had time to plant, the white elephant gift you won at last year’s Christmas party that’s been sitting in the box in your closet? If you have items that you know someone on your gift list would love, give them a new home. Give the herb garden to your friend with a green thumb, the sweater to someone who it would look great on and the white elephant gift you could always toss back into the mix at the next white elephant party you get invited to.

Donate to a charity in their honor

Find a charitable organization that a loved one has a tie-in with and donate in their name. You can make a one-time donation or set up a recurring monthly gift. It doesn’t have to be a lot – think $5 a month, for instance. For a guide to charities that are out there and to research them and see where the funds go, look at sites like Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, Give.org, and GreatNonProfits. 

Creating lasting memories

Set up a family photo shoot for loved ones. You can then frame photos from the day or turn them into keepsake keychains or magnets for everyone in the family. Make a music playlist of songs that remind you of someone and give that to them for the holidays. Create a thoughtful scrapbook for someone you love or purchase a digital picture frame and load their account with all sorts of fun family photos and video memories. 

Go digital

A perfect gift that doesn’t take up space or add waste to the planet? Consider a digital subscription. Gift someone with an account to an audiobook service, like Audible. Pay for Netflix for a year for your grandchild. Purchase an eBook for someone with a Kindle, like a cookbook they would really enjoy. 

Turn skills into gifts

Are you a whiz at gardening? Gift helping someone to set up a backyard or patio garden. Do you know how to play the piano? Give someone lessons for the holidays. If you’re great at cooking and have a friend who is too busy to eat well, whip up a home-cooked meal or gift them a casserole. And homemade cookies always go a long way around the holidays. 

Buy tickets and spend time together

Have a grandchild who loves interactive exhibits or thrilling rides? Buy tickets for the family to a nearby theme park to spend a fun day together. The art lover in your life would love tickets to a cool exhibit at the local art museum. If you have a friend who loves national parks, pay for their entrance fee, and spend a day hiking and exploring one together. Gifting tickets for something gives you the opportunity to wow someone with a fun day and can be a great way for you to spend time with a loved one in the process. 

When it comes to gifting with underconsumption in mind, there are no steadfast rules. But spending time to be thoughtful about what you are purchasing, reusing what you can, and focusing on experiences over things is a great place to start. When you put this type of effort in, you’re sure to get some smiles from the recipients this season!