We are currently less than 3 weeks away from packing up our life in Melbourne! The scariest thing is – we need to fit most of our belongings into about 4 bags. If you didn’t read our exciting announcement last week, my husband and I are moving to the US(!) early next year, for one year. In the meantime, we will be in NZ from Christmas, until we leave (I go the end of April).
Because we are only able to take the bare necessities and essentials with us, we need to downsize and become more minimalist with the way we live. I’ve been researching Christmas gift ideas that aren’t necessary physical, but are experience or pleasure based and give value in other ways – like learning a new skill, or creating amazing memories.
These ideas could also be useful for that someone who already has everything, travels a lot, or lives quite minimally. I am such a lover of beautiful packaging, and lovely handwritten notes, so I think when you give these types of gifts it’s important to wrap up vouchers, tickets or cards in a beautiful way. You could also print a 6×4″ personal photo to go with the gift, and, of course, always write a card.
1) Music | Spotify subscription, or iTunes Gift Vouchers.
2) Food & Drink | Create your own hamper with boutique wine, cheese, chocolate, olive oil etc.
3) Read | A Kindle would be a great gift to replace lots of heavy books!
4) Experiences | A massage, co-pilot a flight, black water rafting, sky diving, or a seafood cooking class.
5) Tickets | La Premiere Movie Tickets, Orchestra Concert.
6) Donate | World Vision Smiles.
7) Online Course | There are so many amazing digital courses! I like Donald Millers Life Plan and Jess Lively’s Life with Intention Online.
8) Fresh flowers. With number 9, of course.
9) Handwritten letter of appreciation, written in a beautiful card. In fact, I think this should be included with every present you give!
10) Personal Photos | A printed calendar of your memories or a signature print.
Do you have any minimalist gift ideas to add? I would LOVE to hear from you! xx
This is a great great GREAT idea! Personalising gifts these days seems so much more important than just buying them! I really love the way you think and I am totally an advocate for the minimalist gifting. Living in Melbourne when all of your family is in NZ is even more reason!
Thanks Kate for more of your helpful ideas and thoughts!
What a neat list Kate!
We also also doing the big move soon (down to 3 bags because of man friends golf clubs!!), but after Christmas so we are hoping to both give and receive minimalist presents!
Another idea is a magazine subscription – something that can still be quite personal and it feels like you get a new little Christmas pressie every week/month when a new mag arrives :)