This time of year, my cell phone, like everyone else’s, starts to light up with text messages from friends and family asking me what I want for Christmas. I then start wracking my brain trying to figure out what to tell people. Because honestly, I don’t want much.
Ok that’s a lie, I want plenty of things, but not much that would qualify as a Christmas present (unless one of you feels like buying me a couch or paying for extra physio.) As a minimalist, I don’t love receiving stuff just for the sake of stuff. When I choose to bring something into my home, it’s because I’ve thought long and hard about it, and I truly believe this item will enhance my life through utility and beauty. It’s really hard to convey that sentiment to gift givers without coming off as “I don’t want your crappy gift”, even though that couldn’t be further from the truth. I love receiving gifts from loved ones, but I love receiving useful gifts even better. I know many minimalists feel the same way, so here are my fool-proof tips for buying a Christmas gift for your minimalist friend.
The Art Buying Christmas Gifts for Minimalists
The trick to buying a minimalist a good Christmas gift is to put yourself in their shoes. What are their hobbies? What are their passions? What causes are close to their hearts? Don’t just think of a gift they would like, think of a gift that will enhance their life through utility and also bring them joy. To get you started, here’s what I told my family and friends when they asked me what I wanted:
Give a Gift That Will Help With a Hobby
Ever since I’ve been injured and not running, I’ve supplemented my exercise by working out indoors. I’ve been doing the 21-day fix program, but my weights are far too light. I should really upgrade to the next weight level, but that’s not in my budget right now. That’s what makes heavier weights a great Christmas gift for me. I’ll get a lot of use out of them and they’ll help me pursue my current hobby.
Likewise, things like Ereaders for book nerds (Ebooks are a minimalist staple), or a budgeting notebook for a compulsive budgeter are all great ideas for minimalist Christmas gifts. Remember, it’s not that we hate stuff, it’s that we hate useless stuff.
Give the Gift of Indulgence
There’s nothing better in the winter time than to curl up with a cup of delicious winter tea from David’s Tea. I’m particularly fond of the herbal Sleigh Ride type right now, and this is something I’ve told potential gift givers. I love tea, but it’s definitely an indulgence for me, so I don’t buy as much of it as I’d like. Getting a box of tea would be a great gift for me, because I’ll use it, and it’ll definitely make me very happy.
The same goes for things like restaurant gift certificates, movie money, a great scented candle – you get the idea. We all have our little indulgences, figure out your minimalist friend’s, and help them indulge.
Give to Charity
Maybe your minimalist friend really DOES have everything they need, but odds are, someone they care about doesn’t. Giving to charity of behalf of your minimalist friend is a great way to put your hard earned money to good use for a good cause.
Buying for a minimalist is definitely more difficult than buying for the average bear, but that doesn’t mean you have to throw up your hands and give up. No matter what, there’s always something lacking in a person’s life, it just might not come in the form of a physical object that can be neatly wrapped.
Are you a minimalist, or do you have one in your life? What’re your go-to gift ideas? I want to know!