My Take On Holiday Gift Giving This Year | And Why I’m Shopping Before the Holidays

I do not start celebrating the Christmas season until December 1st every year. No Christmas music, no holiday movies, and no activities that take away from the focus on being thankful and celebrating the present moment and Thanksgiving. However, I’m making one exception this year for holiday shopping. My gift-giving style has evolved and changed numerous times over the past several years. During my new-adult stage I often focused on hand-made gifts due to budget and my determination to give personalized gifts. When I studied abroad one year at the end of university I brought back personalized travel related gifts for my family and loved ones. During my corporate years I was excited to be able to afford “real gifts” and when I gave up that mindset for a healthier one centered around a simpler lifestyle, I started giving out experiences instead of things. Giving experience gifts was a fun way to give gifts to my loved ones, but now a few years in I’ve been running low on ideas and I want to spice it up a little bit. So this year I have a couple new ideas I plan to try. 

I would still like to give out experiences instead of meaningless materials goods, but I do want to offer something more for my loved ones to open this year. I got the idea when I was putting away my apple baskets the were left over from my bridal shower earlier this year. I would like to create personalized gift baskets that still focus on experiences, but also offer a little more. I am going to be ordering small half-bushel apple baskets online and fill each one with gifts focused around an experience. For example for a movie-buff I can create a gift basket that includes a gift card to their local movie theater, a bag of Carmel popcorn, a DVD of a film that they love, and a favorite candy. These little gift baskets do not need to be expensive, but thoughtful ways to give experiences that are meaningful to each person. I do not want to fill them with useless trinkets, but rather small tokens of love. I can also decorate and personalize each basket with the recipient’s name and holiday ribbons. These baskets can be made to fit around any budget. 

Here are some ideas to create your own Christmas baskets for the people in your life:

For the winter sports lovers: Season passes to a local ski slope, hand warmers, hot coa coa mix, and thick winter socks. 

The art enthusiasts: A membership to a local museum that they love, a new sketchbook and charcoals, a colored pencil or paint set. 

Those that need some R&R: A gift card to a spa or a local massage therapist, a lovely scented candle, and a box of chamomile tea.

The new parents: A service that will be of use for them like laundry pickup or diaper delivery, a grocery store gift card, comfy slippers, and a bath bomb for the new mom.

The foodies: A gift card to a new restaurant or their favorite place, recipe cards with some new recipes you picked out just for them, a jar of food or jam from a local farm or artisan, and a delicious seasoning. 

The book worms: A gift card to a book cafe or Barnes & Noble, a candle, a bookmark, and a small box of chocolates.

The student: A gift card for dunking donuts or their favorite snack stop like Panera Bread, scarf and mittens, and a warm sweater with their college logo.

The gamers: A Groupon to a local arcade, a box of candy, a deck of personalized cards, and an invite to a game night that you planned just for them. 

The loved one far from home: A basket full of their favorite local goodies that they cannot find where they are now, a collection of photographs of you together  and a card with well wishes signed from everyone at home.

The yogi: The latest issue of a yoga magazine, a box of yogi tea, a jar of local honey, and a subscription to a meditation app like Headspace or 10% Happier.

The newlyweds: A date night out basket with a gift card for a date activity/ restaurant, a cook book for couples, and a bottle of wine.

The grandparents: A recent framed photo of you and your family, a handwritten card with a promise for a family dinner [plan it soon], and a personalized photo gift like a set of mugs with family photos or a calendar for the new year. 

As you can see, there is a gift basket idea for everyone on your list from athletes, travel bugs, bicyclists, musicians, craft lovers, baseball fans, Star Wars lovers, and every hobby and interest you can imagine. This is a fun and personal way to create gifts that both fit your budget and wow the recipient. It is a way to give an experience gift to someone with a little bit extra thought. I also found great one-quart wooden berry baskets for smaller gifts for coworkers and other holiday guests and family friends. These berry baskets are great for small gifts like candles, giftcards, mini home spa kits, school or office supplies, teas or coffees, and holiday ornaments. 

I have also made the decision to complete my shopping by Thanksgiving or the end of November so that I can truly make the most of the holiday season without worrying over shopping costs and time when I’m trying to make my holiday plans. Instead of wasting my time in stores and long lines I can share experiences with those I love celebrating the holidays, watching holiday films, sharing meals together, and making Christmas cookies. Gift giving can be a lovely way to show how much you love someone, but the holiday season is so much more than the gifts. Our time and our dedication truly is the best gift we can give to those we love. Find balance this year by taking back your time so you can do more of what matters most instead of falling prey to consumerism.