You know what I really kind of hate? Stuff. Sitting there, requiring dusting, storage, packing when I move. Getting rid of unwanted, unbeautiful things is practically a hobby of mine. Do you still want that gold unicorn figurine? Because I really want to donate it to Goodwill so I don't have to look at it anymore.
And Christmas is the season of stuff. We all receive mountains of random crap from those ridiculous office Secret Santas and shirt-tail relatives and well-intentioned others. A framed dogs-playing-poker print for the art snob! Cheese and meat collections for the vegetarian! Jingly, jangly earrings for the un-pierced!
So let's save ourselves some embarrassment, a bit of wrapping paper and a trip to the returns counter and give the lovelies in our lives some non-stuff...you know-consumable, usable, non-permanent things. Here are some of my favorite non-stuffs to give:
- Magazine subscriptions. Wicked cheap and they'll think of you every month when they find this treasure in their mailbox. I really like Readymade, Bust and Mentalfloss.
- Tickets to events. Plays! Boxing matches! Comedy nights! Maybe if you're really nice, they'll even take you.
- Memberships to something. I'm keen on the gym or the local CSA, if you're really rolling in it you could get Dad a membership at the golf course.
- Spa treatments. Because your mum really needs a massage but she's much more likely to spend her money on your little sister's braces.
- Time with a psychic. I got this for the BFF's wedding present and she loved it. I, on the other hand, ended up with a woman who drew her own tarot cards on 8x11 office paper and channelled her dead Siamese cat. For real.
- Lessons, of the exciting type. Ethnic cooking, salsa dancing, airplane flying, downhill skiing, all good options.
- Exotic plants. Those tiny pepper plants are fantastic and who wouldn't love to have a Venus fly trap on their desk at work?
- A visit from you. Kind of a cop out, kind of awesome. Possibly most appreciated by grandparents and mothers who have yet to cut the proverbial apron strings.
- Vouchers for a hotel stay. Give your mum and dad the gift of not having to pick up after themselves.
- Vouchers for a cleaning service. I'm just sayin.'
- Specialty food from a place where they've traveled. Wicked hummus, Tim Tams or Sake for those who have been nice. Pickled herring and thousand-year-old eggs for those who have been naughty.
- Have a star named after them. Cheesy? Yes. Awesome? Yes.
- A carriage or limo ride. In the event that naming a star after someone is too subtle for you.
- Lotto tickets. Do not include a note about splitting any winnings, okay Scrooge?
What non-stuff gifts do you like?
reposted from 2008 because giving non-stuff? Still awesome!
28 comments:
My friends and I all go out together for Christmas and pay for ourselves, but it's our gift to one another because we're doing something fun we wouldn't normally spend the money on. Like taking a carriage ride through the lights displays at a garden where we live, or going wine tasting, or going to see a Christmas movie and then going out to eat, normally while dressed up in cute holiday dresses.
Adopting animals virtually. Last Christmas I got my brother an adopted one-armed chimp for a year. He's been down to Monkey World to see it and everything :D
I'm a big mag gifter too! You can find cheaper subscriptions on Amazon too. I also adopted a manatee for my mom one year (her fave animal) and found one that managed to share our middle name - she loved it! My girlfriends and I also enjoy a night of doing a Christmasy craft, drinking wine and eating fudge, listening to campy music like Wham's "Last Christmas" :) Best gift ever.
Duuuuude. If someone gave me a gift certificate for professional house cleaning, I'd weep silver tears of delight! My house is already hella clean, but there are some things I loathe scrubbing (what's up, bath tub!). I might get that gift for myself. :)
My closest group of friends and I always go out for a really nice meal at Christmas time - the same amount of money gets spent on amazing food, lots of wine and we all have a fantastic evening and most importantly we don't end up with loads of silly trinkets that we don't need or want and will just feel guilty about throwing away! Perfect!
x
http://sparklesmiledance.blogspot.com
My girlfriends and I do birthday dinners out. I'd MUCH rather have someone buy me food and talk to me than give me an object!
Great gifts! I especially love magazine subscriptions and events (concerts, classes, etc). But the best non-gift I ever received, by far, was a visit to a chiropractor. Aaaahh. Not something I'd usually spring for, but it was heaven on my bad back.
Great list, love the ideas! I thought I'd throw my two cents in about the star naming though- as it turns out, it's not really any sort of official naming in any way, which is cool, as long as you know that and I have a feel most people don't (at least I didn't). There's more info here about it if anyone is interested: http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2001/12/49345
Hey you!
There's a surprise for you over on my blog.
(I wrote you an email too).
I make alot of diy-gifts, edible. They last until they are eaten and then done with.
As for magazines. When you've finished, a neat trick is to take them to a local nursing home/walk-in-clinic/hospital-for others to read. A recent issue of Vogue far outweighs a two year old National Enquirer. The same goes for soft covered books. Just leave them somewhere for others to take and read.
And oh, "I" buy a goat through this micro loan organisation each year. The goat is given to a family in need and is the first step to climb out of poverty. Last year I bought 20 cocoa trees in Africa too.
My bffs and I all decided instead of doing gifts, we were all going to make dinner together and watch a favorite movie of ours with some cookies and hot cocoa. I like this idea way better than stressing out bout a gift.
Every year my wife and her sisters pick a concert that's happening in December or January and buy tickets for her parents, along with a night in a hotel and a gift card for a meal. They LOVE it.
I love getting people tickets for concerts and theatre shows that they're desperate to see (especially if they ask me to go along :) )
I love these suggestions, Ms. Von! I've given many magazine subscriptions this past year and it's a great gift!
I took my boyfriend to see the Counting Crows; a former boyfriend took me to see the Nutcracker. Both were awesome.
I try to give as many edible/homemade gifts as possible- with actual thought put into them! Ah! My brothers girlfriend is getting a cheese making kit, my boyfriend a homebrew kit. My dad and his wife are getting jars of homemade jam, my mom a tea blend that I made myself, and my step dad cookie mix with "be nice to my mom!" included in the directions. I love gifting this way!
What a fab list of ideas! So often I scratch my head only to conjure up some useless gift!
Baked goods! Give me a plate of homemade cookies and you'll have one very happy girl!
I love love love this list. Totally getting my mom a day at the spa for Christmas. Thank you for reposting this!
Hi! I had coffee with the lovely Jess today (Wellington, Little Old New Zealand) and she told me about your blog. I've subsequently spent the last 2 hours on here and just wanted to write and say I think I love you. Awesome awesome blog, keep writing!
Everyone I know is getting a hug and a heartfelt smile. Times are hard. I still appreciate the list. =)
For my best friend's 18th birthday I named a star after him. Super cheesy, but he still talks about it years later!
Perhaps you should do a post on how you restrain yourself from decluttering a friend's cluttered and messy house, when they are just happy living that way. Nah, I'm joking, but I seriously have to restrain myself from starting to tidy up my friend's place. I can see the potential, but it's hidden under piles of crap and broken coffee mugs! Ugh.
Anyway, I like to give gifts of experiences, (if I can afford to) - things like a behind the scenes tour at the zoo, a day sail on a well known boat, a wineyard tour etc. Gifts to use up are the best!
My mother asked me the other night what I want for my 21st birthday, which is coming in about a month. I had mentioned how my TV is very old and doesn't work with video games or a DVD player, so she asked if I want a new TV. I told her I'd think about it, because I wasn't sure it was practical. The more I've been thinking about it, the more I'm thinking I want to ask for something I've never asked for before: for her to give to a charity in my name. I've been thinking of adopting a plot of rainforest through World Land Trust. I guess I just can't think of anything I really need. I have so much stuff that I don't really need or want anymore. It would be so much cooler if she spent the money she would have spent on TV to save some trees.
G點的性感丁字褲的吊帶襪的丁字褲的無線跳蛋的
角色扮演的跳蛋的情趣跳蛋的
情趣用品的情趣的煙火的衣蝶的情趣按摩棒的
按摩棒的電動按摩棒的飛機杯的自慰套的自慰套的情趣內衣的
潤滑液的SM的內衣的性感內衣的自慰器的充氣娃娃的AV的情趣的情趣用品的
AWESOME ideas love your blog.
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Thank you so much for bringing up this it was a great gift ideas. Anyway,will certainly visit your site more often now.
vitton
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