Christmas Gifts That Won't Add Clutter To Your Home

Now is the time we all start getting asked what we want for Christmas. And now is the time we struggle to say anything other than 'I don't know'.  This year is an even more tricky year to suggest items as we may not be able to see all our loved ones to exchange gifts, so things need to be posted, emailed or IOU'd! 

If you're anything like me, you're also very aware that Amazon can't be the answer to everything and we need to be supporting small businesses more than ever right now. For the past couple of years, I have also been thinking about how sustainable my gifts are - how they are made, who makes them and where they come from.  Something we should all  bear in mind when purchasing items, especially with more and more reports on the news about poor working conditions at many suppliers of Big Name Brands.

If you're following me - a professional declutterer and organiser -  you're probably also aware that you don't want or need any more clutter (especially with kids presents)! So I have written a list of potential items you could gift to a loved one without having to compromise on any of the above. 

Learn a skill

Experience type gifts can seem like a bad idea this year, but there are so many small businesses out there that are still able to offer face to face workshops, courses or one to one sessions. Or if this isn't something you feel comfortable with then there are also virtual lessons happening all around the country. 

Has your friend mentioned she'd like to learn how to write in a Modern Calligraphy style - how about a short online course from The Crafter's Gym? Did your sister love the Great British Sewing Bee and would like to learn how to sew - how about gift vouchers for An Introduction to Machine Sewing from Sew Sew Helpful? Has your husband bought himself a posh camera with no idea how to use it, maybe a photography course from Andrew Craner would help him out? Learning a skill is not only a long-lasting gift, but they are usually very reasonably priced. It's also an easy gift to send to those who live further away and can usually be redeemed at a time suitable for them.

Consumables

When I was younger I used to think that smellies, chocolates or a bottle of something were such a cop-out for a Christmas present, but now I'm older and wiser these are usually top of my list! With so many unique, independent businesses selling all of the above, gone are the days when Smellies = a hamper from the Body Shop, Chocolates = a box of Thorntons Continentals and a Bottle of Something = Port, Sherry or Whisky.

On my wish list this year are: 

• Smellies = Brown & Drury Candles and Diffusers, Bath Bombs from Bath Bomb Fairy or my favourite Tropic face cream.

• Chocolates = Henley Chocolates, Cenu Cacao or Chocolate brownies from Caking & Baking

• Bottle of something = Newbold Spiced Rum, Shakespeare Distillery or The Warwickshire Gin Company

Book Vouchers

It may seem old, and something your Grandma may give, but book vouchers are such a great gift for children and adults. Not only do you get to choose your very own book, which is a treat in itself (well for me anyway!), but you can use your vouchers at you local book shop, helping them to stay alive whilst battling against the big online retailers. The smaller bookshops are usually the best place to go for recommendations as well as they have a wealth of knowledge and know what's on their shelves and what they can order in for you. Yes, it may be a couple of pounds more expensive than Amazon, but you are paying for their expertise, which is well worth it.

Gardening vouchers

Yet again another potentially 'boring' gift which I would now revel in! Those of us lucky enough to have gardens have probably spent a lot of time in them over the past 9 months, starting new veg patches, tending to borders, painting neglected fences or even starting full landscaping projects.  Even those of us without gardens have quite likely joined the houseplant craze and looking for more.

Garden centre vouchers not only give the receiver lots to choose from including patio furniture, tools or the perfect pot for a new succulent. But, gardening and tending to plants and flowers are a great mindfulness tool, so you're helping their wellbeing too!

Experience vouchers

I was unsure whether to add this one as I'd hazard a guess that a few of these expired this year as they couldn't be used, but potentially some experience type gifts could still be given. If you can't have your afternoon tea out then think about ordering one in instead. Lots of places now deliver these, just add posh napkins and tea and you're all set. 

For those who have everything and have done everything, you could pay for your their next hair appointment and throw in a special conditioning treatment or gift vouchers to their favourite restaurant including a nice bottle of red. 

National Trust are also still up and running (although you need to book at the moment) so membership to this or a local farm park could also be a great whole family present whilst also helping to maintain our farms, public walkways, historical buildings, parks and gardens. 

Ask them what they want

Last but not least seems like an obvious one but as soon as we've gone past the age of writing a letter to Santa, it suddenly seems very un-British to actually ask for specific items!

You may not get a surprise under the Christmas tree this way but you don't get jumpers in the wrong size, you don't get candles in scents that make you sneeze or the worst, you don't get awful joke/filler gifts. The ones that hang around your house for another year because of the guilty feeling you get when you think about throwing away something that someone once gave to you.

One of the biggest things to remember in all this is that most people enjoy the act of giving, more than we enjoy the act of receiving (this is not the case for children I'm aware!).  Once the wrapping paper has been ripped off and the smile and "thank you" has been given, the job of gift-giving is done.  What you then do with it is usually no skin off the gift giver's nose.

If you don't wear fluorescent coloured socks as a rule then don't feel guilty about dropping them off at the homeless shelter. If you don't like sweet pea and peony as a fragrance then re-gift to your elderly next-door neighbour or put in the next school raffle. Or, if you just don't have space for another milk jug when you just pour your milk out of the carton like most people, don't feel bad for donating it to your nearest charity shop.

I promise this is not a selfish, cold-hearted outlook, its a mindful, self-care outlook and goodness me we all need some of that this year! Clutter can have a negative impact on your life and mental health and making sure that you're not holding on to items to make other people feel better is a great way of letting go of guilt and expectation. 

Let me know what's on your wish list in the comments!

NB: all my recommendations are purely personal choice and I have not been paid or gifted any items in exchange for a mention. 

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