Giving Experiences Instead Of Presents This Holiday

Giving Experiences…I have always loved giving gifts. Thinking about someone that I know and care about and thinking of that perfect present that will delight them and let them know they matter to me. I find no other task to be more satisfying. However, over the past year my joy of giving material things has dwindled a little. It isn’t all about the money, but more so, a new take on the things we all accumulate. And maybe, just maybe, there is a better use of our resources.

Here are some thoughts that went in to my decision to gift experiences this year:

Less junk! Most of us have too much stuff or things we haven’t used all year long. Why add more?
Do you remember most of the gifts people get you? A year ago? What about 10 years later? You are more likely to remember the time you spent with people.
This is truly the only way to give a unique gift. Any other item could be duplicated, but an experience is guaranteed to be unique every time! Whether it be what you are doing, who it’s with or where you go.
There are many experiences that don’t cost a lot or even anything at all!

Which brings us to a few ideas for giving experiences that don’t break the bank:

A “date” or outing with mom or dad…an example would be an afternoon at the park or going out for a breakfast special 1 on 1.
A family scavenger hunt through your neighborhood (there are websites that help you plan these!)
A coupon book of chore passes or special treats that the recipient can “cash in” throughout the year.
A picnic dinner for you and your spouse or for your family. You can easily throw a blanket on the floor, light some candles, add some pillows and have a smorgasbord of food to pass around. It is exciting to have a meal in a different setting.

In conclusion, giving experiences doesn’t always mean saving money, but it can save you money as well! It really depends what your goals are. We hope you see a great idea to incorporate into your holiday gift giving for this year and years to come!