My family did a "make, bake, thrift, or regift" last year and it was the best Christmas ever! My kids got puzzles, books, art supplies and we received some thrifted art and home goods like mugs and a regifted rice cooker that was going to go to Goodwill but we actually use all the time. It took a lot of pressure off but still required all of us to think about the gift receiver maybe even more so than just going to the store and dropping a bunch of money.
Each year for Christmas, my parents give me a gift certificate to have my car detailed. It is my favorite gift of all time.
As somewhat of a minimalist, I love that it is a service and not an item that takes up space in my home. And each year, it feels like I have a brand new car. This has also become one of my favorite gifts to give others for special occasions.
And if you’re in saving mode, you could even give a coupon for a DIY car detailing for a close family member and I bet they’d be very appreciative.
I framed a grouping of matchboxes from restaurants and bars that my husband and I frequented when we were dating. I used a simple white shadowbox. The matchboxes had just been in a junk drawer and my husband was really touched to be reminded of our first dates.
My 2 sisters and I decided one year that our Christmas exchange had to be homemade.
My older sister gave us a gift that I will never forget. We each received our own personal photo album. It had my baby picture, pictures of my family when it was just the 4 of us, and pictures of our family when my younger sister joined us. There were notes from my childhood that I wrote to my parents, photos of me opening Christmas presents as a child, including me with my first red tricycle that Santa left for me. My gradeschool report cards, valentines I gave to my mother, my handprint from kindergarten that was a mother's day gift, and so much more. I cried when I opened it. My mother passed away when we were children, and she was only 35. I received this gift when I was 57. I will cherish it for the rest of my life. It keeps so many memories alive and touches my heart every time I go through it. I didn't even know some of the items existed. Best Gift Ever!
I try to avoid gifting material items as well. For the kids in the family, “experience” gifts have been fun - we’ve done a candle making class, escape rooms, rock climbing, build-a-bear, tea rooms, etc. Or I enjoy gifting them items to get them excited about spending time outdoors (hiking gear, little ranger books, etc).
For adults, I love food-themed gifts - homemade granola, some nice loose leaf tea & a strainer, Brightland olive oil & vinegar sampler. I am interested in trying Wildgrain bread delivery service next!
90s dooney and Burke or coach leather bag (know your audience)
Experience:
Golf game/pass
Tickets to concerts (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit)
Season pass to local zoo, park etc
Christmas light display
Framed photos for all ages. My mom gave my teenaged cousin a framed photograph of a family member from the 40s and he absolutely loved it. My aunt had to talk him out of taking it to college so it wouldn’t get lost or destroyed!
This is a newly purchased gift but co-workers loved when I gave them Worlds Softest cotton ragg socks last year. Some came to me months later and said they loved them. My dad gets a pair of Darn Tough or SmartWool socks most years. He loves them! I also get him locally roasted whole bean coffee, he prefers consumable gifts.
My family decided a few years ago to just do stockings for the adults, which has been really fun because it’s lots of small things that can feel more personal. My mom likes to find locally made items to put inside, like body butter or jewelry and she also gets us smartwool socks, which we always need. We also can gift experiences and my favorite gift to receive is a spa gift card because it’s not something I typically do for myself but I enjoy so much. For my husband one year I commissioned a sketch of the bar where we had our first date and framed it. And last year he really needed new shoes last year and I bought him wool Allbirds, which he loved and was a very practical gift. His family is bigger than mine so instead of getting everyone gifts, what they do is draw names every year so it’s always a rotation of who you’re buying one gift for, and then it’s a fun unveiling each year when we open gifts as to who it’s from.
I love buying personalized note pads and stationary for people from Etsy stores. Helps small businesses and well… who doesn’t love a nice note pad. Every time they use it, it will remind them of you. Add a jar of spices or some yummy holiday treat and it’s just enough.
Love spa gift cards! Loved gifting flowers that came as bulbs and flowered throughout the winter and are annuals! I buy lots of Trader Joes flowering bulbs and give them to friends as they flower near the holidays. Not expensive and last awhile!
Last year I made matchbook prints for my husband, sister, and brother and framed them. I spent so much time stalking their social medias for their favorite college bars, concerts they’ve been to, etc and designing it in Canva
Theater tickets, locally owned restaurant and coffee shop gift cards, gas and specialty grocery or farm market gift
cards for the younger folks, locally made gourmet chocolates, favorite alcohols, meal kits for college students and we keep lists in our phones for items that would be useful gifts for our kids and family. Last year we went in with siblings for a monthly cleaning service for my MIL.
I love gifting memberships to museums or places. In my town we have Shelburne Farms and Shelburne Museum and the memberships cost around $60/year. They do different events all years that are really fun to attend. I also like to give kids magazine subscriptions that are educational such as The Week Junior https://theweekjunior.com/subscribe or National Geographic Kids. Also, a book club subscription from a local bookstore is a fav.
I also have a wreath making business and people have gifted wreath workshops or wreaths to family members. Copperandbirchvt.com (apologies if putting your own business is not allowed) but I’m sure other communities have wreath making workshops too! Or other craft experiences!
Rancho gordo bean subscription! Dried heirloom beans from this year’s harvest- soak the beans before you could them and use these protein rich substitutes to make hummus, dips, etc. highly reccomend!!
My family did a "make, bake, thrift, or regift" last year and it was the best Christmas ever! My kids got puzzles, books, art supplies and we received some thrifted art and home goods like mugs and a regifted rice cooker that was going to go to Goodwill but we actually use all the time. It took a lot of pressure off but still required all of us to think about the gift receiver maybe even more so than just going to the store and dropping a bunch of money.
Each year for Christmas, my parents give me a gift certificate to have my car detailed. It is my favorite gift of all time.
As somewhat of a minimalist, I love that it is a service and not an item that takes up space in my home. And each year, it feels like I have a brand new car. This has also become one of my favorite gifts to give others for special occasions.
And if you’re in saving mode, you could even give a coupon for a DIY car detailing for a close family member and I bet they’d be very appreciative.
I framed a grouping of matchboxes from restaurants and bars that my husband and I frequented when we were dating. I used a simple white shadowbox. The matchboxes had just been in a junk drawer and my husband was really touched to be reminded of our first dates.
My 2 sisters and I decided one year that our Christmas exchange had to be homemade.
My older sister gave us a gift that I will never forget. We each received our own personal photo album. It had my baby picture, pictures of my family when it was just the 4 of us, and pictures of our family when my younger sister joined us. There were notes from my childhood that I wrote to my parents, photos of me opening Christmas presents as a child, including me with my first red tricycle that Santa left for me. My gradeschool report cards, valentines I gave to my mother, my handprint from kindergarten that was a mother's day gift, and so much more. I cried when I opened it. My mother passed away when we were children, and she was only 35. I received this gift when I was 57. I will cherish it for the rest of my life. It keeps so many memories alive and touches my heart every time I go through it. I didn't even know some of the items existed. Best Gift Ever!
Every time someone gifts me food they made I am ecstatic 💝 I love homemade food but don't love cooking.
I try to avoid gifting material items as well. For the kids in the family, “experience” gifts have been fun - we’ve done a candle making class, escape rooms, rock climbing, build-a-bear, tea rooms, etc. Or I enjoy gifting them items to get them excited about spending time outdoors (hiking gear, little ranger books, etc).
For adults, I love food-themed gifts - homemade granola, some nice loose leaf tea & a strainer, Brightland olive oil & vinegar sampler. I am interested in trying Wildgrain bread delivery service next!
Some favorites I’ve gifted, received, or seen:
Thrifted:
Antique cast iron
Vintage enamel serving tray
90s dooney and Burke or coach leather bag (know your audience)
Experience:
Golf game/pass
Tickets to concerts (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit)
Season pass to local zoo, park etc
Christmas light display
Framed photos for all ages. My mom gave my teenaged cousin a framed photograph of a family member from the 40s and he absolutely loved it. My aunt had to talk him out of taking it to college so it wouldn’t get lost or destroyed!
This is a newly purchased gift but co-workers loved when I gave them Worlds Softest cotton ragg socks last year. Some came to me months later and said they loved them. My dad gets a pair of Darn Tough or SmartWool socks most years. He loves them! I also get him locally roasted whole bean coffee, he prefers consumable gifts.
Forgot to mention a glass blowing class and pottery making class! Both were super fun and resulted in a handmade item!
My family decided a few years ago to just do stockings for the adults, which has been really fun because it’s lots of small things that can feel more personal. My mom likes to find locally made items to put inside, like body butter or jewelry and she also gets us smartwool socks, which we always need. We also can gift experiences and my favorite gift to receive is a spa gift card because it’s not something I typically do for myself but I enjoy so much. For my husband one year I commissioned a sketch of the bar where we had our first date and framed it. And last year he really needed new shoes last year and I bought him wool Allbirds, which he loved and was a very practical gift. His family is bigger than mine so instead of getting everyone gifts, what they do is draw names every year so it’s always a rotation of who you’re buying one gift for, and then it’s a fun unveiling each year when we open gifts as to who it’s from.
I love buying personalized note pads and stationary for people from Etsy stores. Helps small businesses and well… who doesn’t love a nice note pad. Every time they use it, it will remind them of you. Add a jar of spices or some yummy holiday treat and it’s just enough.
I love a really high quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar as a gift. Feels like a luxury every time I get it out.
Love spa gift cards! Loved gifting flowers that came as bulbs and flowered throughout the winter and are annuals! I buy lots of Trader Joes flowering bulbs and give them to friends as they flower near the holidays. Not expensive and last awhile!
Last year I made matchbook prints for my husband, sister, and brother and framed them. I spent so much time stalking their social medias for their favorite college bars, concerts they’ve been to, etc and designing it in Canva
Theater tickets, locally owned restaurant and coffee shop gift cards, gas and specialty grocery or farm market gift
cards for the younger folks, locally made gourmet chocolates, favorite alcohols, meal kits for college students and we keep lists in our phones for items that would be useful gifts for our kids and family. Last year we went in with siblings for a monthly cleaning service for my MIL.
I love gifting memberships to museums or places. In my town we have Shelburne Farms and Shelburne Museum and the memberships cost around $60/year. They do different events all years that are really fun to attend. I also like to give kids magazine subscriptions that are educational such as The Week Junior https://theweekjunior.com/subscribe or National Geographic Kids. Also, a book club subscription from a local bookstore is a fav.
I also have a wreath making business and people have gifted wreath workshops or wreaths to family members. Copperandbirchvt.com (apologies if putting your own business is not allowed) but I’m sure other communities have wreath making workshops too! Or other craft experiences!
Rancho gordo bean subscription! Dried heirloom beans from this year’s harvest- soak the beans before you could them and use these protein rich substitutes to make hummus, dips, etc. highly reccomend!!
My sister and I live in different cities… each year we buy each other a gift card to a local restaurant in our respective cities.
I also love to cook so someone got me an annual subscription to NYTimes cooking app last year and I’ve used that all year long!