As the holiday season rolls around, I can’t help but notice how gift-giving, though well-intentioned, can actually ramp up stress for both the giver and receiver. My family has embraced a minimalist lifestyle, so we’ve made it a habit to give experiences instead of material gifts whenever possible. After years of trial and error, this has become our norm, and the results are fantastic!
Experience gifts are easy to organize and thoughtful, even if you’re doing it last minute. They bring joy to both the giver and the receiver. Whether it’s catching a movie together, taking a painting class, or learning to scuba dive, these experiences create lasting memories and skills.
Joshua Becker, a favorite expert on minimalism, shares some striking statistics about clutter that he discusses on his blog, Becoming Minimalist. Despite the abundance of stuff in our lives, we’re not happier. In fact, 54% of people feel overwhelmed by clutter, and 78% don’t know how to tackle it. There is plenty of advice around to help us manage our belongings and the stress they create.
Thomas Gilovich, a Cornell University researcher, spent over a decade studying why experiences bring more happiness than material items. He found that experiences unite us. You’re more likely to feel connected with someone who shares your hobbies or has visited the same places.
Even looking forward to a family trip or event brings happiness, making it a gift that keeps giving—before, during, and after the experience through memories. This certainly beats tripping over a pile of toys while putting the kids to bed!
Spending time together as a family, even during something as simple as dinner, significantly impacts a child’s well-being, more so than the toys we buy or the extracurricular activities that often cut into family time.
There are many reasons to prioritize shared family experiences, like preparing meals together, driving, or reading bedtime stories. By focusing on experiences as gifts, you reduce unwanted material items and strengthen family bonds.
Parents spend over $276 per child annually on toys and gifts, with over 40% of Americans willing to go into debt for Christmas shopping. This only adds to clutter and stress. Experience gifts, on the other hand, reduce clutter, provide kids with something exciting to anticipate, and promote family bonding. Although they might seem pricier upfront, their value shines through in the memories made and sometimes, they even pay for themselves quickly.
Larger experiences such as memberships or vacations are fantastic family gifts, offering fun ways to check off bucket list items or try new activities like kayaking or setting up a backyard zipline. Feeling daring? How about a hot air balloon ride?
Kids love learning or spending time doing activities they enjoy, making it special to share one-on-one time with parents. Experience gifts allow for both!
I’ve put together a list of practical gifts for dads that they will enjoy and that can enhance their well-being. In my experience, finding experience-based gifts for men can be tricky, but I’ve found some good hits over the years.
We often joke about moms just wanting some alone time, but material gifts can also bring joy. Moms appreciate experiences too!
Many of our loved ones don’t need more material gifts and truly value experiences. In my family, these options have been a big hit.
Even if you’ve already bought gifts this year, think about adding in some experiences, or gradually shift toward experience-based gifts. The value of family time and memories far exceeds that of material presents.
Have you given experiences instead of gifts before? Do you have any suggestions to add?
