The spouse dropped this bomb the other day: “You know, not everyone loves cooking and making stuff as much as you do.” When I got over my shock, I realized I’ve featured giving something homemade, and making a donation to their favorite cause, but I haven’t yet covered experience gifts.
I remember this carnival ride years ago better than what I got for Christmas last year.
Experience gifts are one of the best ways to celebrate Christmas. It prioritizes adventure and memories over new landfill fodder. And it gives the receiver something to look forward to when Christmas is over. Here are twelve ideas to get you started, but as with any gift, don’t be afraid to get creative. Get more information from them about their hobbies or their dreams. Remember: the idea is to give them what they actually want, not what you want them to want.
1. Do they like live music? If there’s a venue they like best, give them a gift certificate toward a performance of their choice in 2010. If theatre‘s more their bag, gift certificate to their favorite playhouse, but let them pick the play.
2. Shopping for a foodie? Give them a gift certificate to the new restaurant they’ve been meaning to try (if you’re unsure, just ask them if they’ve heard of any good new restaurants lately.) Or, if you live in the same place, offer to accompany them and treat.
3. Any thwarted Dorothy Hamills on your list? Take them ice skating at a local rink. If you’d rather die than try to move on ice, give them a gift certificate to go with someone else.
4. Do you have a friend who’s complained of feeling in a rut? Think back: have they ever expressed a desire to do something really crazy or adventurous? Go sky-diving, learn to play the guitar, take belly dance lessons? It has to be something they actually want to do, you don’t want to make them feel pressured or inadequate. The idea is to give them “permission” to do something they’ve always been curious about.
5. Does your kid like to play football, baseball, or tennis? Instead of getting fancy new gear or team paraphernalia, consider writing out a gift certificate for 5 hour-long sessions of practicing with him or her. If you’re about as sporty as I am, you can ask them to teach you instead. They’d probably enjoy the role reversal. And put an expiration date on the certificate to make sure you follow through — there’s nothing worse than an unfulfilled promise to a kid.
6. Looking for a treat to give someone over a certain age? I have an inside source who says they might want a pedicure or foot massage more than another framed picture of you. It’s a sad fact that young people who can reach their feet are more likely to treat themselves to pedicures and massages than older people who probably need and deserve them more.
7. My source had another idea for the over 60 crowd: teaching folks to use the new technologies that might benefit them. Do you have a parent or grandparent who hasn’t quite mastered their cell phone but is embarrassed to admit it? Maybe your dad wants to learn to use the Internet to research family genealogy. Or maybe they just got digital cable and need some help with the settings. Whatever the tool, chances are you could be useful on this front. Don’t take this opportunity to make fun of your elders, though. That’s a surefire way the cell phone will stay in its box forever.
8. A zoo membership for the year, for your family or your sister’s. Nothing says love like monkey poo.
9. Surprise everyone on Christmas Eve by piling into the car and driving around to see the best light displays around town. They can even put coats on over their pajamas for a festive mood.
10. Do you have a nephew, niece or godchild that you like to give a present to? While you’re home for Christmas, make a date to take them to breakfast at their favorite restaurant. Let them set the tone of the conversation, and make them feel special and grown up.
11. One present for kids that is very popular with their parents: buy a CD or government bond, or start a savings account, for the kid’s college. This is strictly speaking a material gift, but think of it as giving them the experience of out-of-state college.
12. Giving to someone who likes day trips? If they live near a u-pick farm, a winery, or a river with rafting or canoeing, give a gift certificate to their favorite destination.
What’s your favorite Christmas experience of all time? Anyone got you stumped this year?
Thanks for reminding me about experience gifts! A TDF.org membership will be PERFECT for the in-law figures in my life.
Three years ago my mother decided that we no longer needed ‘Stuff’ for Christmas. My parents have always chosen experiences over materials possessions; a family vacation snorkeling in the Caribbean over a new car, a weekend in New York seeing Broadway shows over a flat-screen TV. The last three years my mother launched her no-boxed gift Christmas initiative. Christmas 2007 we spent the day on a fan-boat in the everglades, Christmas 2008 was surf lessons and this year my mother has planned a day long extravaganza for the entire Bannister crew. This year she is not buying a single gift, just one incredible day (a secret until Christmas eve morning) for all of us together.
To be fair, my grandmother started the stuff-free initiative a few years ago, requesting no gifts, just charitable contributions in her honor.
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Great ideas. I give gift certificates for restaurants and spas/massages every year. They’re far more appreciated than some piece of disposable junk.
Personally, I’d love a skydiving lesson!
One thing that’s missing from the list is to give a pair of tickets to someone who watches sports on TV so that they can see their favorite team in person.