The numbers are a retailer’s dream, but a consumer’s nightmare. The average American will spend $1,250 this holiday season on gifts, travel, and entertainment.
These numbers might be acceptable if the gifts we were buying and the possessions we were accumulating were actually increasing the happiness in our lives. But that’s not the case.
Over half of us will receive unwanted gifts this year—a staggering $16 billion wasted on unwanted gifts! Eighteen percent of gifts are never used by the person who receives them and 4 percent are immediately thrown into the trash!
The reality is that our homes are already overcrowded with clutter. In fact, the average American home has 300,000 items inside it. The thought of adding more layers of stuff on top of it? It’s all too much.
What then can we give that won’t add to the clutter problem?
99 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas:
Experiences (where applicable)
- Bowling Tickets
- Carriage Ride
- City Tour
- Comedy Club
- Community Theater
- Concert Tickets
- Dinner Gift Card
- Charitable Donation
- Escape Room
- Facial
- Family Vacation
- Horseback Riding
- Indoor Rock Climbing
- Laser Tag
- Manicure/Pedicure
- Massage
- Mini Golf
- Movie Pass
- Orchestra
- Overnight Camp
- Round of Golf
- Shooting Range
- Ski Lift
- Spa Day
- Sporting Event
- Theater Tickets
- Trampoline Park
- Travel Voucher
- Water Park
- Zoo / Aquarium
Memberships
- AAA
- Amazon Prime
- Art Museum
- Audible
- Children’s Museum
- Community Pool
- Disney+
- Dollar Shave Club
- Farm Share
- Hello Fresh
- National Parks
- Netflix
- Science Museum
- Simplify Magazine
- State Parks
- Theme Park
- Toy Library
- YMCA
Time
- Babysitter
- Car Wash
- Date Night Out
- Family Portrait Session
- Gas Card
- House Cleaner
- Oil Change
- Parent/Child Date
- Personal Chef
- Pet Sitting
- Prepped Meals
- Professional Organizer
- Shoveling
- Sunday Brunch
- Yard Service
Classes
- Baking
- Cake Decorating
- Coding
- Cooking
- Dance
- Foreign Language
- Home Brewing
- Improv
- Karate
- Magic
- Master Class
- Music
- Painting/Art
- Photography
- Private Coach
- Scuba Diving
- Sports
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Voice
- Yoga
Consumables
- Baked Goods
- Chocolates
- Coffee Beans
- Coffee Gift Card
- Desserts
- Flowers
- Fruit Basket
- Local Foods
- Meat/Cheeses
- Olive Oil
- Snack Box
- Tacos
- Tea
- Video Game Gift Card
- Wine
ncgirl says
Gift card for a hug and one hour of just listening without phones
Sue says
White elephant gifts were originally something you have in your home and don’t use.
joshua becker says
Oh, that’s interesting. I didn’t know that.
Vivian says
I need something for my family
Lorie Davis says
Those are GREAT suggestions!
Boppie
mary garvey says
not a single suggestion for a charity?
Marilyn Cepeda says
See number 8!
Maria says
#8 on first list is charitable donation
Trace H. says
#8
S says
See #8
Deanna says
Not true, #8 on first list.
Linda Marrs says
See #8
Cindy says
Please read the list before you make that kind of comment
Katie Senigaglia says
What would you suggest for a white elephant party gift?
Heidi says
For a white elephant party gift, I think it depends on the group of people that you will be gathering with but I also think Toilet paper, laundry detergent, warm socks and soft blanket or a bottle of wine would work for any adult gathering. Lottery scratch off tickets are fun too.
Mitzi says
A variety of meats and cheeses (a more expensive cut or brand than what someone might spend), seasoning blends/herbs/spices, specialty coffees/teas.
Tina says
Lottery tickets!
Brenda says
People who don’t gamble will look at lottery tickets like trash. Thanks for the paper that I can immediately throw into the trash!