Skip to main content

10 Great Gift Ideas (that aren't "stuff")

What do you get your loved one when they don't want "stuff"?

Why do we buy stuff?

It's especially tricky at Christmas. All those Christmas images of big shiny box-shaped presents sitting under an enormous tree. All the ads and all the stores showing us objects that we can buy for each other. Everything points us that way. So much pressure to do the 'Christmassy thing'.

Does it makes us happy?

More people every year find they have enough stuff. Too much stuff. The thought of receiving yet more stuff is the opposite of a Merry Christmas.

"I don't want any more stuff" they'll say.
"But it's Christmas, and I want to give you something", you say.

Here's the answer

You can both enjoy Christmas if you give a gift that isn't "stuff". You can show you care. They get a gift they really appreciate.

But we need ideas from outside the box. Ideas that we won't find in sales catalogues.

That's what my new ebook is for. To start the ball rolling with some innovative ideas that people love - even if they don't want "stuff".

10 Great Gift Ideas for people who don't want "stuff".

These are ideas for gifts that don't clutter up the place, are less wasteful and can be really meaningful without costing a fortune.

This is for you

If you're giving a gift to someone who doesn't want "stuff", this book is for you. Did I mention it's free?

Are you the person?

If you're someone who doesn't want "stuff" you may want to share this page with your loved ones. It might be awkward, but not as awkward as pretending you like stuff you don't want.

See my page about "Gift face", then share this page so people have a better idea what to get you. They really want to give you a gift you like, they just don't know where to start. Also, consider a SoKind registry to give them a really big clue.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Offline

Yes, by now we all know that smartphones and social media are doing us harm. How do we harness the benefits of them without the destructive effects. The book Offline makes 5 main points. If you've only got a minute, here they are: The addictive design keeps us on online platforms longer. The 'brain hacks' disrupt our brain's ability to function. Humans need "real" interaction, and social media does not deliver this. Technoference (digital over-riding direct interactions at the play ground, coffee shop, dinner table) result in something valuable being lost. Speed of the transformation is astounding. 75% of people are connected, with almost half using social media. We have no idea what the long-term effects of this real-life experiment will be. Going a bit deeper, here are some of my highlights from the book. So what are side-effects? According to various studies, the effects can be grouped into the physiological (poor sleep, neural re-wiring, and increased str...

What is Black Friday? (and how to beat it)

Black Friday is a contest. It's you versus the retailer. Read on to find out how to come out ahead. Here in Australia the 'Black Friday' sales have emerged in the last couple of years - but what does it mean? When is Black Friday? Black Friday is the first Friday after Thanksgiving. Yes, Thanksgiving - that American holiday we don't celebrate here. Pretty weird, huh? It's like having Boxing Day without Christmas Day. What happens on Black Friday? In the USA, and increasingly here, stores hold simultaneous sales in order to get shoppers into a buying frenzy. Some offer deals like 20% off everything. Other have big mark-downs on specific items in order to get you in the store - to sell you other stuff you never wanted in the first place. Isn't 20% off a good thing? Not really. There's a psychological effect called anchoring . If there's a jacket for $40 it's no big deal. But if the shop says it's on sale from $50, suddenly we think it'...

$500 free money for your super

If you're on a low-to-middle income, the Australian government will give you up to $500 co-contribution towards your retirement. Here's how to get it. Check your eligibility. What counts as "low-to-middle income"? Right now, people earning under $39,837 can get up to the full $500. People earning up to $54,837 can get at least part of it. There's some other technical eligibility rules , including that you are 70 or younger, have lodged your tax return (to verify your income) and that 10% of your income comes from employment or running a business. Not sure why that last rule exists, but it does. Oh, and here's the one that stops most people from getting their free money... Start saving yourself There's a reason it's called co- contribution. To get the money you have to put some of your own money into your superannuation. Some people don't like doing this. But really it's just giving money to your future self. It doesn't includ...