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

Simple phone

I get my fair share of teasing for still using a Nokia phone. So I feel quite vindicated that someone has now invented a new non-smartphone . It's pitched for those who want a decluttered life. Instead of features, its selling points are things like "reclaim a little quietude from the constant intrusions of technology", "no internet connection, no app store and definitely no camera for taking selfies". One quote from the article said "as smartphones get bigger and bulkier, there is a place for something small and simplified, without all the functions." That kind of statement resonates with me. Not just for phones, but for so many areas of life - including the houses we live in.

Why own a car, when you can go get?

That's the slogan of one company providing an alternative to car ownership. Here's our experience with them. Why not just have our own car? Another time I'll write a full post about that, but suffice to say that car ownership is a pain in the neck. The servicing, the maintenance, the repairs, the parking, the traffic, the registration, the insurance, the cleaning... For my wife and I, about 98% of our transport needs can be done on foot, by bike, by train, bus or ferry. Maybe 99% if you include rideshare. So we choose to avoid the pain (and cost) of car ownership. However, car use (I think of it separately from car ownership) can be handy in certain situations. We had one of those situations last weekend. Here's how it went. Booking a car My wife signed up for GoGet , and booked the car online for the time window she needed it. As a first-timer, she received her little membership card in the mail. On the day of the booking, GoGet sent her a reminder email about 20 minut...

Too Much Stuff

"Why is it so hard to resist new things even when we know we already have too much. Can we find an alternative to the more, more, more mentality?" That promo got me hooked into the half-hour doco "Too Much Stuff". Australian viewers can see it online . Otherwise, here are some of my highlights. Host Sarah Wilson sums up the problem right at the start. "At every turn we're urged to possess the next thing that will make us feel smarter and more desirable. Anything we want is available with just one click. We're filling up our lives with stuff; yet ultimately, many of us feel empty, guilty and stressed out by our consumption." She sets out to explore an alternative. To see if "radically reducing our consumption" can lead to a better life. (Spoiler alert: Yes) Sarah says many people call her a minimalist but she's not so much about getting rid of things, more about not buying stuff. What's wrong with the Marie Kondo approach? Each ep...

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