How to avoid clutter-gifts at Christmas

Have you ever opened a gift on Christmas day and been immediately disappointed. "I'm never going to use this" you might have thought. You might have to make a gift face or think of one of the ten things to say about a gift you don't like.

While re-gifting or selling can be good options, another option is to receive better gifts in the first place (like the yummy treats above that my sister baked for me).

How can we do this? With So Kind.

What is So Kind?

So Kind is a gift registry with a difference. We usually think of registries as a wedding thing - so the happy couple don't get double-ups or unwanted gifts. They're such a great idea, so why not use them all the time?

What makes it different?

So Kind allows you to have a registry for any occasion - or for all occasions. Faced with the endless cycle of gift-giving events - Valentine's day, mother's day, father's day, anniversary, birthday, Christmas - it may be easier to just have an ongoing gift registry.

So Kind also is built for non-commercial gifts. Would you prefer to receive a night of babysitting so you can go out? Add it to your list. Would you prefer your sister baked you a chocolate slice rather than buy something store-bought? Add it to your list.

How does it work?

You list items. People can tick them off when they choose them (to stop someone else getting you the same thing). You can choose to be notified or not. If you like a surprise turn notifications off (and/or change the settings to anonymous.

November Challenge

Visit the So Kind registry and make yourself a list of ten things you'd like. Then when December rolls around and loved ones are wondering what to get you, show them the registry. It can still be a Christmas surprise for you - but a good surprise instead of a bad one.

Some help

The website also has a some example registries, and a list of gift ideas to get your brainstorm started.

Of course, I've also written 10 Great Gift Ideas (for the person who doesn't want stuff).

Comments

You know what to do. Ignore this ad!

Yes, jewellery stores pump out the ads around valentine's day - that's no surprise. After all it's a made-up day designed to sell more stuff at higher prices. But this year they seem extra desperate to sell stuff we don't want, with the "You know what to do" campaign. I reckon the sales team are scared by the number of couples that have realised that love is not in physical merchandise but in quality time. So they've made an ad exactly about these people. The message seems to be aimed straight at guys to say "even if you and your partner agree not to waste money on jewellery, you should buy her some anyway". Apparently in a relationship it's important to ignore what your wife or partner says and do what profit-motivated corporations tell you to do. I tend to disagree. If you're interested have a look - it's interesting to see how transparent it is.

Less Clutter More Cash - now available

Do you feel like you have too much stuff? Is your home full of things you never use? Would you like to swap them for cash? We did My wife and I have sold more than 550 items online as we downsize and we've learnt a bit along the way. I've put some of our best tips into this handy ebook. I hope you can use these tips so you too can have less clutter and more cash. Enter your email address below to receive the book for free. Less Clutter More Cash Get my new ebook for free. PS. This will subscribe to the But Wait There's Less email list, so you'll know when the new updated version of the book is available. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Happiness: 13 science-based hacks

I've recently been doing a happiness course through Yale University and am excited to find so many proven methods for increasing our happiness. Here's a brief summary of some of them. You can find out more and go deeper by doing the free online course . My previous article was about our brain often making mistakes in picking the things it thinks will make us happy. So the first part here is quick happiness hacks to get around that. The second part is about wanting the right parts of the things our brains think will make us happy. Then there's the course experiments I did - to 'rewire' our habits for greater happiness. 1. Quick happiness hacks Experiences make us happier that things Stuff doesn't make us as happy as we think. "A new car sticks around to disappoint you. But a trip to Europe is over. It evaporates. It has the good sense to go away, and you are left with nothing but a wonderful memory." Studies show that (compared to material pur...

But wait... there's less!

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