Sunday, November 6, 2011

Clutter-free Christmas Gifts for Grown-Ups

The best Christmas gifts are meaningful or useful. And while I'm all about fun, sometimes, having a clutter-free home counts too.

I don't know about you, but I'm drowning in t-shirts from my alma mater, supplies for my scrapbooking, holiday decorations from craft shows, bottles of lotion, and other things. What I need is a clutter-free Christmas. Who knows if I will get it.

If you're looking for painless ideas for gift-giving this year, here are some helpful, clutter-less gift ideas.






  • Tickets for movies, sporting activities, shows or other events. It doesn't have to be the best seat in the house, and with Groupon and other discount sites, you might find it fairly budget-friendly. Particularly if you're a parent, the dual cost of activities and babysitting can damper plans.



  • Even better? An offer to babysit!



  • Local wines, beers or coffees, particularly if the "local" is from another city.



  • Treats from local vendors



  • Certificates for a local/organic food delivery service



  • Gift cards to a home improvement store. As fewer people are buying homes, the need to maintain or improve one's home they live in is more important than ever!



  • Make a meal. My sitter loved the fact that instead of a kitchy present, I got her a kitchen one: Dinner to go! (Simply put, it was salad, dressing, pasta, a fancy sauce and French bread. But it took the pressure off for one evening!)



  • Find out what needs to be replaced or repaired. In tight times, sometimes needed repairs are being held off.



  • If you know someone who's returned to school, a gift certificate to Amazon or another online book store can go a long way!



  • Finally the gift of time is something not to be shrugged off. Get off line and share some time with a friend you've been meaning to see!



What other clutter-free solutions do you have for holiday gift giving?

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