I found this great post...
Clutter-Free Giving
By Carmen Coker
"Clutter-free Giving is the act of giving someone a present that will not, in turn, clutter their home, office, or life! It is a reciprocal philosophy; it applies not only to the act of giving gifts to others but also to listing presents that you would like to receive.
If you are really creative, it's not too hard to come up with a gift idea that will enrich someone's life without causing physical clutter. Here are some options for Clutter-free Giving to get you started…
One last note - contrary to popular belief, gift cards to department stores do not count as Clutter-free Giving! While the card itself may be small and un-clutter-like, the person will use the card to buy something for themselves, for their home, or for their office - and that something will eventually turn into clutter!”
Please read her post for the entire content here.
Some of the gifts that I like are…
Netflix Subscription http://www.netflix.com/.
Lawn Mowing Services
Car Wash and/or Detail
Grocery Store Gift Card
Gas Gift Card
Spa Treatments
Flowers
Babysitting
Restaurant Gift Certificate
Savings Bonds
Online Magazine Subscription
Event Tickets (Theater, Concert, Movie, Sports)
Gym Membership
iTunes Gift Card
Classes (Self-defense, Singing, Language)
I would like to add...
Costco Gift Card for printing of digital photos
Gift Certificate for fun classes/lessons for a child (anything)
Yearly Passes/One Visit pass to Zoo
Pool membership
Cruise (yeah, like that'll happen! LOL hey, it's clutter free)
Clutter-Free Giving
By Carmen Coker
"Clutter-free Giving is the act of giving someone a present that will not, in turn, clutter their home, office, or life! It is a reciprocal philosophy; it applies not only to the act of giving gifts to others but also to listing presents that you would like to receive.
If you are really creative, it's not too hard to come up with a gift idea that will enrich someone's life without causing physical clutter. Here are some options for Clutter-free Giving to get you started…
One last note - contrary to popular belief, gift cards to department stores do not count as Clutter-free Giving! While the card itself may be small and un-clutter-like, the person will use the card to buy something for themselves, for their home, or for their office - and that something will eventually turn into clutter!”
Please read her post for the entire content here.
Some of the gifts that I like are…
Netflix Subscription http://www.netflix.com/.
Lawn Mowing Services
Car Wash and/or Detail
Grocery Store Gift Card
Gas Gift Card
Spa Treatments
Flowers
Babysitting
Restaurant Gift Certificate
Savings Bonds
Online Magazine Subscription
Event Tickets (Theater, Concert, Movie, Sports)
Gym Membership
iTunes Gift Card
Classes (Self-defense, Singing, Language)
I would like to add...
Costco Gift Card for printing of digital photos
Gift Certificate for fun classes/lessons for a child (anything)
Yearly Passes/One Visit pass to Zoo
Pool membership
Cruise (yeah, like that'll happen! LOL hey, it's clutter free)
LOTS of MOVIE PASSES!
Gift certificate for one of those Super Meals places.
"Set limits on the gifts for kids. It’s so tempting to give your kids lots of gifts. But when you do, you are actually teaching them to expect that every year. The best gift you can give your kids is to teach them that the true meaning of the holidays is to give of yourself to others, be with people you love. It’s not supposed to be about how many gifts you get.
2. One of the biggest sources of holiday stress is overspending. Make a list of everyone you want to give a gift to and set a budget that allows you to celebrate the holidays without creating a financial hardship.
3. Create your gift list based on what you know people really need and use. If you aren’t sure, find out their favorite stores, restaurants, activities or service providers and give them a gift certificate. Even better, give a clutter-free gift of an experience or something consumable like food or ink for their printer! Do a Google search on "clutter-free holiday gift ideas" for lots more ideas." (from here.)
Please post if you have a great idea for a clutter free gift!!!
6 comments:
I just bought pictures at one of those kid's picture studios. Gift certificates for those would be sweet.... It can take a dent out of your pocket, that's for sure.
but I love the pictures this time, so it isn't as painful. Nothing worse than now loving the overpriced pictures!
My favorite gift to give is Tickets to Disney World or one of the many theme parks here in Orlando.. There are lots of these kinds of places all over the country..
And How about Maid Service for a month, week, year .... I would love that
I love the idea of getting:
1) Landscaping Gift Card
2) Pool Service Gift Card - Spring Opening/Fall Closing
3) Maid Service Gift Card - woo hoo!
4) Sam's Club/Costco
5) Pedicure/Manicure/Salon Gift Card - I LOVE PEDICURES!
Happy Day!
Melissa
melissa@fishfinders.biz
What a great idea! I like the idea of clutter-free gifts!
These are all great alternative ideas which we will use. We risked a major family brouhaha when we asked the relatives to refrain from giving multiple gifts and toys to our family because we didn't need more stuff.
Some other possibilities:
#1. Request that a donation be made in your child’s name for a program that nurtures the children who are currently in China.
After we visited our daughter’s orphanage in 2003 we recognized that because her CWI caretaker was working round the clock to feed, clothe and take care of 5 little girls (in one room) that our daughter would have benefitted from the opportunity to have someone nurturing her on a one to one basis. Half the Sky trains the nannies how to love and nurture the children in their care. They provide a nanny who works with and follows the development of each child as well as play areas with developmentally appropriate toys and activities.
Half the Sky was recently asked by China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs to bring the nurture model and its four programs to welfare institutions across China through the Blue Sky Plan.
Adoptive families whose children were in HTS programs are able to get the nanny’s reports on their children’s development from HTS.
You can request that donations are made for specific programs. Sponsor a child, nanny or teacher for one month. etc… http://www.halfthesky.org Select “Shop to help” to see the options.
#2. Request a donation that that benefits a special project for the children who remain.
The contrast between what our daughter would have available to her on a daily basis versus what the children who still lived at the orphanage would have was pretty clear. We now belong to an international parent/family group that supports additional programs beyond those that Half the Sky provides for the children who remain in the orphanage. Through fundraising our listserv group has purchased items needed for the children such as playground and rehabilitative equipment for both the CWI and SWI in Yiyang.
There is a current fundraiser calendar of pictures of children from both institutions who now live in countries around the world. At holiday time we give them as gifts to grandparents, godparents and family friends. Not entirely clutter free but once they are up on a wall it's nice to see those smiling faces all year round.
http://www.yiyangfund.org/ Select the “More” button under “Calendar” or “Special Projects” for more information.
I like your ideas. I admit to giving the babysitting gift card often!
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