The Best Ways to Avoid Giving Clutter This Christmas

This season of the year inspires abundant sharing and giving.  And usually it inspires the exchange of clutter in the form of colorfully wrapped and ribboned gifts.

How can you avoid giving people gifts that they will turn around and donate to a thrift store in January?  Here are a few ideas that can help reduce holiday clutter:

If they are local, invite them to go to a holiday concert, exhibit, or light display and purchase their ticket for them.  You get to spend time together and celebrate the season without clutter.

Ask them what they would like and actually get it for them.  Do not veer off and purchase or make something sort of like what they want.  Get them the exact thing they want.  No clutter!

Give them a prayer and a blessing written inside a card.  That’s it.  It can literally be this simple.  Cards can be easily recycled after the holidays.  Warm feelings are created in you when you write and send or hand it to them, and they feel your care for them when reading what you wrote.  Win win!

Decide to open the dialogue with your loved ones and agree to pare down the gift-giving.  Going caroling, taking in a new movie together, going skiing together, volunteering to deliver gifts to underpriviledged kids, attending the wonder of a midnight Mass or other faith based service, or watching a live performance of The Nutcracker together may be just the way you and your loved ones decide to celebrate eachother this holiday.

Blessings!