Gift Giving For Any Occassion
In a December 2020 edition of EcoVoice, it states that “The annual Gumtree Unwanted Gifts Report, conducted by YouGov, found that 53% of Australian adults, the equivalent of 8.5 million people, received at least one unwanted Christmas gift, equating to $572 million of ‘unwanted’ Christmas spending.”
That’s almost 20 million presents. 20 million!! That is just crazy but if we're honest, we’ve probably all received an unwanted gift or two or worse yet, accidentally been the giver of one!
Not only are we giving gifts that people don’t want; we’re getting ourselves into serious financial debt doing so and then there’s the environmental impact of it all. The product packaging, gift wrapping and even the gift itself – it’s estimated that 1 in 10 unwanted gifts will be sent to landfill within days of Christmas! (That’s a staggering 2 million gifts!) Other unwanted gifts take a little longer to get there – they may clutter a shelf or cupboard for a while until the recipient feels like it’s ok to get rid of it; or it might go through the Op Shop process for a while but the sad truth of it is that eventually, a very large number of unwanted Christmas gifts will end up in landfill.
Here’s five ideas for better choice gift giving, for any occasion, that you can tailor to the recipient and your budget (meaning less unwanted gifts and less personal debt) while also being a little kinder for the planet:
1. The Gift of Experience
For so many reasons people don’t take time out for themselves as often as they should… they're too busy, they feel guilty or they simply can’t afford it… so consider an experience gift.
Tickets to the movies or a show they want to see
Send them skydiving or up in a hot air balloon
Take them out for a special dinner or lunch
Send them away for a weekend retreat
Treat them to a massage or a pedicure
Buy a voucher for them to learn a new skill (something they’re interested in of course... photography, gardening, paddle boarding, golf lessons, sewing, knitting.)
The list is endless, so you can individually tailor your experience gift to suit everyone on your list, no matter your budget!
2. The Gift of Time
This is a really big one… never underestimate how valuable the gift of your time is! Whether it is due to a year of CoVid restrictions, because you’ve been super busy at work or because the kids have been a handful and you’re just caught up with getting through the day; when was the last time that you spent some quality time with your loved ones?
Spend some time with the person who’s been missing you… tie a bow around yourself & ‘be the gift’!
Allot some time to your parent/s… take them out for a few hours and do something with them they enjoy – walk around the botanical gardens, go fishing, enjoy a meal together, play cards while you catch up, if it’s been a while simply visiting may be enough!
Organize a babysitter so you can have a date & some quality time with your significant other (even if you don’t have kids, you should do this) Go to a restaurant or on a picnic; anywhere you can just be together, no distractions, so you can have an uninterrupted conversation, reconnect & enjoy each other’s company.
Gift your kids a date! Kids of ALL AGES are eager for some one-on-one time with mum or dad… (even the 15–17-year-olds with attitude… yes really!) and again you could spend some money or not; but whatever you decide to do... really do it! (It’s not “coloring in together” with your toddler if they are doing the coloring and you’re sitting beside them on your phone… put it away!)
3. The Gift of Baking
I've heard some people say that Christmas baking isn't a 'good enough gift' however, as someone who doesn’t bake often but enjoys a sweet treat, I look at it differently... baking takes time, money and effort so in my opinion, if someone bakes for you, then they must think you're pretty special!
Plus, if packaged right, baking can be a beautiful and completely waste free gift...not to mention yummy… think -
Rocky Road
Choc Mint Fudge
Rum Balls,
Gingerbread
Christmas Cake
Shortbread
Mini Pavlova's
Chocolate Salted Caramel Kisses
4. The Practical or Supportive Gift
Surprises are nice, but sometimes it’s better to connect with the recipient and ASK them what it is they REALLY need right now...it’s been a tough year for a lot of people and if they’re currently in a tough spot, a grocery voucher or a tank of fuel might actually be much more appreciated than a scented candle or pair of socks.
Put together a fruit and vegetable box, grocery hamper or a treat tub
Pay a bill for them
Do some handyman work for them or pay for some repairs they need done
Cook some meals for their freezer
Mow their lawn once or for a month or organise someone to do it
Babysit (think of the friend who has been in lock down with kids… take them to the park for a few hours so she can soak in the tub, read a book, and enjoy a cup of tea on her own… physical and emotional support that doesn’t cost a cent)
Buy them a carton of toilet paper not only is this practical and guaranteed to be used, it’s also a great gift for the person who has everything, including a sense of humour!
5. The Gift of Better Choices
If you are going to buy a physical gift... make sure you choose better choice! That means making sure it’s something that the recipient wants (so it doesn’t end up as an unwanted gift statistic) and then choosing reusable, zero waste or home compostable items or products that are made of better choice materials like stainless steel, bamboo or hemp. Good quality items with little to no packaging that will go the distance and not need to be replaced for a very long time (if ever).
(You could also look into things like ethics, sustainability, travel km’s and production)
By doing some research, you can find a better choice alternative for almost anything you’re looking for so again the options are endless and again can be tailored to your budget.
Check out www.healthycleanandgreen.com.au/shop for some better choice gift ideas.
