Gifts are expressions of love and gratitude for the people we care about most, and that's wonderful.But giving them doesn't have to create clutter, which is not wonderful.Consider these clutter-free alternatives to giving things that, no matter how thoughtful and well intentioned, the recipients may not need, use, or love, and that may only end up becoming clutter in their homes and lives.(If you love the "thrill of the hunt," don't celebrate Christmas, or fear irreparable damage to our national economy if you stop buying Yuletide gifts, consider applying the following ideas to other gift-giving occasions throughout the year.).The gift of fulfilled needs.Take a broad mental sweep of the people to whom you normally give gifts, no matter what time of year.Do any of them really need what you're giving, or (if you're honest with yourself) are your gifts more like excess on top of abundance?If there are people on your list who truly need things, however, and you have the means to provide them, go ahead and grant wishes, or make dreams come true! Consider fulfilling their needs, even if they aren't very glamorous. maybe your recipient would really appreciate gift cards for groceries, gasoline, hardware, medicine from a pharmacy, or some outstanding bills paid off.Giving bonds for kids' college educations make a big difference in the future, too.The gift of helping others.Consider making a donation to a charity in your recipient's name.Not only will you be giving a thoughtful (and clutter-free) gift, but you'll also be supporting a cause that's meaningful to the recipient and worthy of your help.The gift of time.How about forgoing tangible gifts and giving experiences instead? Give your recipients tickets to a play, concert, art exhibit, movie, or sporting event that you know they'll really love.If you'd like to add in the gift of choice, select a gift certificate to a performing-arts center or sports arena and let the recipient choose which future event s/he'd like to attend.Or, add value and make it a gift of time as well. take the recipient out to lunch, make a special dinner, plan a picnic, orchestrate a camping trip, arrange a spa visit, go antiquing, spring for a day at an amusement park or a ride in a hot-air balloon -- and go along on the excursion.Take a trip to a zoo, museum, bowling alley, baseball game, or, yes, even shopping if that's what the recipient would truly love.Think about a longer-lasting experience that you can do together or alone. pay for dance classes, music lessons, foreign-language lessons, yoga classes, cooking classes, or a membership to a museum.(Just make sure that your gift won't be misunderstood, though. a makeover or a gym membership might send the wrong message unless the recipient has actually expressed an interest in such a thing.).You can also give hand-made coupons for your time and effort spent washing cars, doing dreaded chores or yard work, cooking meals or breakfast in bed, babysitting, giving massages, or letting kids stay up extra late.You'll be giving fun, memories, time, and togetherness. precious (and clutter-free) gifts indeed.And when you look back on all the time, money, and stress you expend buying gifts, wouldn't you prefer to spend that time and money with the person?Even a nice, long phone call might be more appreciated than something that arrives in a box.The gift of "Poof! It's gone!".Giving consumables doesn't create long-term clutter because eventually."Poof! It's gone!" You can put thought and care into choosing just the right perfume or bath beads, a fine box of chocolates or jar of olives, special vinegars or spices, personalized stationery, beautiful candles, excellent wine or coffee, sumptuous baked goods, dinners you've cooked and frozen for busy week nights, craft supplies, fun pens, fishing lures or golf balls (which could be considered consumables, depending on how many the recipient typically loses!), gorgeous cut flowers in the midst of winter, or a beer-of-the-month-club membership.The gift of choice.Giving gift certificates may not guarantee that your recipients won't end up with clutter, but it's a start.By giving them their choice of what to buy, chances improve dramatically that they'll buy something that will be just right, will fit, will be the right color, and will be something that they'll use.(But if they still end up with clutter.Well, you tried.) I know that opening a gift certificate isn't as much fun as opening a box containing a sweater you really love, but it's a whole lot more fun than opening a sweater you really hate (and then have to stand in line to return, too.That's not much of a gift, is it?).Even iTunes downloads, prepaid phone cards, and Netflix certificates are options for good times with no clutter.The gift of -- yes -- cash.Okay, so cold, hard cash is a little, well, cold.But ho, ho, ho -- no clutter! It can be used to pay bills if that's what the recipient could use most, and you can wrap it in a clever way to disguise it, or fold it into fun origami shapes.And one final gift idea.Tell people that even though you meant well, perhaps you didn't choose quite the right thing, and release them from the obligation of keeping your gift. if and when it becomes extraneous to their lives -- and maybe that's immediately! -- it's okay to get rid of it, with no questions asked.This will reduce clutter and guilt in their lives, and it really was the thought that counted.Clutter-free gift giving isn't just a (sugar-plum) vision if you think outside the (gift-wrapped) box!
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