Hello December, it’s great to see you again… But this year, let's do things differently.
What does a meaningful Christmas mean to you?
Is it the presents? Or is it spending time with the people you love? Amongst all the stress we can forget what Christmas should really be about. With the prices of everything going up left, right, and centre along and all the extra bits brought about by two years of Christmases catching up to do, it's easy to get caught up in it all.
The last thing we all need is to have another thing to be stressed about. There is no need to spend a lot at Christmas, focusing on thoughtful little bits and memorable experiences can ease stress and help your bank balance. Memories last a lifetime and don’t always have to break the budget.
Let’s make Christmas a little more wonderful and a little less chaotic and consider what it would mean to have a meaningful Christmas this year.
A meaningful gift guide for you
Making Memories - If spending more time with your loved ones is on your Christmas list, use Christmas as an excuse to solidify those plans. In your Christmas card, set a date and make a promise to do something fun, turn it into a surprise! It also delays the cost so you don’t have to pay for it all at once.
Gift ideas for making memories:
Day out for a countryside walk
Road trip to a new city
Coffee in a quaint independent coffee shop
Trip to the cinema
A special homemade dinner date
Self-care night in with face masks, nibbles and a movie
A posh fitness class you will both enjoy
Mindful gifting - Before buying something for someone consider the question, does it add value? How many times have you received a gift and it’s sat in a cupboard gathering dust? How many times have you bought something because you didn’t know what to get someone? Consider how useful something is, there is no such thing as a boring gift. Fit the gift to the person rather than the person to the gift.
Mindful gifts ideas:
Know someone who uses a subscription? pay for it. Say they use Spotify Premium, pay for a month and make them a personal playlist.
Gift them your favourite book either new or second-hand - but do your research and support a local bookshop or smaller internet shop.
Donate to a charity close to their heart
Create a photo frame with all your favourite photos
Homemade treats, there are tons of recipes online for chilli jams, chutneys and cookie jars that will go down a treat. But be careful, if it’s good then you’ll be making them again next year!
A plant and a lovely pot to put it in
Support small businesses - If you’re scrolling through your social media feeds and you see someone you know selling something interesting, buy it! Visit pop-ups and Christmas markets for unique gifts that your loved ones can cherish forever. Not only will they receive something thoughtful that’s made with love, but you also support someone’s hard work, craft and dream. You can make a huge difference to someone's business if you choose to shop small this Christmas - and as a small business owner, it means the world.
Shop Small Gift Ideas
Homemade candles & wax melts
Homemade jewellery
Self-care boxes
Bath time treats
Crafted mug
What about wrapping?
Remember, it goes in the bin anyway so it doesn't have to look perfect. A uniquely wrapped present is always a good talking point. Recycle and reuse where you can. And if you’re gifting memories and experiences, you may not have to sit under a mountain of wrapping paper.
Gift wrapping ideas:
Think about buying your Christmas cards from local artists or creatives on Etsy. Or if you’re feeling creative, make your own!
Reuse paper shopping bags as wrapping paper - Primark have these
Keep your gift bags and use them again
Herma May boxes are filled with shredded paper or packing peanuts - Use the shredded paper in delivery boxes to wrap presents.
Boxes can be reused and wrapped and used as gift boxes
Mix up your Christmas dinner
If the burden of Christmas dinner is too much invite each member of your family to plan a dish. You could end up with anything! But it eases the pressure of one person doing it all and whatever is put on the table is special to you and your family. Buy in advance and freeze what you can to spread the cost of planning dinner. Again, consider supporting local farmers, and local produce and shop for the special little bits at farmers' markets.
Christmas is just one day a year, don't forget about yourself and your goals. Find time to look after yourself, you can't pour from an empty cup. What does a meaningful Christmas look like to you? We hope this gift guide helped you decide.
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