Think Outside the (gift)Box
Brace yourselves for a pragmatic angle on the most wonderful time of the year. It’s no secret that the season of mass gifting is nearly upon us. I personally find shopping for the kids really fun because I usually don’t have to even guess what they want! The giddy anticipation and the eventual delight on Christmas morning is a total payoff for all the shopping and wrapping. Then . . . there are the adults. It doesn’t matter how loved your loved ones are, shopping for gift upon gift can get tedious in the middle of such a hectic time of year. Enter: the gift of the experience!
So Happy Together
You could call it giving the gift of togetherness. It will take some planning to get on the same page and schedule, but it’s totally worth it! Ideally, you will take the money you would have spent on a gift and use it to go and do something together! From mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, fathers and sons, to large cousin groups . . . the arrangements are as endless as the possibilities.
Go Big or Little . . . Just Don’t Stay Home
The first year our family tried this, the siblings and spouses on my husband’s side did an escape room and went to dinner afterwards. It wasn’t extravagant, but it certainly was special. We loved our kid-free evening spending time with people we grew up with but didn’t get to see as often as we would like. The great thing about experience gifts are that they can fit any budget! Think about a girls’ lunch followed by mani/pedis, seeing that big holiday blockbuster, trying escape rooms, sporting activities, concerts, or holiday home tours . . . the list could go on and on.
While you’re at it, implement this idea for the children in your life, too. I know I could use a break from the clutter that comes from all the well-intentioned toys that arrive during the holidays. What about dropping hints to swap the toys for togetherness with shared experience gifts? There are some fantastic ideas featured in this BMB article on non-toy gift-giving. Don’t forget about Groupon too. They are always offering deals on group packages for concerts, jump parks, and the like. Additionally, you can check out the BMB list of Christmas traditions in Birmingham that will be sure to foster some togetherness for all ages.
Start A New Tradition
The tradition of gift-giving during this time of year is a special one, and here’s a way to skip the stress and get down to what means the most: sharing the gift of a good time together! When you share experience gifts, you are going to love that sense of relief that comes with fewer gifts to hunt down, wrap, and REMEMBER to bring with you!! Now, everyone go start that group text with the family and trade your wrapping paper for some fun!
