Gift of Giving Experiences
When we think of holiday gift-giving, most of us think of tangible items. Toys, electronics, clothes, gift cards, these are all things that many of us unwrap or give as a gift.
While going to the store and browsing through all the possible gift options can be so much fun around the holidays, what if we chose to buy gifts that aren’t tangible?
By this, I mean instead of giving “things” as gifts, what if we gave experiences instead?
People will usually not buy experiences for themselves, and let’s face it, so many of the material things we get around the holidays just end up in a closet or in a basement!
If material gifts are a thing of the past for you and giving the gift of experiences interests you, then keep reading!
The Benefits of Giving Experiences
When we get a gift that is just a material object, it is usually something that we can only use for ourselves. I don’t know about you, but when I get a package of fuzzy socks, a candle, or a sweater, I’m the only one that’s going to be using those things.
Plus, it’s so common for us to lose the material things we have with all the clutter in our home. We have such a habit of collecting, and collecting, and collecting items until we have so much stuff, we don’t even know what to do with it all!
While getting some things that you have been needing/wanting for the holidays is awesome, what usually happens when we get tons and tons of stuff that we don’t necessarily need?
All too often we get an outrageous number of things for Christmas and for the first couple of weeks we are really excited about it, but as time goes by, we lose interest in those things. This is because material things can only keep you entertained and happy for so long.
When we choose to give experiences, we are expanding the number of people we can enjoy that gift with, as well as the benefits of that gift. For example, if you buy someone a ticket for a concert, buy one for you too so that you can enjoy it together! Or, think about maybe booking a condo for a family vacation.
Even if extravagant tickets and vacations aren’t in your budget, you can give experiences for free. If you and your spouse are tight on money, why not give each other some chore coupons? As life gets busy it can be so nice to have someone else take care of dinner or the dishes for a night!
I know as I’ve reached adulthood, I have been asking for things I need for Christmas more and more as the years go on. People often have things they need like haircuts, root touch-up, groceries, or oil changes that they just can’t afford to buy.
Experiences are also easy for children to give, as they have the opportunity to be creative. A lot of parents buy a gift from their child and give it to other relatives, but why not take a more personal approach? Kids would love to think of an experience to give their relatives!
30 Ideas for Giving an Experience this Christmas
So, we know what the benefits are of giving experiences as gifts now, but what are some ideas?
- Concert tickets
- Free back massage
- Vacation
- Meal service subscription
- Music lessons
- Online class (interior design, art, etc.)
- Date night coupon
- Chore coupons
- Movie tickets
- A day at an amusement park
- Wine tasting
- Language learning courses
- Tickets to a Broadway show
- Helicopter ride
- Gift card for a haircut
- Gift card for groceries
- An hour massage at your local spa
- Tickets to see a talk show live
- Boat ride
- Skydiving
- Tour of a city
- Zoo or safari passes
- Day of horseback riding
- Yoga class
- Escape room tickets
- Race entry (perfect for runners/bikers)
- Babysitting service
- Daycation
- Road trip
- Membership to a museum or art gallery
The Gift of Giving Experiences
This holiday season you won’t regret giving experiences instead of gifts. Rather than purchasing yet another piece of jewelry, engraved picture, or blanket, consider giving someone an experience they will always remember.
Remember, these gifts don’t have to cost you a lot, or even anything at all!
When it comes to gift-giving, it truly is the thought that counts. Whether you give someone a coupon for a free hug, or a luxurious vacation to the Bahamas, they will be glad that you thought of them!
Feel free to choose one of our ideas, or, get creative and try to come up with some of your own! If you do come up with your own, we would love to hear about them!