First off, many of these links are affiliate links that we do receive small commissions from--we really appreciate the support
Another thing to note (I'll continually add this to all of our holiday gift guides)--if you're like Kyle and I, we share an Amazon Prime account. This is perfect for us....except for when we are ordering each other gifts and don't want the other see. Instead of playing a game of having neighbors order for you or using a guest account, we've found a great solution to be setting up a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime for one partner to use from Black Friday until Christmas. Just be sure to set a reminder in your calendar to be sure your subscription is cancelled when no longer needed!
Basic universal subscriptions (Amazon Subscriptions):
I think it's safe to say that many of us subscribe to Amazon services, especially us up here in Amazon's birthplace it's a very normal part of everyday life. That being said--why not pay for someones subscription as a gift? It's safe to say it'll be used and it's a lot more universal than a niche subscription box or streaming platforms.
Okay, I LOVE the idea of this next one. You can gift a Kindle membership! Just like the Prime membership the subscription can be for as short 3 months or 6 months--if you have a reader and an old iPad you've been looking to get rid of THIS is the gift to give. I save all our "No-Rush Rewards" points to by kindle books and read on our 6 years old iPad mini and would personally love this gift (hint). Use the link above to get started on gifting a huge platform of books and more!
Audible
In the past, Kyle and I have also been known to use audible. When we read books together it's nice to be able to take a break from reading out loud and just listen together--we don't have to worry about someone being too far ahead on the page (or someone *Kyle* skipping sections that are "boring"). The picture link to the left will direct you to Audible Plus memberships and this link will direct you to gifting Audible members.
Subscriptions for Littles:
Did you know that there are so many subscription services geared towards kids? From toys, to magazines, to games--this is an amazing idea for a less cluttered Holiday. We recommend looking into some education magazines or subscriptions boxes before looking into more toy/cluttered services. We also think this is HUGE win in terms of keeping kids occupied throughout the year--if you're a parent or child-caregiver.....well, let's just say that you know exactly what I'm talking about....."I'm BOOORRRRREDDD!"...."There's NOTHING to do....." and all those fun moments.
I think this next one is SO creative and I wish we had discount codes for you. It's so easy to go overboard on your children, grandkids, nieces and nephews....there's so much stuff out there and chances are they already have too much! I know this stuff is technically "clutter"--but in my book it's not the same as toys everywhere (feel free to agree or disagree!). Our dear family friends get magazine subscriptions for their grandchildren and everyone loves it. The littles get their own mail, a magazine for their own age group-- they even have them for babies! They focus on the certain developmental stages of that age group and I just love this idea so much! Here's a link to the magazines we are familiar with.
A few other subscriptions worth noting might be
-diapers and wipes subscriptions for new parents like this Honest subscription
-a KiwiCo subscription: KiwiCo is a subscription service that sends out STEM science kits for kids of all ages. Each box is an activity that the child gets to create while learning about science. Yes, they can add clutter, but they have different subscription options and they are all about learning.
-Lovevery: Montessori style boxes for 0-4yrs (as mentioned above, these sort of boxes can add clutter and this particular one is expensive)
Memberships
I feel like any minimalist will preach about the joys of experiences over things, but how does one gift an experience on a flexible timeframe (not everyone has that afternoon off to go see the local ballet)? Memberships is the answer, and I'm talking about memberships so cool you hadn't even heard of them.
Let's quickly get some of the obvious memberships out of the way: local zoo, aquarium, children museums, art museums, local pools/gyms....boom done. They're great options for families, or even for grandparents (sometimes there are special promos for grandparent memberships).
This next one is probably my favorite, but it also takes a little more creativity on your part: local experience memberships. What is a local experience membership? Well, this Smith Tower membership that gives you unlimited access to Smith Tower Observatory and bar in Seattle (blog and videos coming soon). A local attraction that offers a unique experiences, but something that can be enjoyed multiple times. Smith tower is a historical building in downtown Seattle. On the 35th floor there is a restaurant/bar and panoramic views of the city, just a few uses of this membership would get you back your membership money. Look for local observatories, local groups (maybe extreme sports like trapeze, indoor skydiving), farm communities, beach communities, golf communities, etc.
If you know a family that loves to prepare great meals together consider looking into grocery memberships like Thrive Market, Costco, HelloFresh, etc. Costco is a simple one time membership purchase for a year. Thrive Market can cost $5/mo for healthy groceries delivered to your door. HelloFresh is just one of many different meal subscription boxes that you can gift, the receiver will be able to adjust timing and frequency based on your allotted amount gifted.
Vacations
Feel free to gift me a vacation, anytime ;)
Obviously (and unfortunately), not an option for everyone......but gifting a vacation is pretty much ultimate. Whether it be a weekend at your cabin, a partially paid for invite to a getaway, or even covering the costs for a flight--it takes some time, effort, and research but it's not impossible to find fantastic travel deals. I know I for one will be looking hard on Cyber Monday, a surprising amount of travel sites do offer some crazy first-come-first-serve deals.
Meaningful gift cards:
Gift cards can get a bad rep....but I'm pretty sure we all secretly like them. Yes, there's pros and cons to giving something of such obvious monetary value....but it's highly useful and takes up hardly any space. Here are some thoughts to keeping giftcard-giving just as meaningful as any other gift!
What does the receiver really need? What do they like to splurge on? What places do they frequent? Is there a store a block away that's convenient for quick last minute stops? Or is there a "destination" store that they need an excuse to go explore? These are great questions to ask before purchasing a gift card.
Ideas:
Grocery store gift cards or gas/bus cards for college kids. If you have a practical undergrad these are two can't lose ideas. If your young adult would rather have an excuse for excitement and luxury, opt for a local boutique, bookstore, or retail option
Local coffee shop--bookworms, anyone who needs to get out of the house. Ooh! How about your parent friend who doesn't take time for themselves?! Feel free to suggest they use it on their next grocery run ;)
Local lunch spot....Now, this was super popular at my old office. We were just off main street in a cute, trendy, hip, little town surrounded by local cafes, restaurants, bars, etc. Everyone had their favorite places to get a sandwich or a salad and it was silly little social hype that made this gift so fun. Nothing like recommending your regular order and following up on their experience!
Bookstores, ah yes, not as easy to find as before; but a good bookstore can be magical. Nowadays, bookstores carry so much more than just books. Bookstores carry games, lifestyle pieces, coffee shops, and free wifi. If you know anyone who likes to be cozy, a bookstore gift card just might be what you're looking for.
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