A different kind of gift guide: minimalist-minded gifts for all budgets – Part 2 Gifts for Adults
Today we’re covering gifts for adults.
Here is part 2 of my different kind of gift guide - Gifts for Adults.
If you missed part one (Book Gifts) then head here.
Remember to also download your free gift planning cheat sheet (helping you through all the steps of the gift-giving process – from initial idea to handing over a wrapped present). Just click the button below and fill in your details for instant access (you may want to fill it out with some ideas from this post!).
I’ve divided the guide up into some loose categories (of course, there is naturally some overlap, hence: loose).
The categories are:
Experience gifts
The gift of time
Gifts to use up
Made from the heart
Gifts that inspire beauty
Transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary
As I mentioned in the first part of this series (Book Gifts), the idea is to give the recipient something to enjoy, to bring a little indulgence or pleasure into their life, to expand their life, to enjoy beauty, give a renewed outlook, more time, or a fresh start. Some of these ideas will be more minimalist-minded - things that are small, can be used up, can be experienced instead of owned. A lot of these will be budget-friendly (some will be splurges), and some will cost you nothing.
Let’s go!
Experience gifts
These gifts are all about creating an experience for your recipient. I think experience gifts are perfect for people who either have ‘everything that they want/need’, or aren’t really interested in ‘things’ (although, some of these ideas do involve gifting a ‘thing’.…).
Subscriptions/passes for places:
Examples: Zoo, museums, art galleries, aquarium, spa pass….
Classes:
Yoga, dancing, painting, tennis, sculpture, drawing (check out these patreon art classes by francis.co)…the list is practically endless –
Consider what they like or, better yet, what they’ve mentioned wanting to try.
My husband and I did a cooking class in Hungary many years ago and, although we were at the time both quite confident cooks, we learnt so much in that class and we still use the techniques we learned all those years ago!
Online course and retreats:
Like many of the above, what you select will depend on the interests of your loved ones. Skillshare and Masterclass both offer a huge range of online courses taught by experts in their fields.
The snowy view from our window in the days post-Christmas 2020.
A subscription service:
Think the well-known Audible, or an alternative: Libro (who offer a similar service as Audible but support independent bookstores as well) for lovers of audio books.
But you can also think outside the box: a lot of writers and creatives have Patreon/subscription communities or special content for paid newsletter subscribers (eg My Sweet Dumb Brain and Bad at Keeping Secrets).
For people who like to read non-fiction but don’t have enough time: perhaps a Blinkist subscription is in order (Blinkist provides fifteen minute audio summaries of popular nonfiction books).
Or, for people who like to read, what about a subscription to the Modern Mrs Darcy Bookclub?
Games & Puzzles:
If you’re after an interesting idea beyond the classics, check out Kooky Cats - A card game illustrated by Jean Jullien.
For a subscription service, check out the New York Times Games Subscription.
Puzzles: Check out these puzzles of artwork by contemporary artists from Hello Kinstler.
Card sets:
I’ve also noticed a lot of different card sets around these days, which I think could be really fun for the right person:
Mål Paper were generous enough to offer me a deck of their Affirmation Cards as a gift. They are a beautiful little deck of cards. They have an extremely simple design and are small enough that you could carry the whole deck around with you in your bag. I like the idea of drawing one at random once a week and using the affirmation as a reflection, focussing, and even, journalling, exercise.
Mål Paper also have a Questions to Empower deck, which looks really interesting, and like a perfect gift for someone who wants to do some self discovery and reflection.
Along similar lines, School of Life has a Know Yourself Prompt Card Deck, and an Everyday Adventures set.
And even more: Poet Rupi Kaur has just released a Write with Rupi - Self Love Deck , which includes 70 writing prompts for self discovery.
Art & Craft Kits:
There are so many art and craft kits that the options are endless: I personally love this cat embroidery kit, this Japanese marbling art kit, or this weaving kit, or this Amazing Origami Kit that comes with paper, or this amazing My Papercut Forest paper craft kit.
If you know that they have an interest in a certain hobby, you could always gift some fresh supplies: Sostrene Grene have lots of art and craft supplies that are really good quality but don’t break the bank. Or, how about this team-demi office set by Naoto Fukasawa Design (this nifty little case includes all the stationary essentials - from mini-stapler to scissors).
The gift of time
My husband and I have been discussing where we would like to travel to in our final months living in Europe. While I am excited about the idea of travelling and enjoying this time, I also said that a ‘holiday’ for me at this point would be some time away from the kids. That idea is what inspired this category. Everyone is busy and would probably appreciate some more time - so give the gift of time!
Meals:
Cook meals for someone for a defined amount of time or give them a restaurant or takeout voucher (for example: one dinner per week for a month, or even just a one-off thing). This would be great for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy cooking, or someone that gets really busy during the week and struggles to keep up with weekday meals.
Making a meal (or two) for someone could be a great gift to give them some time.
Cleaning:
Cleaning services: Pay for someone to have their house cleaned. Again, it could be a one-off or a regular arrangement. Alternatively, you could offer to do it yourself. You probably have to be the judge of whether the gift will be taken in the right way (you don’t want them to get offended or anything!), but, for the right person, this could be great.
Babysitting:
Offer to babysit: Just putting it out to the universe - I would actually LOVE this. Of course, we’ve received half-hearted offers to look after the kids so that we could have a date night, but I never took any of these offer up. Why? Because people need to be more forceful! I’m not going to bring it up. The giver needs to say, ‘When would you like a night free?’ And then to organise it and make it happen.
Note:
To make all these ideas more fun and ‘gifty’ you could print out little vouchers for the recipient - eg: ‘This voucher entitles you to one home-cooked meal’ etc.
Gifts to use up
Again, this is a good category for those who don’t want to accumulate more physical items. I guess these could also be classified as experience gifts, as you are gifting an experience to the recipient.
Beverages:
Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, wine, champagne, liquor - what you choose will depend on what they’re into.
A bonus add-on gift would be a nice tea/coffee cup, a tea pot, a coffee maker, wine glasses etc.
Try thinking outside the box thought - for instance, the German boutique wine brand M!LCH is currently donating their profits to Discovering Hands, who train blind women to use their hands as a supplementary method to detect breast cancer.
Candles & Oil Burners:
One of my best friends in Australia makes these ones (she only ships within Australia though).
I received this oil diffuser for my birthday a couple of years ago, and I’ve really enjoyed playing around with different scent combinations.
Pamper products:
I like the idea of building a pamper pack, including things such as a moisturiser (like this Geranium Leaf Body Lotion from Aesop), or the more cost-effective Sukin Hydrating Body Lotion), bath salts, a bath tray (like this one that can also double as a little laptop desk), bubble bath, candles, face towels, the list goes on…. If you like this idea, also check out this gift guide for new parents.
Made from the heart
I love a homemade gift. It’s so touching to receive something that you know the giver has spent a whole lot of time on.
Make something yourself:
What you make will largely depend on where your skills lie; here are some ideas:
A seasonal wreath for their door
Knit something (scarf, beanie, gloves, jumper, blanket….)
Tapestry - @tatafernandez73 on Instagram is in the process of making this beautiful alphabet tapestry. Check out her profile for inspiration.
Draw a picture, paint a painting, print out an amazing photograph you’ve taken.
I recently started knitting. I’m probably not good (or fast) enough yet to knit for other people, but if you have the skills then use them!
Write a letter:
If you don’t feel so creatively inclined, you could write someone a thank you letter or a love letter.
I remember in High School, we had to do this activity where we wrote our name on a piece of paper and then passed them around the class. Everyone had to write something they liked about each person on that person’s paper. The result was an amazing collection of around thirty statements of lovely comments.
Often, so much goes unsaid - making things really clear on paper could be a beautiful little (free) gift for someone you love.
Enlist the help of a creative person
Another option, if you don’t know how to make something yourself, is to find someone who does handmake things.
There are so many creative people on Etsy and Instagram - and you can achieve a double tick of supporting an artist and gifting something that is handmade.
Here are some people I’ve bought from and that I love: fracis.co for detailed and somewhat quirky illustrations; if you live in Germany, you can message @tika20.06 for various hand-knitted items); or check out the amazing art by DoDeviyan.
Gifts that inspire beauty
Jewellery:
There are lots of talented jewellery designers around; someone I like a lot is Use Less Jewellery. I also love her YouTube channel, all about stylish, sustainable fashion.
Artwork:
From a local/small artist - one of my favourites I found on Instagram is FranciscoFonsca.
Another idea would be to frame a city map from one of their favourite cities - like these ones - or to print a favourite photo (on paper or a canvas).
Clothing:
Check out this unisex, ethically made clothing by Carubas Official.
A free version would be, like I mentioned with books [put in link], to do a clothing or decor swap with family or friends.
Stationary supplies:
For your journalling-loving recipients: this Washi tape is gorgeous.
Transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary
I love receiving nicer or more special versions of everyday things. Here are some ideas:
For someone who has a lot of candles, a ceramic match striker + holder like this one might be lovely.
These unusual and sculptural Salt and Pepper grinders caught my eye - they’re like a work of art.
For the green thumb - a fresh plant pot might be just the thing (bonus: you could also make cuttings of plants you already have).
A cosy blanket - especially if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, this will not go astray. My husband and I splurged on a beautifully soft blanket during our PhDs and then our friends all went out and bought the same one after they felt how deliciously silky it was!
A lux sleep mask like this one.
These beautiful scissors from Pylones.
For the baker: these floral measuring cups or this wooden cake stand.
This Hay PC portable table light. It’s a bit of a splurge, but it’s so beautiful! And portable!
Another splurge is a Polaroid Camera. I know, everyone takes photos on their phone - but it’s so fun to actually print out photos! Instantaneously!
So that rounds up of part two of this three-part gift guide - next up will be Gifts for Children. I hope you got some ideas from this one.
Watch this space: Part 3 is up next – Gifts for Kids.
Don’t forget to grab your free gift giving list framework by clicking the button below. I aim to take you from initial ideas to wrapped present without any stress.
Tell me: What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Leave your answers in the comments below.
Note: This article contains affiliate links. Using these links will not cost you anything, but may give me a few cents or dollars. If you do use an affiliate link - thank you! You are supporting me and my writing.
Mål Paper kindly gifted me their Affirmation Card deck, but all opinions are my own.
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