Tips For Receiving Gifts {from a minimalist}
As a minimalist, I get asked a lot about receiving gifts. We want to keep our homes simple and minimal, but what about gifts? Today I’m answering your questions on this.
How do I communicate to grandparents to slow down on the gifts?
This can be difficult. Grandparents buy things for your kids because they enjoy giving gifts and want to make the grandchildren happy, which makes them happy. So you never want to seem ungrateful.
My recommendation is to communicate that you have been minimizing your home and toys and to help them find things that your kids actually need. Amazon and Target have great wish list options to help you guide those who want to buy things for your kids.
This leads right into the next question.
How do I kindly tell my family I prefer experiences for my kids versus things?”
Communicate this to your family, “We are trying to teach our kids the value to time with those we love instead of things. This year please help up with this process.” Now, you have to give suggestions to help them out.
Here are some ideas:
Amusement park season pass
Museum passes
Zoo passes
Gift certificate to an experience - Top Golf, Racing experience, etc.
$ for an upcoming trip
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said to KINDLY tell your family. If you speak it in love, whether or not they receive it that way is entirely up to them. But be prepared with a list of options that work within your family values.
How do I ask for minimalist gifts without coming off as cheap?
For this question, I feel that it is all in the way you talk about it. If you declare a minimalistic lifestyle, it’s just like anything else, be prepared for the skeptic. That’s just the way it is sometimes. However, if someone asks you what you prefer for gifts, be prepared with ideas.
A gift certificate to your favorite restaurant.
A free night of baby sitting to go on a date with your husband
An item you’ve been wanting for your home
Something that needs replacing in your home (new sheets or towels, etc.)
Money towards an upcoming trip
What do you do when people buy things for your kids that they don’t need?
In the top of our laundry room cabinet (it used to be in the top my daughter’s closet, but she can reach it now) I keep a basket of these types of things. I pull out a new toy or coloring book when it’s time to go on a trip. She loves the idea of something new. If she wants to keep it in her regular toys when we get home we do what we always do - one in, one out. She can donate an item if she wants to keep it with her regular toys.
Another option is to rotate toys. This works well if your child is really young. Up until my kids were old enough to ask for certain toys I kept only one basket of a toys accessible at a time. Then I would rotate the toys out. That way we only had one basket to clean up at time.
The most important thing to do is be gracious. The reason someone buys you something is because they care about you and want to give you a gift. Even if it’s something you don’t need, graciously receive it and thank them. The gift is about the action of giving, not about the actual item.
I get asked often about how to handle receiving gifts that you don’t need. Do remember that you get to decide what to do with things that enter your home. No one can take that from you. As a minimalist, I never want someone to feel that they can’t show me love by giving me something. I hope I am always gracious in receiving a gift. Through the years of this lifestyle, those close to me have noticed how I live and have been really great about honoring my wishes for myself and my kids. Don’t stress about this Christmas gifts.
Enjoy the holiday. Enjoy your margin.