"No more stuff" for christmas ideas

[rnorwo1]

Hi,
I'm sick of all the excess that we have that just causes a mess, barely used toys that I end up donating or that are unusable after parts are lost after first use, etc. I want to do more experiences or non-toy gifts for my kids (13, 9, and 5) and would also love ideas for people who have everything, like grandparents.

I've bought tickets to the avengers live show that is coming to New Orleans in January, but thats all i have so far. We may do a short trip somewhere near us for a weekend or something, but thats all I've come up with.

What non-stuff are you getting kids and adults in your lives?!

 

[TahoeAndStitch]

We did this for birthdays this year. For my daughter, we bought the family season tickets for a local Children's Theater. For my son, we booked a quick trip to an indoor water park. Both ideas seemed to go over well. Everyone enjoyed the water park, and my daughter likes that every couple of months or so we get to go see another show.

 

[worm761]

I have been leaning this way myself. DD has entirely too much stuff. But I found this on Pinterest a few weeks ago: http://www.raisingmemories.com/2013/12/ultimate-list-100-non-toy-gift-ideas.html

I have bought a zoo membership in the past. Though I bought it for Easter. I want to do a weekend in New Orleans and visit their zoo and aquarium. It isn't too far from us.

A weekend in Gulf Shores would be fun if it isn't too far for you. Lots to do. Some expensive but some cheap like the nature trails and historic fort. Also, if you watched the documentary The Little Zoo That Could, that is the Gulf Shores Zoo. It is small and they are preparing to move but it is a cute little zoo.

 

[jmac323]

Our girls are getting their Disney park hopper passes for our February trip that they have no clue about! We also are from the mindset of practicality and experiences for gifts. Last year we took the girls to Oregon to visit family for their birthdays. I turn 40 next year and I am hoping to do a big dinner with family and friends and will request any gift to be a donation made to a non-profit I do work for.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I completely agree. Some of the things we have done for the kids, or asked the grandparents to buy include: ski passes, admission to the zoo, concerts, movie vouchers, various art/ science classes from community center, passes to science center, tickets to sporting events, etc. we only buy the kids a few gifts to open on Christmas. They know and agree that we want to spend our money on experiences for the whole family and not on stuff. At the end of the day making memories is the best gift you can give your child!

 

[Vernie822]

Hi,
I'm sick of all the excess that we have that just causes a mess, barely used toys that I end up donating or that are unusable after parts are lost after first use, etc. I want to do more experiences or non-toy gifts for my kids (13, 9, and 5) and would also love ideas for people who have everything, like grandparents.

I've bought tickets to the avengers live show that is coming to New Orleans in January, but thats all i have so far. We may do a short trip somewhere near us for a weekend or something, but thats all I've come up with.

What non-stuff are you getting kids and adults in your lives?!

I love these ideas! You could also do.. gift cards to the movies for a rainy day, passes to local children's museum, baseball, football, basketball tickets, etc. I did concert tickets for my little sis one year and she loved it.

 

[marmalade]

I definitely want to adopt this idea for Christmas, we already do it for birthdays. I'm with you, we have way too much stuff and am looking for experiences to replace the stuff with.

My kids are 8 & 9 and still believe, but I just put the idea in their head that what if Santa got them a weekend at the Great Wolf Lodge instead of a bunch of presents and they were both excited saying that would be awesome.

 

[ajwolfe]

We have started adding some experiences in with some toys for our boys for Christmas.

Last year, Santa brought tickets to a NBA game and shirts for the team we went to see for the boys. Our kids only get one big gift from Santa and the rest from us. Since we had to go out of town for the weekend and stay, this ended up being a big gift.
We also bought our kids tickets to a minior league hockey game. Both things they enjoyed so much we are looking to do the same this year.

I've been looking at plays coming to a theater near us - by boys love that type of thing. They are big Cardinals fans and they have a Fan club you can join, so I may do that. We spend a lot of time in Branson during the summer, so looking at gift cards for go karts and mini golf. Also checked into tickets for a Monster Truck Show and some season passes for museums. Right now just trying to get an idea for prices and what would give us the most bang for the buck.

Have fun planning!

 

[OZMom]

For our kids, we usually ask for / give them various memberships (aquarium, zoo, science museum etc) "experience" gifts (like a train ride, tickets to the local baseball games, passes to lego discovery center) or movie passes. We also tell people that books are always welcome in our home and have built quite the collection.
Last year we bought our first home, so for Christmas my MIL collected money towards a new swing set. Then family members also helped us build them an epically cool pirate ship play scape.

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, ETC all get handmade ornaments. The ornaments are special because we made them and it is something that we give them every year. I'm sure eventually I will have to come up with something different, but for now it's working

 

[iheartwalt]

For grandparents I make a new photo book on Shutterfly or Snapfish (whichever is having a better deal, usually end up paying about $20 shipped for a hardcover photo book) with pictures from the past year. They seem to love it as my MIL is now requesting photo books from all her kids for Christmas.

 

[olwyngdh]

My daughter's dance lessons are something I do as a mom. Her ptivates in tap and technique and her performance team fees are a christmas present.

 

[Eureka]

I definitely want to adopt this idea for Christmas, we already do it for birthdays. I'm with you, we have way too much stuff and am looking for experiences to replace the stuff with. My kids are 8 & 9 and still believe, but I just put the idea in their head that what if Santa got them a weekend at the Great Wolf Lodge instead of a bunch of presents and they were both excited saying that would be awesome.

We did exactly this when the kids believed and were I think 6 and 8 or maybe 7 and 9. They had a day off from school in January so we went then, and first of all it was nice to be in 84 degree heat all weekend in the winter. They were in awe that Santa could give us a mini vacation. We had the best time.

 

[secretpantssam]

I am also trying to do this recently. Especially for my Brother, siter in law and nephew. They have a smaller house and he already owns so many toys. I'm getting them a zoo membership this Christmas. Also just got my brother comedy club tickets for his birthday and my sister a massage for her birthday.

I'm going to keep checking back here to get more ideas for Christmas!

 

[sparkyboy]

My 10 yr old twin grands have for the past 4 years, requested " birthday presents" to various charities-one year it was blankets, dog food etc to animal rescue league. Canned goods for Food Bank; new games, books and personal items for Ronald McDonald House. Last year at Christmas they decided we should adopt a family -Emmie and I did the gift shopping and Jacob kept track of the amount we spent for food items.

I give the gkids magazine subscriptions, zoo pass, pay for tickets for sporting events and art lessons. Also, small week end vacations/outings.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We are doing a primarly giftless Christmas this year. Rather than a bunch of wrapped presents under the tree, we're doing a five day family trip from December 20th to 24th to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls. We'll return home on Christmas Eve, spend Christmas Day with our extended families, then shop for any "wants" on Boxing Day. We will probably do one wrapped gift per person for Christmas morning (DS's will include an envelope of cash...but just a small amount, maybe $250...for his Boxing Day purchases) but that will be it. Gifts exchanged between DH & I will be minimal, under $50.

Of course, this mostly giftless holiday season is easier with a almost-19-year-old DS (he will turn 19 just 2.5 weeks after Christmas) than it would be with little ones.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I was thinking about boudins bakery for the bread. They make different shapes, I thought it would go with their holiday meals. Also thinking about a ham to send. So different from gift cards.

 

[rnorwo1]

I was thinking about boudins bakery for the bread. They make different shapes, I thought it would go with their holiday meals. Also thinking about a ham to send. So different from gift cards.

I brought my kids a turtle shaped loaf back from a recent girls trip, and they loved it!

Thanks for all the ideas, keep them coming!

 

[Handbag Lady]

For the older set, look for lecture series. For our anniversary tomorrow, I bought my husband tickets to see John Cleese get interviewed (live!) by Eric Idle at a local theatre.

We've also done things like tickets to see Charles Phoenix give a few of his lectures. He's hysterical and people of all ages tend to enjoy his shows.

http://www.charlesphoenix.com/

 

[motherof2boys]

DS15 & DS12 got Lift Ticket (Gift Cards) for a day of snowboarding.
Movie passes, Season Passes to a local Water Park, Gift Cards to Orange Leaf, Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, places they go to with Friends. Their Grandmother gets them a Visa GC to take to Disney for spending money. Xbox, Playstation Pointcards or for whatever gaming system they have. Itunes or Googleplay GC.

I'm not sure if you were looking more for Family time gifts. We've gotten money from Grandparents to pay for weekends away snowboarding, new things we've tried at Disney (Tours) or Excursions during a Family trip to Mexico or a Cruise.

 

[TinaLala]

We bought the girls tickets to comicon! Plus disney gift cards.