I think my family wishes there was a published gift guide for minimalists.  So, here you go!

Minimalists generally don’t want more stuff in their house! However, many of their family and friends really, really, really want to give them something to unwrap or something they can use all the time.

You can sign up for your FREE Ultimate Minimalist Gift Guide. 

You can give a minimalist an actual gift.  The trick is to make sure the gift is useful and a bit timeless. 

Functionality and needs often are what people want.  Don’t let their gifts be the kind that ends up in the Goodwill pile.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Here’s how I save money, shop online, and give gifts with intention:

If you ever shop online, sign up for eBates. You are losing money if you are buying online, at any time of the year, and you are not using eBates.

All you do is click through eBates first, and you automatically get cash back on your online purchases. Sign up today before you do any online shopping!

Better yet, download the Google Chrome extension if using your laptop or desktop or download the app if using your phone. They make it super easy to get cash back.

If you sign up today through my link, you will also get $10 cash back for the first time you use them! That’s free money!

Gift Guide for Minimalists | Useful and Timeless Gifts People on Your List Want this Year! 

My favorite minimalist books to give as gifts:

The More of Less by Joshua Becker – Hands down my favorite minimalist book and the most lifechanging for me when we converted to a more minimalist lifestyle.

The Life-Changing Magic of Cleaning Up – This book was fantastic in helping me tackle my home by categories.  It also helped me organize in a way I had never considered before reading this book.

The Joy of Less by Francine Jay – Another great book that has you consider living with less and being happy with that new life.

Clutterfree with Kids by Joshua Becker – Joshua Becker has kids and lives a minimalist lifestyle successfully (and his kids don’t hate him!)  Check out how to have a successful minimalist life with a family.

goodbye, things by Fumio Sasaki – A regular guy who learned he could be happier with less.

The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker – This book is probably one of my favorites; I love all things written by Joshua Becker.  He has such an honest approach to minimalism.

I am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal by The Mindfulness Project – I love The Mindfulness Project and what they do.  They really help people slow down, and enjoy life!

Get your FREE Ultimate Gift Guide for Minimalists!

My favorite gifts for kids that spark imagination, encourage creativity, and help them get moving:

Magna-Tiles – These are hands down my favorite gift for kids.  I gave my kids a set when they were one year old.  They still play with them at 5 and 6 years old.

Legos (the basic kind, not the character specific ones) – Legos are a classic.  The key to Legos remaining a timeless gift is to not get the character-based ones.  Get a large classic set, and maybe throw in a Lego building book.  Let their imaginations explore!

You will also need a storage container so you don’t step on those pesky boogers when you enter a room! I like wide and shallow storage containers for Legos because they can search for pieces in them without dumping them out!

Sarah’s Silks – Watch your kids make themselves anything they want to be with these play silks,  They will go from a princess, to a super-hero to a pirate.  They can build forts, wrap their babies, or go anywhere their imaginations take them!

Moluk Bilibo (AKA “spinny chairs”) – These toys are so much fun.   You can spin around in a Moluk Bilibo, use them as stepping stones, wear them as hats, or whatever your child’s imagination comes up with while playing!

Pack of cards – I’m amazed at how fast my five-year-old picked up Slap Jack, Old Maid, and other fun card games.  These are great to take in your purse for long days or to throw into an airport bookbag.

Slackline – Slacklines provide excitement and fun outside.  They also teach your kids balance.  If you have space, I highly recommend this outdoor toy for your kids.

Spooner Board (balance board) – Help your kids gain balance, coordination, and just give them something fun to play with! I’m hoping my little one can learn balance and transfer that to snowboarding this year!

Pogo Ball – If you are a child of the 80s, you know about a pogoball! I was thrilled to find out these still exist!

Gonge Riverstones – Turn any room into an instant obstacle course.  When done, stack them up and store them away!  Let your kids get creative and use their imaginations with this fun toy!

Get your FREE Ultimate Gift Guide for Minimalists!

Minimalist gifts for teenagers:

Bluetooth speaker – Let your kids take their music with them anywhere they go with a bluetooth speaker.  This one is waterproof, which is a plus around teenagers!

Amazon Music Unlimited – To go with their Bluetooth speaker, get your teenager an Amazon Music subscription.  Commercial free and more songs than they could ever download.

Fire Tablet – The Amazon Fire Table is a fraction of the cost of an iPad and still highly capable of doing so many things.

Echo dot – Hey Alexa, play my playlist for ignoring my parents.  😊

Get your FREE Ultimate Gift Guide for Minimalists!

Useful gifts for mom:

Living Well Spending Less Planner – It is no secret I LOVE this planner.  It helps me set yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily goals.  It caused my productivity to shoot through the roof.  I think the creator of the planner, Ruth, is an absolute genius.  Give this planner as a gift to help the woman you love to keep everything together in one place!  (I know it’s not digital, but for me, it wins over a digital calendar any day of the week!)

Erin Condren 2019 Planner – This is another favorite planner of mine! Achieve your goals, and keep up with a busy family household or work.

Erasable pens and markers – Cause they are just super cool.  Kids like doing homework with them too!

eMeals Meal Planning Service for a year (I’ve been using since 2009, and they are worth every penny!)  Stop wasting money at the grocery store because you don’t have a plan.  Vegan? They have a meal plan for that! Keto? Yep, that one too.  You can seriously get a meal plan for any diet, and you can take the guesswork out of “what’s for dinner?”

Related post: Review of Emeals: Meal Planning Service for Busy People

Kindle Unlimited – Give the woman in your life the ability to read unlimited books and listen to audiobooks while juggling her busy schedule!

Digital photo frame – Allows mom to cut the clutter but still showcase all her favorite photos!

Barre Online Membership – You can work out in your living room, with a two-year-old climbing on you.  I’ve tested it! Get $10 off your subscription when you sign up through my link.

Stainless Steel Wine Tumbler – These are just pretty and useful.

Stretched Too Thin by Jessica Turner

Get your FREE Ultimate Gift Guide for Minimalists!

Gifts for the man who has everything already:

Yeti Rambler Coozie – These things are just awesome. They can also keep a beer cold for hours, even in the hot sun.

Wireless headphones – For my sweet husband feels the need to hold his phone while in the car! These are also good for working out.

Osprey Talon Daypack – For the dad who likes to hike, bike ride, or generally do things where a daypack is needed.  This is a gift that will last forever and always be useful!

Wallet Ninja – This really is the best gift for the man who has everything.  It goes in his wallet and it is ever so useful.

3-month gourmet coffee subscription – Who doesn’t like coffee? It is even better when delivered straight to your home!

Bluetooth beanie hat – This is a super useful gift for the man in your life.  He can use it anytime he is outside but wants his phone and/or music.

Darn Tough Wool socks – Wool socks are expensive, but they are worth every penny! If your man likes to go outdoors, give him something to keep his feet warm!  Seriously, I know it is socks, but these are REALLY NICE socks.

Get your FREE Ultimate Gift Guide for Minimalists!

Gifts for the female entrepreneur or career woman in your life:

Sparkle Hustle Grow subscription – This is the coolest subscription! It is full of useful information and tools for any female entrepreneur.  Who says you can’t be powerful and like pretty things?!

Blogging Pop Socket

Wife, Mom, Boss Mug 

Hustle, Sparkle, Glow Subscription Box – This subscription is soooo cool! I want one every month! It includes a book and fun accessories for the female business-woman in your life!

Get your FREE Ultimate Gift Guide for Minimalists!

For more ideas, please check out Gifts for Everyone on Your List.

The Ultimate Gift Guide for Minimalists | Useful Gifts for Everyone On Your List (2021)Read More

It seems the regular gifts for mom may not apply right now during quarantine. A massage gift certificate, while nice, isn’t the same if it can’t be enjoyed right now.

So, what are the perfect gifts for mom during quarantine? When life is shut down and things simply aren’t normal?

Moms everywhere are loved, and even when isolated, they deserve to be shown all the appreciation in the world, whether it is for Mother’s Day, a birthday, or any other special occasion.

Related Post: Gift Ideas for Mom Who Doesn’t Want Anything

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Thoughtful gifts for mom during quarantine

Fancy coffee maker or ingredients

Does mom needing a latte but have no reason to go out and get one? Get her a coffee maker that makes all her favorite drinks. 

If you don’t want the expense of a new coffee maker or don’t have the space, you could go cheaper and simply get her a gift basket with all the fancy ingredients to make the yummiest of treats.

Give mom a DIY car detail

OK, so mom isn’t driving anywhere right now.  Get the kids, and go wash AND detail her car! This is the sweetest (and likely cheapest) gift for mom during quarantine.

Don’t skimp, and give mom’s car the full works.  Clean out all the Cheerios and crumbs under the car seats.  Shampoo the carpets.  Wipe down the dashboard. 

When it’s time to go out into the world again, mom will be driving in a nice, detailed car, which seems to be a rarity for many of us!

Related Post: Minimalist Gifts for Mom That Don’t Add to Clutter

Take mom on a drive (and have a picnic)

OK, so places aren’t open, but chances are mom might simply need to get out of the house. 

Offer to take mom on a drive.  Go somewhere scenic.  Pack a picnic and stop along the way, far away from others. 

Sometimes, all we need is a break from the realities at home and a day to feel special.  This gift for mom during quarantine will make her feel special and won’t cost you more than the price of gas.

Related Post: Experience Gifts For EVERYONE on Your List

Send flowers

This seems easy enough.  If florists are open near the mom you want to spoil, I can guarantee you she will be thrilled. 

If flowers from a florist aren’t possible or if they are too expensive, you can still pick them up at the grocery store or even from your yard or a friend’s yard.  Get creative, and show mom you care.

Craft supplies

I’m not usually a huge crafter, but all this time at home has released my creative juices. 

If you’ve seen mom playing around with some crafts she hasn’t pulled out in a while, consider ordering her favorite supplies.

Most craft stores are even doing curb side pick-up.  Easy-peasy. 

Skylight Digital Photo Frame (way cooler than the frames of the past)

This isn’t your normal, run of the mill, digital photo frame.  The Skylight digital photo frame is next level. 

This digital photo frame connects to wifi, so you can send new pictures to it whenever you like. 

You can also share pics with grandma’s frame, straight from your phone! Way cooler than a boring old text.

Related Post: Budget-Friendly Gift Ideas

Quarantine ready items

A bidet attachment

You laugh, but remember when there was a shortage of toilet paper? It’s not so crazy to want a bidet.  Consider a bidet attachment the cool kid’s solution to toilet paper shortages in a quarantine.

This quarantine gift for mom will surely get a laugh and make her happy! Bidets save money too, so think of all that toilet paper you won’t have to buy next year!

Take 5% off with code 5OFFTUSHY.

Buy mom the ultimate decluttering guide  

Has mom wanted to clean out every single closet in the house since quarantine started? If this is the case, give her the gift of The Big Declutter, my weekly decluttering community!

The Happy Simple Home decluttering workbook is my fail-proof, step-by-step system to declutter every room in your home.

Relate Post: Declutter Quickly With These 20 Insanely Easy Quick-Hit Areas

Hydroponics garden

Grow a garden in any space with this hydroponic garden set up. 

If mom isn’t much into gardening, lives where it seems impossible, or maybe there isn’t any space, a hydroponic garden may be the perfect solution to wake up her green thumb. 

Luxury soaps 

Soap is all the rage during a pandemic (hello clean hands!).  Buy mom luxury soaps that smell amazing and are super good for you.  No harsh chemicals in these soaps!

Seriously, these are my favorite all-natural soap products, and they come from a trusted friend at Emily’s Homestead.

Kitchen-Aid mixer

Mom baking a lot more often? Mom making home-made bread?  This is like the queen of appliances in any mom’s kitchen.  Spoil her rotten with a Kitchen-Aid mixer and let her get to work making all the yummy goodies.

eMeals meal planning service

Is mom cooking at home waaaaay more than usual? Give her the gift of not ever having to meal plan again! This is a quarantine gift for mom she can use all year round.

Emeals does all the meal planning and grocery list building for you.  Heck, they even have pantry meal plans. 

Read my full eMeals review for more details.

Introduce mom to sourdough

With all this extra time at home, people want to bake! Baking is infinitely harder if you don’t have yeast. 

Since yeast isn’t always available, help mom out and find her a sourdough starter.  Yes, find her one.  I guarantee you, if you put the feelers out with friends and family, you can find one to gift to her. 

Better yet, after finding one, tie a pretty bow around the jar, and buy her a sourdough cookbook to help her learn everything she needs to know. 

While libraries are closed:

Audible subscription

I love my Audible subscription. It is a guilty pleasure I simply can’t give up. 

Audible is great because you can get even the most popular audio books (hello, #48 on the library digital waiting list) without a wait. 

Audible allows mom to go about her normal day while being entertained.  I use Audible while doing laundry, walking the dog, or generally ignoring my family.  (Don’t judge.)

Related Post: Gifts for Mom Who Doesn’t Want Anything

Kindle Unlimited

When the libraries closed, I definitely shifted most of my reading to ebooks, but so has the rest of the world. 

Give mom the gift of Kindle Unlimited, and she no longer has to wait for her next book from her library app. 

Nearly all the books are there, and she can read as many as she likes!

A box of books

OK, I seriously love this company, The Book Bundler.  For a set price, they will send you a box of used books straight to your door.  (They are legit. Tried and tested. Not even an affiliate link!)

I discovered this company when the libraries were closed and my daughter read every single chapter book in our home. 

One week after ordering a “beater” book set, she had a box show up at the front door with 30 used library books.  She was thrilled.  What a great idea!

The Book Bundler doesn’t only sell children’s books.  They also sell adult book bundles.  If mom, or anyone in your home, is running low on books, get a whole set delivered in just a short period of time. 

The concept fits so well into reducing waste.  It also gave us a bundle of books we can take to our neighborhood Little Free Library to trade out for new ones!

Once you’re done reading the books, read my post about places to donate used books to keep your home decluttered.

Give mom a way to connect digitally during quarantine:

Fire Tablet

Give mom (or grandma) a way to connect with the rest of her family, especially if she doesn’t have the smartest of phones.  

What’s cool abut the Fire Tablet is, it allows you to Skype AND use Kindle.  It’s like a simple version of an iPad without the price tag. 

Apple iPad

If you want to go fancy and get mom a gift that allows her to stay connected in a now mostly digital world, give her the luxury gift of an Apple iPad.  These devices are like mini-computers and can do just about anything.

Echo

I gave my grandma an Echo, and she loves it. 

An Echo plays music, can make phone calls in the event of an emergency, and generally answers any question you can think of at random.

Exercise at home gifts

Barre Online at Home

If mom is spending more time at home and no longer can use the gym, consider giving her a workout subscription at home.

I LOVE online Barre classes. They adapt well to any fitness level, and they make you feel strong and graceful.

Amazon Music Subscription

Maybe mom prefers a dance party or running outside. Give her the gift of unlimited music and no ads with an Amazon music subscription.

Apple Watch

OK, so the Apple watches are amazing. My husband has one, and I would love, love, love to have one too.

You can use these smartwatches for running, hiking, cycling, swimming, or whatever exercise your heart desires.

It’s also like wearing a computer on your wrist, so you have that too!

Garmin Watch

Not everyone is keen on Apple everything. If that’s your mom, but she still wants a kick-butt smartwatch, consider a Fitbit or Garmin watch.

Mom can use her new watch hiking, running, chasing the kids, or anything else her heart desires.

Just because mom can’t go to her favorite restaurant or salon, she can still have a wonderful Mother’s Day or birthday, yes, even in quarantine.

Spoil her rotten, even if with simple acts of kindness and love. That’s all she wants anyway. Then, if at all possible, use the ideas above to give mom the best gifts during quarantine.

Are you also looking for gift ideas for Dad? Check out this post about Minimalist Gifts for Dad that he will love!

Related Posts:

51+ Non-Toy Gift Ideas for Kids

Gifts for Minimalists: Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List

Declutter to Drastically Reduce Anxiety and Stress

Gifts for Mom During ShutdownRead More

Christmas on a budget.  That statement alone can suck the fun out of a holiday season.  However, we don’t always have the luxury of an extravagant Christmas where we can shower everyone we know and love with the gifts we know will be perfect for them.

Frankly, sometimes life gets in the way, and we are well, broke and we need to save money at Christmas.  When this happens, this doesn’t mean you have to boycott Christmas altogether.  It also doesn’t mean you have to be the scrooge that ruined Christmas because you don’t want to start a new year in debt.

You can have Christmas on a budget and still experience all the wonder and excitement that comes with the season.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Here is how you can successfully execute Christmas on a budget, without being a Scrooge:

Save Money at Christmas with a Budget

Have a budget. 

Yes, even if you feel like you have nothing, you need a budget. 

Don’t start shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday without a plan.  List out everyone you need to buy for.  Cross out the names you can maybe skip this year (see below).  Keep up with all your expenses, and don’t deviate from your budget if you don’t have the funds.  You don’t want to start a new year in debt!

Involve family and friends

Communicate your desire for a simple, frugal Christmas this year.  If your family is used to giving big gifts to every single person in the family, look for alternate ideas to help save some cash. 

The ideas you adopt may depend on your family size, family’s budget, and other factors.

Who knows? There may be other people in your family more than willing to embrace Christmas on a budget this year.

For a larger family, consider drawing names

I grew up going to my grandmother’s small but comfortable home every Christmas morning where thirty people crammed in to eat delicious food and celebrate the season. 

While I remember getting the gifts, I remember more the food, the people, and the time together with my cousins.  When we were young, everyone in the family bought gifts for all other family members.  Eventually, that practice became a bit insane, and so we decided to finally draw names.

Initially, drawing names was not a popular decision.  In fact, I’m pretty sure anyone that supported it was considered a bit of a Scrooge.  Yet, it did relieve a lot of stress for many of the family members. 

When you draw names, you allow family members to buy one really nice gift, rather than gifting junk or clutter no one really wants but that was all they could afford.

Consider not buying gifts (or leaving the adults out) to save money at Chrismas

Once the kids started to grow up in my family, it was decided once you turned 18 years old, you only got a stocking.   The gifts were reserved for the children only. 

You can do this if you have a big family or if you have a tighter budget this Christmas.  Stocking stuffers can still be super thoughtful, but they don’t break the bank as a big gift might.

When considering whether or not to buy gifts for acquaintances or those at work, I say leave them out. 

If you feel you must get your coworkers something, give them a nice Christmas card with a thoughtful and personal note with a piece of candy or a lottery ticket. 

Sometimes, simply thinking of someone during the holidays and telling them how much you appreciate them is gift enough.

Discuss making homemade gifts or gifts that capture memories

I love homemade gifts! I do recognize they take time and a little bit of creativity and skill.  Yet, many of us have skills we don’t give ourselves credit for often enough.

Try searching the internet for gifts you can make that your family may enjoy. 

If you know how to sew, even a basic straight line, there are a ton of ideas out there on simple, homemade gifts.  If you need some ideas, I have curated some of my favorite homemade gifts for kids.

If you have any woodworking or painting skills, there are lots of ideas out there for those skills as well.  The possibilities are quite endless!

If you are a great baker, consider making your specialty recipe and boxing it up nicely for the recipient.

For the tech savvy, you can create a video or slideshow of all your favorite memories with someone special and set it to music (people struggle with the music part, and it can really evoke more emotion).

For those of you with no creative skills, you still have options. 

I love Shutterfly and Snapfish during the holiday season.  Nearly every day they are giving away freebies for things you can make online.  All you pay is shipping.  You simply have to load a few pictures be ready to create something at the drop of a hat.  However, you will get the opportunity for some cool freebies, like a personalized mug, a calendar for grandma, or magnets for the fridge.

Buy gifts on a strict budget 

Sometimes family and friends have high expectations for gifts, so you have to get creative.  That’s ok. 

I have curated my favorite budget-friendly gifts for you.  They are thoughtful and some of them don’t cost you a dime, just your time! 

While I love these ideas, I still prefer to get everyone on the same page with gift-giving.  You could always give everyone a strict cap on budget amounts too.  It can make gift-giving fun and creative!

Don’t go crazy on the kids 

It is so fun to buy the gifts everything they wanted and needed for Christmas.  I have been guilty on more than one occasion. 

However, to raise a happy kid, they don’t need excess stuff.  They need you.  They need the magic of the holidays.  That is all. 

Create family memories.  Focus on doing Christmas without buying too many presents.  It can still be a lot of fun. It may even be more fun when the focus shifts from presents to making memories.

Agree to thrift store gifts for Christmas on a budget

OK, so I haven’t tried this one yet, but it’s one I’ve been dying to do but I have to first convince my family. 

I love thrift stores, and I love the little treasures you can find at them.  You could all agree you still buy gifts for each other, but one rule, they have to be second-hand.   Again, your possibilities are endless. Plus, you are having a more sustainable Christmas by giving old items new life!

Got a book lover? Check out some really nice books at Goodwill or Thriftbooks.com.

For name-brand clothes lovers, you can sign up for Thredup and get $10 towards some brand name clothes.  They even have kids clothes.  Better yet, many of the clothes still have tags on them, but they still count as second-hand in my book, as they are consignment clothes!

For kids, there are many kid consignment stores that sell nearly brand-new toys.  Take them out of the second-hand store bags, put them in a really nice Christmas bag, and boom! You have an amazing gift without all the annoying wrapping.  A child can open it up and enjoy it immediately.

Other ideas from thrift stores: antiques, favorite movies, cast iron kitchenware, china sets, jewelry and tons of toys.

Decorate simply for Christmas on a budget

If you want to have a frugal Christmas and stick to your budget, this is not the year to go out and buy a brand-new fake Christmas tree for your home. 

If you really are in need of a new Christmas tree, use your old one this year and buy a brand new one the week after Christmas deeply discounted.  You will be all set for next year!

If you buy a real Christmas tree every year, look for a smaller one that is still festive but won’t break the bank.  Sometimes the smaller trees are the best because they are filled with the most ornaments and look so festive!

Don’t buy any new Christmas decorations, ornaments, lights, or anything else.  This does not make you a Scrooge.  Use what you have on hand already! 

If you want to experience fresh, new decorations, consider making some.  There are a ton of ideas out there for homemade ornaments, popcorn strings, natural decorations, etc.  

You don’t have to break the bank on buying all new stuff.

Lean on experiences and traditions that are magical

One thing I have learned through my experiences with minimalism is that my memories from experiences carry far more weight than my memories of my stuff. 

I have received some incredible, thoughtful gifts over the years, but nothing compares to the magic of my memories with family and traditions.

If times are tough, or if you just want to experience a simple Christmas this year, then lean on experiences and traditions for your magic.

Ideas for making memories when you are experiencing Christmas on a budget:

Start a family tradition

Create a family tradition if you don’t have one already.  

• Put on your PJs and watch a Christmas movie with the whole family. 
• Sing carols to your neighbors. 
• Make hot chocolate with candy canes. 
• Go see Santa at the mall or at a local event
• Go see a Christmas parade. (Get there early for the best seat!)
• Volunteer in a soup kitchen.
• Volunteer your time to help with your community for holiday events.
• Go sledding on Christmas morning.

Whatever it is, talk about it with your kids, tell stories, and enjoy the moment.  Your kids will love carrying on your family tradition for years to come.

Drive around and look at Christmas lights

This is probably my kids’ favorite activity around the holiday season.  They get so excited when I am driving them home from school and take a surprise detour to go look at all the Christmas lights.  They literally squeal with delight.

Go see Santa

Santa is at a number of events throughout the holiday season, and many of those events are free. 

Take advantage and go see the big guy in a red suit to get your dose of holiday magic, even if you have bigger kids who don’t normally get excited about Santa anymore.

Don’t be a Scrooge, just stay on budget!

Christmas on a budget can still be fun.  You can still give gifts, and you can still experience the magic that comes with the holiday season. 

Christmas is not about the giving of meaningless gifts or gifts that will put you into debt for the upcoming year.  It is about celebrating the birth of Christ, loving each other, and giving thanks to each other.  You can do Christmas on a budget without being a Scrooge.  I promise.

Need more gift ideas? Check out the following posts:

• 15 Fun Minimalist Gifts for Kids
• 51+ Best Non-Toy Gifts for Kids
• Brilliant Minimalist Gifts for Dad He Will Love
• Gifts for Mom Who Doesn’t Want Anything: Unique Gift Ideas for Mom
• The Ultimate Gift Guide for Minimalists | Useful Gifts for Everyone on Your List
• Minimalist Gifts for Mom that Don’t Add to Clutter
• Gifts for Minimalists: Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List

What are your favorite Christmas on a budget ideas?

How to Have Christmas on a Budget Without Being a ScroogeRead More

Moms deserve the absolute best. Use these unique gift ideas for mom to find the perfect gift, especially if you need gifts for a mom who doesn’t want anything!

Moms. They deal with poop, whining, carpooling, making dinner, and maintaining a home.

This doesn’t even begin to take into account working outside or inside the home, trying to make time for self-care, and basically doing everything in their power to do it all.

Spoil the mom in your life with these gift ideas for mom, even if she says she doesn’t want anything.

Truth be told, she does want something.

Moms get so busy taking care of everyone else that they often don’t stop to think about what they want for a gift. Or, they think you should already know. Ha! I know. We are complicated.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Experience Gifts for Moms:

Moms deserve the best. I know many moms who want nothing more than time back for Mother’s Day, a birthday or for Christmas.

If you are looking for gifts for mom who doesn’t want anything, an experience gift for mom may be the answer!

Experience gift for the mom that doesn’t want anything:

• Spa date
• Manicure / Pedicure
• Ballet
• Theater
• A nice dinner (where you book the babysitter!)
• A movie (that she picks, no matter how corny)
• Time off from mom duties (ie. You agree to do baths for an entire week.)
• Brunch at a nice place. (Bonus if you get her flowers to come home to.)
• A night out with her girlfriends (Arrange for a ride so she can have stress-free fun.)
• A gift card to her favorite coffee shop or lunch place (Then give her time to go enjoy it, alone or with a friend.)
• A picnic you organize and a day at the park with her family (You can even pick up a prepared meal at the grocery store. The key is to not make her do anything.)
• An ice cream date, with all the toppings. Sometimes we just want to be young in spirit.
• A class. It can be anything she has wanted to learn recently. (Pottery, baking, sewing, wine-making, scrapbooking, knife skills, shooting, climbing, snowboarding, etc.)
• A bowling date
• Concert tickets
• Comedy show
• Yoga or online Barre classes
• Sporting event tickets
• Massage
• Amusement park tickets
• Photoshoot (Moms are never in pictures. She will appreciate being in one.)
• Weekend getaway

Related Post: Experience Gifts for EVERYONE on your list!

Unique gift ideas for the mom who doesn’t want anything

An Audible membership

Give mom the gift of “reading” with an Audible membership, especially if it is something she misses and doesn’t have time to do anymore.

With Audible, mom can now listen to books on her commute, while doing laundry, or when taking the dog on a walk around the block.

A beautiful planner

I love having a beautiful planner to plan our family’s busy schedule. My favorite planners are the Living Well Planner, Happy Planner, and Erin Condren Planners. They are all amazing!

The Living Well Planner is for the goal setter and go-getter.

The Happy Planner is more for the creative spirit. The Happy Planner can also be easily customized, which I love. If mom is the scrapbooking type, you can go crazy with stickers too.

The Erin Condren planner website has something for literally every mom on your list! There are mom planners, teacher planners, and planners for crazy busy women. I love them.

Grocery delivery and a coffee shop gift card

I don’t always like going to the grocery store. I would love to have grocery delivery at my fingertips. Amazon Fresh delivers as often as you want, which is pretty darn cool.

Out of snacks for lunches this week? No big deal! Order them for delivery without any concern or guilt over delivery costs.

Bonus, give her a coffee shop gift card to enjoy the time earned back! 

Kombucha starter kit

OK, so this is something I would love to have, and it definitely falls in the unique gift ideas for mom category! Kombucha is expensive, $3/bottle on the cheap end.

If the mom in your life likes kombucha, this is a great unique gift idea for mom.

A 5 Year, One Line a Day Journal

When I had two little ones under two years old, I didn’t have time to journal, but I wanted something to track all those precious memories.

This 5 year, one line a day journal allows moms to do just that, without the big time commitment.

Mom can track all her favorite memories from a day and then compare them year over year. It is so much fun to see how your little ones grow with just one quick memory.

A snarky adult coloring book

Give mom some relief with this unique gift idea for moms, a snarky adult coloring book.

When the kiddo wants to color…again…agree to color alongside them. Give mom the gift of humor and mindfulness, all at once.

You can even throw in a nice set of coloring pencils that are meant only for her!

Related Post: Minimalist Gifts for Mom That Don’t Add to Clutter

Monthly subscription gift ideas for mom

When looking for gifts for mom who don’t want anything, consider a monthly subscription. It is a fun monthly surprise and guilt-free “shopping” mom doesn’t have to worry about.

Who doesn’t love a gift in the mail every month of things you love?!

Pura Vida bracelets

Get mom a Pura Vida monthly subscription with the bracelet club. Mom can get 3, 6, or 12 months of deliveries with three new and unique bracelets every month! I love these bracelets. They are beautiful, low profile, and go to a good cause!

Not interested in a subscription, use this Pura Vida link to get 50% off your first order and pick out the bracelets you think she will love!

Quality coffee or tea delivery

The coffee and tea from Land of a Thousand Hills is top-notch and can be delivered via a subscription.

For the Mompreneur

Have an entrepreneur mama? Get her the gift of continuous learning with a Sparkle, Hustle Grow monthly subscription.

Every month she will get a motivating book, cute office supplies, and an online course to help her grow.

For the mom who deserves spoiling

A Fab Fit Fun subscription is the perfect gift for mom who doesn’t want anything, as it contains lots of pampering items and self-care items she probably would love but you don’t have to actually pick out!

DIY gifts for mom

Make her a card with a sweet note

Many times mom wants a thank you. That’s all. She wants to be recognized for all her hard work and feel validated for all the effort she puts into taking care of her family.

Let her know all the reasons you love and appreciate her. Take your time with it. Have the kids draw her a picture if they can’t write yet.

Cook for her

Give mom a break from being a mom for a day.

One task you can do is cook her an amazing brunch or dinner. Don’t stop there either. Go all out with flowers (they can be picked from the yard if you have them), setting the table, and sweet notes from everyone in the family.

If doing brunch, maybe have mimosa makings, and give her time to take a nap afterward!

Make her a photobook

There are a ton of apps out there that allow you to make photobooks with little effort.

For example, you can upload photos to Shutterfly, and they will insert the pictures for you into a photobook template you pick out. You don’t even have to be crafty!

If you really plan ahead, take a lot of pictures of mom leading up to making the gift. So often moms are the ones taking the photos, and we aren’t in many of them.

Make a photo collage

Gather a bunch of photos and make them into a photo collage in a nice frame. Remind mom of all her favorite memories.

Make a Jar of Love

Give mom 365 reasons why you love her. Moms want to know they are appreciated.

Let her know all the reasons you can think of with this creative and easy DIY gift for mom, a Jar of Love, from Craft a Green World.

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Create a Mommy Survival Kit

Buy a wide mouth half-gallon sized mason jar and stuff it with all of mom’s favorites. You can also print off a cute label for the gift in a jar over at Classy Clutter.

If you have a special mama in your life, try any of these unique gift ideas for mom.

Moms may say they don’t want anything, but in truth, a lot of times they want to feel loved and appreciated, rather than adding more stuff to their lives.

Looking for gift ideas for Dad? Check out this post about Minimalist Gifts For Dad That He Will Love!

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Experience gifts are one of my favorite gift ideas that don’t add to clutter.

It can be a free experience gift that you gifted through your time, or it can be an expensive getaway that replaces an expensive gift. 

That’s what is so great about experiences, they can be enjoyed at all budget levels, and they can be enjoyed by all ages.

Memories last a lifetime.  This is why experience gifts make some of the best minimalist gift ideas.

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This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Experience gift ideas: The perfect minimalist gift ideas 

Give tickets to an event

Consider giving the person on your list tickets to something they would enjoy.  You could even offer your babysitting services for free if you are not going with the person to the event.

Ideas for events are:

• Concert tickets
• Festival tickets
• Theater play
• Orchestra tickets
• Opera tickets
• Lift tickets to a ski resort
• Sporting event tickets
• Movie tickets with enough money to cover popcorn and a drink

Give a membership to a local venue

Want to give an amazing family gift? Give a family membership to a local venue. 

Every year my sister-in-law gave us a family membership to the local Children’s Museum. 

With my husband working every other weekend, it was a gift that kept giving, as it gave us an outlet for something fun to do, even on the snowiest of days.  We used it all year round, and it was amazing. 

Ideas for memberships:

• Zoo
• Children’s Museum
• The Museum of Nature and Science
• Botanical Gardens
• Other Local Museums
• Local theater memberships
• Children theater memberships

Give a gift certificate to local favorites

One year we were so broke that I asked for gift certificates to our favorite restaurants.  It allowed me to take a much-needed break with the kids, and not feel guilty about breaking the bank. 

Even if the recipient is not hurting for cash, a night out without the financial guilt is a nice break!

Ideas for local favorites:

• Ice Cream Shop gift certificates
• Favorite restaurant gift certificates
• Bowling night
• Skating rink admission
• Local brewery gift certificates

Give the gift of your time

Sometimes the gift of your time is the most helpful (and budget-friendly) experience gift. 

I would absolutely love it if someone would babysit our kids for free so we could have a date night without dropping $50 before even walking out the door.  The gift of time is valuable!

Examples of gifting your time are:

• Babysitting Services
• Cook a favorite meal for someone
• Cleaning services
• Organizing services
• Help chopping and stacking firewood
• Help carpooling the kids for a period of time
• Free after-school care for someone’s kids

Give a class

Give someone the opportunity to learn something new.  Most communities have a variety of classes for all ages. 

You can research classes through a daily deals site like Groupon, through your local recreation center, local businesses or even local community colleges.  The possibilities are endless! 

Examples of classes you can gift are:

• Dance
• Karate
• Cooking
• Pottery
• Knitting/crocheting
• Foreign language
• Photography
• Yoga

Go on a trip

A trip is the ultimate experience gift! It can also be the most costly, but you don’t have to go all out and put down the money for a full week’s vacation to some exotic location. 

You can take a day trip or a quick weekend getaway.   Consider doing a family trip somewhere instead of doing an expensive birthday party or lots of expensive toys for Christmas. 

Get creative and give a travel journal to the recipient so they can remember their favorite memories. 

Ideas to consider:

• Day trip to a local attraction.
• Weekend trip to a nearby tourist city (bonus if you can use hotel points for a free stay!)
• Go on an airline’s website and consider a random city on sale!
• Disney World (Crazy expensive but probably my favorite place to take the kids!)
• Great Wolf Lodge
• Brewery bus tour or bike tour
• National Park or State Park
• Camping trip
• Amusement park
• Waterpark

Related Post: A Simple but Special Birthday for Your Child

Spoil the person

One of my favorite things to receive is a gift that allows me to feel spoiled.  Many moms don’t spend the money to spoil themselves because it can be expensive!

Give the gift of being spoiled without them having to feel financial guilt! 

Things you can do to spoil someone in your life with an experience gift:

• Spa date
• Manicure/pedicure
• Massage
• Hair appointment
• Chiropractic appointment

Time-saving services

Give the busy person in your life the gift of time! I love this type of experience gift, as it helps relieve stress.  It can make life easier, even if for just a short while. 

Anything that can save a busy mom or dad time so they can spend more time with their family is a winner in my book! 

Examples of time-saving experience gifts:

• An Instacart subscription (grocery delivery)
• An Amazon Fresh subscription (unlimited grocery delivery)
• eMeals (meal planning sent straight to their email, customized for their family – see my review of emeals here)
• Plan to Eat (an online meal planning service)
• Amazon Prime Gift (free 2-day shipping and a host of other time-saving services!)
• Audible subscription (an ability to listen to books on the go!)

Experience Gifts for Moms

Moms deserve the best. I know many moms who want nothing more than time back for Mother’s Day, a birthday or for Christmas.

If you are looking for the perfect experience gifts for moms, here are my favorites:

• Spa date
• Manicure / Pedicure
• Ballet
• Theater tickets
• A nice dinner out (where you book the babysitter!)
• A movie (that she picks, no matter how corny)
• Massage
• Someone else to cook dinner
• Take over baths for the kids for at least a week
• A night out with her girlfriends (with a ride coordinated so she can partake in drinks)
• An Audible subscription
• A yoga or Barre membership
• A weekend getaway
• A paint and drink class (bonus if you buy an extra ticket for a girlfriend)
• A day to hike wherever she wants to go
• A pool day
• A beach day
• Wine tasting
• A photography session that you found and booked all by yourself (moms want to be in pictures, but we end up taking them all!)
• Sneakily take pictures of mom for a few weeks leading up to the gift-giving event. Then, turn them into a digital photo album. Shutterfly makes it stupid easy. (Not really an experience, but she will love it!

Related Post: Minimalist Gifts for Moms That Don’t Add to Clutter

Experience Gifts for Men

For the man that has everything, it can be hard to know what to get them. For the best minimalists gifts for birthdays, experience gifts often rank high on my list! Use these ideas to hopefully find the best experience gifts for dad or for any other man on your list.

Here are my favorite experience gifts ideas for men:

• Beer making kit or beer-making at a local brewery
• Brewery or distillery tour
• Pub crawl
• Concert tickets
• Sporting event tickets
• Exotic car rental for the day
• Flight lessons
• Bungee jumping
• Indoor sky diving
• Snowmobile experience
• Wine tasting
• A guilt-free night out with his guy friends
• Movie night (he gets to pick, no matter how violent, scary, or dumb)
• A weekend get-away

Related Post: Brilliant Minimalist Gifts for Dad That He Will Love!

Experience gifts for kids

Studies have shown that kids retain their memories for experiences more than any other gift.

Give them the gift of a memory, rather than more plastic junk or talking toys you will be throwing out in a year or less.

Here are my favorite experience gifts for kids:

• An ice cream date (ALL the toppings they want. No limit. And no aggravation when they get a belly ache halfway through and give up! This is my favorite experience gift for toddlers.)
• A movie date (Let them pick out candy, drink, and popcorn)
• A trip to the candy store.
• A membership to a local venue. (The Children’s Museum and zoo are our favorites!)
• A trip to the bookstore. Let them pick out a set number of books to take home.
• Waterpark passes
• A night in a hotel with a pool. (We recently did this for one night over Spring Break, in our own town, and they LOVED it!)
• A trip to the aquarium.
• A full day and picnic at the park.
• Cooking class
• Sign up for a sport-related class or membership (dance, karate, soccer, baseball, etc.)
• Mini-golf
• A new game and game night (without your electronic devices)
• Ice skating or roller skating
• Skiing or snowboarding
• A camping trip
• Theater tickets (bonus if a children’s theater production)
• Concert tickets
• Indoor trampoline park
• Pottery class
• Ropes course
• Horseback riding

Related Post: 15 Epic Minimalist Gifts for Kids

Experience gift ideas are the best!

Experience gifts are the best!

They don’t add to clutter, and they require a great deal of thoughtfulness that isn’t just trading money with gift certificates for birthdays and holidays. 

I love experience gifts.  They open the door for opportunities and memories to be made with the ones you love most.

Have a minimalist in your life? Experience gifts are really nice for them, as it allows them to enjoy receiving thoughtful gifts that won’t add clutter to their homes. 

Experience gifts are also wonderful gift ideas for the person who has everything or the special person in your life who says they don’t need a gift. 

Consider giving an experience gift the next time you are faced with shopping for a birthday present or when the holidays roll around. 

Even more importantly, see if you can be part of the experience gift with the recipient, and make memories you can remember together.

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