The holidays are a time when you want to show the people around you just how much you love them by completely spoiling them. But who says that has to mean quantity over quality? The #fewerbettergifts movement, started by fashion brand Cuyana, has people rethinking their gifting strategy. Instead of filling a stocking with smaller, maybe slightly lower-quality gifts you think your loved one will like, the movement encourages you to focus on one really great-quality gift you know they’ll love. We chatted with three bloggers who shared how they keep their gift giving minimal, yet thoughtful. Scroll on for their best tips for gifting meaningful presents.
1. Focus on intention. Emily’s philosophy is built around “less is more.” So when it comes to the holidays, it’s only natural that she keeps things as simple and intentional as possible. She tells us, “I take it two ways: One at face value, just getting higher-quality gifts instead of going for a lot of cheap, breakable and mostly useless gifts. But I think the heart of it is what’s most important: communication and intention. If you want to get someone a gift, get to know what they love, what they need and what they wouldn’t normally get for themselves. The intention is important too. If you’re getting them a gift just for the sake of tradition or out of a sense of obligation, that takes away the meaning of gift giving. Give them a gift because you love them or they are important to you, not just because you feel like you need to.”
She adds, “I love this movement because it’s opening up a conversation about something we’ve always ‘just done.’ It’s making it easier to say, ‘I don’t want gifts this year’ or ‘If you do give gifts, this is what I’m looking for,’ and offering alternatives to the typical gifts.”
2. Get into the gift recipient’s mind. Emily tells us, “Gifts are such a stressful part of the holidays, and my strategy gets a little more refined each year… for now, I look for things that offer more of an experience than just a one-time use. I look for experiences, things that bring people together or otherwise are a positive addition to someone’s life. If I give a product, I try to imagine how it will play into someone’s lifestyle: Will they use it regularly or will it collect dust? Will it be something they love to use? And ultimately, will it show the person that I really care about them and know them enough to give them something that brings them joy?”
3. Try out a feel-good gift! “For the adults on our list, we’re actually going to go an alternative route for the first time ever. We’re donating to charities in their names, and we’ll be notifying them through handwritten Christmas cards. I’m taking time to find charities that are specifically relevant to them, so that it has more meaning. This is a first, so we’ll see how it goes. The intention is that instead of adding something that will take up space in their homes, we’re giving them something that we can all feel good about.”
Sara Zucker, Sara Zucker
4. Focus on meaningful gifts. By day, Sara works as the Global Digital Marketing Manager for Origins. By night, she’s the voice behind sarazucker.com, a fashion and lifestyle blog. She shares, “The holidays have become a crush of superficiality, everyone running around to get more gifts and bigger gifts and fancier gifts than last year. Since I’ve never been one to move with convention, I’ve felt even more drawn to subtle customization. Who wants the templated ‘this would be perfect for ___’ gift you see on every guide this time of year? Instead, I want friends and family to open up a singular, meaningful present that screams of thoughtfulness — and even a gift card can be substantial. This Chanukah, for example, I gave my brother-in-law a gift card to buy two seats for an upcoming Mets game, knowing that he rarely splurges on seeing his favorite team and loves having ‘date nights’ with my sister. This gift will allow him to combine the two.”
5. No haphazard gifts. “Never rush, never buy just to buy and always step back and think about the person to whom you will be gifting — what are their likes and dislikes, do they have a new hobby, have they ever mentioned a beloved object — so that you can buy something that will complement it. Basically: Give a sh*t. There is nothing worse than a haphazard gift.”
Allison Hollins of Love You, Mean It
6. Focus on quality. Allison is a beauty and lifestyle blogger infatuated with all things beautiful. But that doesn’t mean she has to buy ALL the beautiful things.And when it comes to gift giving, she knows that’s the best way to go too. “As I have gotten older, I’ve come to realize the value in quality over quantity. I think this rings true in all aspects of my life, and it’s something I often consider when gift giving. I love giving gifts! It gives me great joy, and I always am trying to think of meaningful ways to show the people around me how much I value and appreciate them. In order to do that, I want to make sure I am giving gifts that are personal and lasting. That is what #fewerbettergifts means to me!”
7. Use yourself as a meter for gift shopping. Allison recommends asking yourself, “First and foremost, is this something I would want? Typically this one thought can guide me in the right direction… I also want to make sure the gift is personalized, meaningful and lasting.”
8. Personalize your gifts. Like Emily and Sara, Allison makes sure every gift she gives is as personalized as possible. That means everything from monogramed presents to experiential gifts. She tells us, “Whether that is tickets to a concert of their favorite band, or an airline gift card to come visit in Dallas, the memories made will last far longer than any product I could ever give!”
(Photos via @ennaree, @sarazucker and Love You, Mean It)