Giving Experiences as Gifts: Why and How

A Collector of Experiences – Minimalist gift giving

Last Updated on November 2, 2023 by Amanda Brooks

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“The things you own in life end up owning you.” —Tyler Durden

I don’t know when it happened.

That moment where I went from craving gifts to seeking out experiences. Giving Experiences as Gifts - why it can be more meaningful and ideas on how to do it It’s changed everything.

Quite literally it’s transformed my closet, my goals and my relationships…I might be minimalist in my wants, but I’m a maximizer when it comes to LIVING!

I’d say it started when we downsized from a house in Kansas City to a condo in Miami, but really we’d been going minimal for a few years before that happened. So maybe it was the aggravating yearly discussion of what to get everyone for Christmas because let’s be honest…no one really needed anything!

Yet, I wanted to give something that showed them how I felt, how much I cared…

DING!!! Experiences, not gifts!

And I don’t mean handmade redeemable tickets for a night of dish washing or mowing the lawn {those can be fabulous too}. I mean breaking out of the norm, thinking outside the box life experiences. Like my birthday this year which was tickets to Cirque de Solei and kayaking with friends!

Psychological research suggests that, in the long run,
experiences make people happier than possessions. — Ryan Howell study

CHRISTMAS ISN’T UNDER THE TREE

First it started with buying my Dad tickets for us to see a Mizzou game {which we’d never done together}, then the Harlem Globe Trotters, then airfare for him to visit Florida. For Mom it was a day of getting our make up done or a massage and of course trips to re-connect.Then David and I stopped buying gifts, instead setting aside money for big vacations like Costa Rica or Alaska and short weekends in Key Largo or Naples…and yes when I did buy things it was something silly like his little Hawaiian shirt {love that man for wearing it!}
At first people weren’t sure what to make of our new gift giving.

D and I no longer wrapped things up for each other we just decided on a trip to take…that was weird, it broke the norm! It also meant they began to realize we didn’t want little trinkets each year, so they had to start rethinking gift giving. YIKES.

What can I say, I’ve loved our experiences far longer than just about any gift I’ve ever received.Why?

Anticipation – Don’t they say that’s often the best part of many trips
Memories – Few gifts stay with you longer than adrenaline of flying through trees on a zip line
Bonding – Time away from every day life gives you time to really talk
Laughter – Ahh don’t we all need more of this every single day
Unique – I don’t have to worry that it’s something they’ll already have!
Excuse busting – “Don’t have the money” is the biggest reason for not doing a lot of things…
No lines – No time battling the holiday crowds for a deal or a return

What if you gave each other experiences this year instead of material gifts? #holidays Share on X

GIFTS OF NEED…AND A LITTLE WANT

This isn’t to say I don’t jump up and down when I get a box in the mail filled with nut butter or running shoes…I mean a girl still has priorities. I just have a very small list of things that I feel I actually “need” and it’s become apparent to me that many of my “wants” won’t improve my life.

Once you’ve satisfied those long time wants {um hello 30th birthday diamond earrings} here are some creative ideas to get your experience giving started!

Tickets: Theater, concert, movie, comedy night, local events, art shows, zoo, museum, sporting event

Learn together: Cooking class, pottery painting, art walk, wine tasting, dance lessons

Sweat session: Pick a new class or new location to go kayaking, SUP, yoga, cycling, ice skating

Adrenaline day: Hot air balloon, sky dive, helicopter ride, horse back riding

Get blissed: Massage, full spa day,

Vacation: A night at a B&B, camping, spin the globe and pick!

All of this made me realize it’s been far too long since we have taken a long vacation together. I’ve been off on many crazy explorations and our family visits to the Mid-West, but it’s time again for quality, non-busy, no daily to do list time.

Which is why I am so looking forward to Hawaii in December…sure there’s that whole run 26.2 miles thing, but plenty of time for exploring, biking, hiking and simply being.

Do you enjoy gifts or experiences more? A mix of both?

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