The Best Minimalist Gifts [Exactly What to Get the Minimalist in Your Life]
One of the most angst-inducing parts of any celebration is often choosing the perfect gift.
It’s also my absolute favorite part.
You want to choose something that lets the person know how much they mean to you, that brings them joy when they open it and, most importantly, that they want to keep.
Gift giving for me is a way to let that person know how I value having them in my life, a way for me to show my love for them.
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But let’s get real for a second, finding and choosing that perfect gift is damn stressful.
Especially if they’re a minimalist…
Imagine with me for a moment.
It is your friend’s birthday and right now, you are struggling to choose the best gift for her.
You’re are best friends with this woman, you grew up together. You’re practically sisters you know each other so well.
Recently she made some big changes in her life. The term “minimalist” has been thrown around.
Physical items around Sarah’s home have diminished, her home has become incredibly clean and organized because everything she buys is bought with purpose.
She now truly has everything she wants and needs, so what the heck can you buy her!?!
What is a minimalist?
Let’s start right at the beginning.
Minimalism, becoming a minimalist, living life in a minimalist way, these phrases all mean something different to everyone but generally, it means reducing life’s clutter (physical, mental, digital, etc) and living life in a much more intentional way.
Aiming for simplicity.
This can entail severely decreasing the number of material possessions you have, living your life with more purpose or reducing the number of time-consuming tasks that you feel are pointless and hold less meaning, replacing them with ones that bring you joy and harmony.
Related Posts:
An introduction to minimalism: Save money and be happier
What Is Clutter and Why It’s Ruining Your Life!
Stunningly Simple Minimalist Organization Tips [Transform Your Home TODAY]
Back to that gift you needed to buy…
Knowing that your friends been trying to live a more minimalist lifestyle you decide to ask her if there is anything she wants or needs.
(In my eyes there is nothing better than buying someone exactly what they want!)
When you chat, your friend gives you an honest answer, just not the one you were looking for.
She says she really doesn’t need anything at all.
ARGHHHHH
Now what…
Do minimalists even want gifts?
Does she really not want anything like she says?
If so, what do you do? Was this statement sincere? Should you listen and bow out of gifting this time?
Let’s be real for a second, some minimalists really do mean it when they say they don’t want any gifts at all.
But then you have the minimalists like me whose love language is giving and receiving gifts.
So even though we might honestly say there is nothing we need, we still need to receive *something* to let us know that you love us. Minimalists receiving gifts is a thing guys, just because we’ve decluttered doesn’t mean we no longer want presents!
And vice versa, we need to give you *something* because that’s our way of showing love.
Because I personally always like to give a gift of some description so I created this minimalist gift guide to help you out if you run into a situation like this – needing the perfect present for the minimalist in your life who says they don’t need anything at all!
So what do you get for a minimalist?
To a minimalist, time, experiences and useable products are worth keeping around.
Whether it is for him or for her, your Mom or your man, valentines day, a housewarming gift, white elephant, Christmas or birthdays this guide will help you pick out the perfect minimalist gifts for the occasion!
Minimalist Gift Ideas
Give to Charity
There may be a certain charity or cause that your friend is passionate about. Going to their website and donating in their name may be the perfect gift for them.
Amazon also has some other options where when you purchase a physical item, such as a bracelet or a candle, they send a certain portion to a specific charity, which can be a great gift especially if it’s giving to a cause they want to help.
Benevolence LA Scented Candle:
Each candle is sold with the mission to give money to Thorn who works to stop the spread of child abuse and trafficking.
ME to WE- Minga Impact Bracelet:
With the purchase of this gift, water is provided to communities in need, so you can look cute and know you’ve helped provide people with drinking water.
Lokai Shark Cause Collection Bracelet:
With some shark species in danger of extinction, Lokai will donate $1 to Oceana for each bracelet purchased!
Cash and Gift Cards
Sometimes, letting the person who you are giving the gift to choose what they want or need most is a safer option, especially when it comes to teenagers.
Some great options are:
Amazon eGift Card, which can be for $1-$2,000 if you’re feeling super generous and used to buy pretty much anything on Amazon.
$100 Visa Gift Card, a great option if you really want to give the first of cash without actually giving cold, hard cash…
Starbucks Gift Card, I know what you’re thinking, who wants a Starbucks gift card… Well, funny story, my boyfriend got one of these for his birthday one year and he still maintains it’s the best gift he’s ever got! He absolutely loves his coffee but normally feels guilty going and buying his favorite fancy drink so this meant he could have his fav pick-me-up for “free” no guilt attached!
Memberships or Magazine Subscriptions
Contacting local museums or gyms that you know your person loves and buying them some sort of membership can be an amazing gift.
I know I would absolutely love someone paying for my gym membership for a little while!!!
You could also consider starting a subscription to a magazine they like, this works brilliantly if they have a hobby they are seriously into. Like I used to breed poultry as a hobby and I was obsessed. My parents got me a subscription to a magazine called Practical Poultry and I could not wait to receive that every month, best present ever!
Some great magazines you could get them are:
Food or Drink
Whether your friend is a snackaholic, or you love to get together and have a few cocktails, food or drink is the perfect gift for a minimalist because it will get used!
Plus you’re probably buying them something fancier than they would normally buy themselves which is always a nice treat.
Cookie, Chips & Candies Ultimate Snacks Care Package
An assortment of snacks is perfect for the friend who loves to host a movie night or games night at their house
Perfect for protein lovers!!!
Classes on something they want to try
They may have mentioned wanting to learn yoga, a new language or woodwork… Either way a class to learn something new is an amazing gift for a minimalist.
You could even sign the two of you up for a class such as cooking or crafts to spend some quality time together.
For example, if they’ve been wanting to learn a new language you could sign them up to a six month Babbel subscription!
Holiday/ Getaway
Gifting a vacation, whether that’s with a spouse, a girls getaway, or even a trip for one, can help someone “get away” from the everyday hustle and really enjoy themselves. Also, as it’s an experience it won’t physically clutter their home, win!
This can be a bit of a pricy gift so probably best reserved for someone you’re really close to or a big occasion!
DNA testing
There is a growing trend on home DNA tests. These tests can help you learn about certain health markers as well as your ancestry.
I’ve actually done this myself with 23andMe and it was amazing to see all the different nationalities that I’m genetically linked to!
A really great present for anyone to find out a little more about themselves.
Check out the 23andMe DNA Test here!
Photo Album
Who doesn’t love photo albums!
With this option, you can completely personalize the present and make it super special.
For example, my Mom made me a photo album for my 21st birthday and my friend made a photo album for me of a trip we took together, I cherish both of these albums so much, they are some of my most prized possessions.
Plus, combining this with a camera for future pictures would be a great way to say “our adventures aren’t over”.
Here are a few cute photo albums perfect for this gift:
Fabric Frame Cover Photo Album
Practical gifts
Purchasing everyday items that need replacing saves your friend or loved one money and time, so make great presents for minimalists. Things like bed sheets, curtains, furniture, and even socks can add up when purchased on a regular basis.
In fact, my parents often buy luxury bath towels for my boyfriend and I as a Christmas present, because honesty is anything worse than old, threadbare, scratchy towels…
Gifts for those you know very well
Oftentimes we have certain items we use that we prefer to be a specific brand, scent, color, etc. When you know a person very well and can pinpoint exact gifts you know they will use, this may be the best gift.
For example, I’m very, very picky with my skincare so if someone buys me a pot of my favorite moisturizer you can bet I’m going to adore that present!
Gifts from the heart
Your time: Giving someone your time may be worth more than any gift. The person you are purchasing a gift for may need a babysitter, help cleaning their home, or even just need time away for a day to a spa or a movie.
Don’t underestimate the gift of your time.
So there are gifts perfect for minimalists!
Hopefully, you now have a great idea of what to buy the minimalist in your life!
Share below creative gift ideas you may have or even reach out if you are still unsure about what to purchase for a minimalist. I would love to help you find that great purchase for your special someone.
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