Whether you are shopping for Christmas presents for your family, or dealing with the age-old question "What would you like for your birthday?" there are times of the year when it is useful to have some 'clutter-free' gift ideas at the ready! Emma asked her fellow HE Clutter List subscribers for a few ideas, and we had a very productive discussion about gifts we would like to receive for Christmas that wouldn't undo all the wonderful de-cluttering work we have put in...

[Scheherazade also found some clutter-free gift ideas on the FlyLady site (you have to scroll down quite a way).]

I also have a Shopping Links section on my embryonic (pun intended!) Mothersense website, including some gift shopping links recommended by the HE Clutter List subscribers.

Gift Solution: Sponsorship/Donations

Roxanna suggests:

"Why not sponsor an animal, or an impoverished child in the Third World? Through the Heifer Project, donated animals or shares thereof (¼ of a hog, ½ a goat, a rabbit, 6 chicks, etc.) would be given to a family. The milk from the goat provides nourishment for the beneficiary family as well as milk to sell. When the goat is bred the offspring goes to another family. Also the families are taught how to care for the animals and environmental maintenance. Your children would be so happy and proud to contribute in this way and would receive letters from the children that are assisted."

Carolyn has similar ideas:

"How about sponsoring an animal at the zoo, or Elefriends, or similar?"

Helena has another alternative:

"Buy a book specifically for your child to donate to the local library."

...And Alison knows what I would like!

"How about Fair Trade sweets or chocolate? (They won't last long, and at least you know someone else benefits!)"

You can find out more about adopting a wild animal on the Born Free website, and Save The Children have a website dedicated to sponsoring children.  Sponsorship doesn't usually involve much money per month, and is an excellent way of letting another human being know that a real person cares what happens to them. If you have any other links on sponsorship of this, or any other kind, please feel free to contact me with them.

If you would like to donate a book to your local library, contact them directly for details. If you donate text books to colleges or universities, be sure to check that the book will be directly available to the students you hope to help, as many establishments have the policy of placing the first copy of any book into the main library before making any further copies available to other campus libraries.  This means that you would most likely have to donate two copies of each book in order to ensure that at least part of your donation would go to a particular 'satellite' library.

For lovers of artefacts and treasure, perhaps the answer would be to help out a local museum with a sponsorship or donation.  You could adopt a book at the British Library, for example. 

Of course, you can also make one-off contributions to the charity of your choice. See the Charities Aid Foundation website for further details.

Gift Solution: Practical Gifts

Carolyn has clearly faced the situation before:

"You could give book tokens or cinema tickets, but there are other practical options such as shoes, boots winter coat, gloves or other clothing needed; a new desk, CD-ROM for computer or an upgrade; or an encyclopaedia, or globe.  This is assuming they can't cope with the idea of not spending out cash!

"...Or, if you are of the devious persuasion, and depending on the age of your children, ask for things you know someone else would like or need, or something you know you could keep for a short while before passing on with a clear conscience, just like mine!"

Helena's ideas:

"What about a subscription to a favourite comic? Or how about something that grows with the child: a pot of soil and a few seeds, or a bush for the garden? You could always ask the children for their 'non-material' wish lists. I know books are material, but I think you can never get enough books!"

Alice also had some excellent thoughts:

"How about suggesting your relatives pay for a day out? Cinema, museum, a day on holiday, whatever takes your fancy. Or, if your children are old enough, buy films or pay to have them processed."

Gift Solution: Personalised Gifts

Helena favours home-made gifts:

"Last year, my immediate family made each other presents, instead of buying them. This was a first for us, and it worked really well. We got an enormous amount of pleasure in both making and giving personalised home-made gifts. Perhaps you could ask other (extended) family members to do the same? For example, a book written by the grandparents, all about 'Christmas when I was a child'. How about an offer of 'special time' with the children (i.e. a night-over at Grandma's without their siblings)?"

Kay tells us what her family have been doing:

"Years ago, we realised our spending on presents was getting out of hand, and as an extended family we decided only to spend £2.50 per person on presents at Christmas. It was a challenge to find things, and we ended up with really imaginative presents. The whole thing changed our experience of Christmas and we started making or buying things totally relevant to each person.

"The presents have been better than any of the stuff we got when we were just buying and spending more."

Roxanna responded:

"GIFTS Kuumba (creativity) is greatly encouraged. Not only is Kuumba one of the seven principles, it also brings a sense of personal satisfaction and puts one squarely into the spirit of Kwanzaa.  Therefore, those symbols that can be made, should be made.   The giving of gifts during Kwanzaa should be affordable and of an educational or artistic nature.  Gifts are usually exchanged between parents and children and traditionally given on January 1st, the last day of Kwanzaa.  However, gift giving during Kwanzaa may occur at any time."

Kwanzaa is an African-American celebration. More information can be found here.

Emma also likes to make gifts:

"I have trouble every year finding presents for my relatives. They have everything they could possibly want so what else can I give them?! However, I normally give them a pot of homemade jam or some homemade biscuits/chocolate. This works out fairly inexpensive too."