Mindful Giving:
Clutter Free AND Earth Friendly Gifts
Combine clutter free and earth friendly gifts to reduce the stuff in someone's life, expose them to unique gift giving ideas, and tread lightly on our planet. By becoming more mindful about gift giving you create a deeper connection with your friends, family and the earth. Ahh...gift giving at its finest.
Suggestions for Clutter Free AND Earth Friendly Gifts
If you would like to suggest more clutter free and earth friendly gifts, we would love to add your ideas here! Share your ideas with us
Picture It Postage
This is one of my favorite gifts to give because everyone needs stamps! It is practical and personal! For one of my friend's birthday, I sent her postage stamps with a picture of our kayaking trip in Alaska. Now every time she pays a bill, or writes a letter she has an extra smile on her face! Create postage for yourself or your business using PictureItPostage™ and PictureItPostage for Business™
Windows Users
Mac Users
Teavana Tea
There are tons of health benefits to tea, but my favorites are feeling relaxed and soothed when I drink it, especially Teavana Tea! It tastes so good! If you are ever near a Teavana Tea store, stop by and taste all their samples. Or you can share the Tea of the Month program with a friend(s) and have a standing tea tasting party at your home. Gift Certificates are also available.
Teavana Tea website
David Rio Chai
The Tiger Spice is my favorite Chai from David Rio, although you can't go wrong with any of them. Purchasing the individual packets make a nice gift to include in a card or letter to a friend.
David Rio Chai website
The BEST Cookies in the Galaxy!
These are by far my favorite cookies! The Colossal Chocolate Chip ones are amazing! The cookies are huge, so each one makes the perfect gift to let someone know you are thinking of them. They are made with organic ingredients and nothing artificial--just what friendships are made of! Don't forget to get enough to treat yourself!
Alternative Baking Company website
Great Harvest Bread
Yummers!! This bread is amazing and it can even be shipped! If you get a chance pop into one of their local stores and get a free sample to try their selections! My favorites are Cinnamon Chip and Honey Whole Wheat.
Great Harvest Bread website
Reusable Bags
These are great earth friendly gifts for grocery shopping and other errands.
Reusable bags will help you eliminate hundreds, if not thousands, of those plastic and paper shopping bags choking our planet. It’s an easy way to do your part and share with friends!
Reusable Bags website
iTunes Gift Card
Give the gift of music, TV shows, audio books or movies for your friends or family to download to their computer and iPod! Make this an even more clutter free and earth friendly gift by sending the gift certificate by eMail!
order iTunes Gift Card
Netflix Membership
I have been using Netflix for several months now and absolutely LOVE IT! I no longer have to travel to the movie rental store and wonder around for a good half hour trying to figure out what I want to watch. All the movies I want to see are listed in my queue and they automatically show up in my mailbox. Plus there are no late fees, so I never feel rushed to watch the movie. The other bonus is I can see my friends' list and what they are watching and how they rated other movies. Gifts range from $18 to $215.
Netflix website
First Aid Kit
A revolutionary first aid kit that pre-packages supplies in order of use for specific injuries. It also includes easy to understand directions. This reduces waste, protects the first aider and the person needing first aid, as well as keeping the procedures simple.
PICKPAK website
Moon Sisters Candles and Soaps
These are my favorite candles! I can feel the love and care that is put into each candle. The creative scents are a great addition to a relaxing environment at home. When you buy some for your friends, don't forget to a get a few for yourself too! Niki is conscious of our environment and I know she provides these as earth friendly gifts.
Moon Sisters Studio website
Adopt-a-Farm Animal
You can adopt a chicken, rabbit, goose, duck, turkey, goat, sheep, pig or cow. Think how sweet it will be to unite a friend with a new friend! Meet Diva, our adopted goat. Their rescue stories are so special, it will warm your heart to know you are part of their life.
Adopt-a-Farm Animal website
Farmers Market
Find a Farmer's Market in your neighborhood and purchase locally grown produce, jams, and crafts for your special friend. Heck, go there together for a great way to spend quality time and know you are contributing to your local community.
Find a local farmers market
Wish Lists
Wish lists are a great way to avoid gifts that turn into clutter. With Amazon.com you are also participating in a form of recycling when you purchase used books. If you haven't already, create your own wish list and invite your friends to do the same! Shopping from wish lists will ensure that your gifts are wanted and useful.
The Best Door Stop
The hardest working door stops in the business. The Door Doggie is a unique product of extraordinary quality. This is a great tool to use in your office, home or for traveling! I am very proud of my dad for inventing this!
Buy Jefco website
Clutter Free and Earth Friendly Gifts at their best!
Gifts of Your Time
- Pet Sitting
- Child Sitting
- Help in the garden
- Take your friend on a picnic
- Make dinner/dessert
- Go Camping together
- Establish a Girls Night Out or a Boys Night Out to spend quality time together.
- Start a book club
- Pick an Organizing Holiday and work together on an organizing project!
Treasure Box
Throughout your home you have special treasures you no longer want that would be useful and wanted by someone else. Do you have an alarm clock you don't use, but know someone who would? How about cookbooks, candleholders, toys, games, books, picture frames, etc.! Keep them all in a box, and when people come to visit invite them to pick a gift from your treasure box.
Clutter Free Gifts of New Experiences
Help your friends experience something new or something they may not pay for themselves but you KNOW they would enjoy. This will also empower them to believe they are worth some pampering and treat themselves occasionally!
- Yoga/Knitting/Photography Class
- Concert Tickets
- Massage/Pedicure/Facial
- Movie Tickets
- New Restaurant
- Kayaking
- Museum
White Envelope Gift
The tradition of the "white envelope" is simple but incredibly powerful. In lieu of a material gift at any occasion, do something for someone else in honor of the recipient. Write up what you did, put it in a white envelope, and give it to the recipient as their gift. Visit The White Envelope Project
Annoymous Giving
There have been times I wanted to give a family member or a friend some money, but knew they wouldn't accept it, or feel uncomfortable. This solves that challenge to giving! Look around your community, your neighbors, friends and family. Do you see anyone in need? If so, give to them. You can give anonymously. Visit Giving Annoymously
No gifts?
On the more extreme side of gift giving, you can agree as a family to not give gifts during the holiday seasons. A "no-gifts" policy removes the emphasis on material things and shifts it toward spending time together. Use the money you would spend on gifts to take a trip with your family. You could also donate your time or money to a worthy organization as a family.
Giving with no strings attached
We all know what it feels like when there are strings attached to a gift we are given. We feel obligated to displayed it or wear the item when the giver comes to visit. But are we also aware of our own strings when we give gifts?
I recognized my own strings when I was looking around a friend's home for a poster I had given her a few years back. Thankfully, I caught myself. Since that moment I committed to only give gifts when I could do it with no strings attached. (It took me a full month) I try not to expect even a thank you. I want my gifts to be an expression from my heart ...a message to let the person know I love and appreciate them with no strings attached.
Along with my gifts, I attach a card giving them "permission" or rather the freedom to do what they want with the gift. Feel free to use the following statement with your next gift to serve as a reminder to ourselves as well as an invitation for the receiver to live a clutter free life.
This gift...
This gift is given to you because it reminded me of your unique self.
This gift is given to you freely with no expectations.
If at anytime this gift no longer brings you smiles and good feelings, feel free to pass it along to someone else, thereby practicing a more clutter free life and feeling the joy of letting go!
Your own Giving Account
Gift giving can be stressful if you feel strapped for money, especially during the holidays. I have a separate "Giving" checking account and I put money into it each month. I use this account to pay for gifts to friends and family as well as charitable donations. This account has allowed me to feel more generous because I know I have money to use just for this very purpose.
If you decide to give this a try, you can either put a flat amount each month or a percentage of your income. Do what feels comfortable to you, but at least give it a try! The abundance and freedom you will feel is amazing.
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