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 Clutter-free Gift GivingAs
a Professional Organizer about 20% of my work tends to be actual organizing.
The first 80% is often helping clients make decisions about their stuff. What
do they need, use and love; and then what to do with the rest? Most clients have
‘never used’ items - doesn’t fit, don’t care for it, what is it anyway? And yet
it is kept because ‘it was a gift’. Folks feel obliged to hold onto a gift,
even if they don’t need it, use it, and love it.
With
a gift, our intent is to let people know that we love them, appreciate them, think
of them. We all could
benefit (especially in this tough economy) from giving and receiving exactly
what is needed/used/loved. That gift could be a homemade coupon for trading a
talent or energy, a gift of a special treat or learning experience, and there
is nothing wrong with a very thoughtful gift certificate.
Keep
the ‘No Clutter’ theme in mind as you start noting gift ideas next to each
loved one. As you read each idea think about giving and receiving. Most
folks appreciate receiving helpful gift ideas for what you need/use/love. No one
wants to spend money on a gift that becomes someone else’s clutter.
Relax
and let your creative juices flow…
Trade talents and energy
- Make food and stock a freezer for a pregnant niece, an
elderly uncle, or someone with an
upcoming surgery.
- Run errands for a busy or housebound relative, friend
or neighbor.
- For someone who loves shopping or hiking or (fill
in the blank), pack a picnic and spend a day with them doing their favorite
pastime.
- Kid-sit so a mom can have a day all to herself. Gift it
early so she can do her holiday errands without hassle.
- Offer to cook and/or clean up at the next party of
someone that loves to entertain.
- Teach word processing skills, like mail merge, to the sister
that struggles with her family holiday letter every year.
- You have a green thumb and your friend has pretty
planters standing empty. Ask if you can fill them with low maintenance
houseplants for her.
- Ask
a tech savvy nephew to teach you how best to use your smart phone, iPad or
social media.
- Know
someone that has all the equipment needed to transfer your favorite music from
LP or cassette tape to DVD or digital? Or how about old movies or slides to
digital?
- Ask
Auntie to make you one of her amazing pies for your next dinner party. If she
is very generous, how about a pie-a-month, all year long?
The Gift of Experiences- Creative
person – paint pottery at The Clayroom or painting, drawing, photography
classes at Mystic Arts Center, glass-blowing, stained glass, caning
chairs, etc.
- Future
Scientist – Mad Science day camp or birthday party
·
Harried
couple – dinner, evening or weekend at Stonecroft
Country Inn or Bee
and Thistle Inn and Spa,
or any of the other fabulous SECT locales
- Aspiring
Chef – A one-day class in the kitchen at Culinary Institute of America, only 3 hours from SECT
- Sports
enthusiast – classes in archery, golf, tennis, etc.
- Music
lover – instruction in drumming, piano, guitar, on and on.
·
Youth
adventurer – sleep away or day camps like Camp
Hazen in Chester or
trapeze or circus camp
- Walking buff – a gift of a walking tour from haunting CT Walking Tours, to architecture New England Curiosities, to history the Freedom Trail.
- Busy moms that give and give – a day at the spa or
simply a massage, manicure and pedicure just for her.
- Entire Family – Annual pass to the local zoo,
aquarium, seaport, children's museum or science museum. Gift cards for Family
fun centers, theme parks, national park passes.
Consumables There is nothing wrong with a very thoughtful gift that
the recipient can ‘use up’ rather than put on a shelf. - Grandma who still sends notes – Stationary, postage stamps
and a wall calendar. Consider pre-filling the relatives’ birthdays and
anniversary dates for her!
- Music lover – downloads for an Ipod.
- Car lover – a booklet of car washes starts at $39.95 at Rapid Car Wash in New London
- Teenagers on the move – Gift certificates for Skiing,
rock climbing walls, movie/concert passes, gasoline cards.
- Teenagers that just move their thumbs – Find out what
system they have and then gift cards like Xbox live gold gift cards from
- For the community minded – a gift in their name.
Locally or globally. You can use this as a tax deduction if you
give to a recognized 501©(3) not-for-profit organization (check status at
irs.gov/app/pub-78), itemize when you file your taxes and keep documentation.
- A basket of ‘yummies’ to have on hand for a quiet
winter night in front of the fire or for unexpected guests that drop in.
Smart Gift Requests After
you’ve been through the list, keep your notes with you. When someone asks what
you would like to receive have an answer ready for them. Consider those
everyday items that are a bit aged and could be replaced, but we often don’t take
the time or money to treat ourselves: - plush
robe
- lovely
flannel bed sheets
- fluffy
bath towels
- anything
you love, use all the time, but it is starting to look worn out
- and what
kitchen couldn’t use some fresh dish towels and cloths?
If
all else fails, give a gift certificate “For Peace of Mind”. The recipient will
get help with any space in their life that frustrates them the most – from
attic to basement, closets, time and paper management, etc. Call Sandra Wheeler
at (860) 608-0451 or send an e-mail to forpeaceofmind@sbcglobal.net.
I wish for you a stress-free, thoughtful, Gift
Giving Holiday Season
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