Consumable + Experiential Gift Ideas

 
 

Gift giving can be difficult for anyone pursuing minimalism. With gift exchanges all year long, especially during the holidays, it’s easy to accumulate a myriad of trinkets and toys by the end of December. And if you’re wondering why I’m talking about the holidays in the middle of the year, it’s because there are plenty of gift giving opportunities between now and then, and it’s never too early to start mentally preparing for “shopping season.”

Just one quick look at these statistics from Finder and you’ll see we have an unwanted gift problem here in the U.S. In fact, an estimated $15.2 billion is spent on unwanted gifts each year during the holidays. About 61% of the Americans surveyed admitted to getting at least one unwanted gift over the holidays, which they either gave to someone else, exchanged, sold, gave back (yikes!), or threw away.

Ever since we started following the minimalist movement, I’ve tried to pick out consumable or experiential gifts for people — and have suggested the same if asked what I wanted for Christmas or my birthday (there’s a kind and unpretentious way to do it, don’t worry!).

But what exactly is a consumable gift? It means something that can be consumed or used up. Essentially, it’s something that eventually goes away. While this certainly includes food and drink items, it doesn’t just have to be something you can eat, as the word “consumable” might make you believe. Think bath products, plants, or my personal favorite — a candle.

And what is an experiential gift? It’s exactly what you think it is: an experience. So, while it may look like a piece of paper at the onset, its value is in the actual act of doing said experience, whether it’s going to a concert, taking lessons, etc.

Take a look at my favorite consumable and experiential gift ideas if you’re looking for inspiration for an upcoming holiday. And in a few cases, the two categories overlap (for example: a gift card to a restaurant is both consumable and experiential).

You might consider passing this along to friends and family if they’re asking what to get you for your birthday or Christmas this year. Like I said, it’s never too early to plan for the holidays! The less crunched on time you are, the less likely you are to make a swift and careless decision when it comes to a gift.

PS Whenever you can, go with a small local business! I’ve included a few of my favorites, many of which are located here in Nashville. It’s a win-win when you support a small business with your gift purchases — and the recipient will appreciate it that much more.

Consumable Gift Ideas:

  • Candle (I love Paddywax + The Golden Slipper!)

  • Bag of local coffee

  • Assortment of teas

  • Bottle of wine

  • Six-pack of local beer

  • Bottle of liquor

  • Houseplant

  • Specialty food item (jam, hot sauce, oil, honey, spices, etc.)

  • Fruit your city is known for (it’s The Peach Truck peaches for me!)

  • Soap

  • Lotion

  • Bath bombs

  • Essential oils

  • Fragrance

  • Bouquet of flowers

  • Dog treats (sounds weird, but dog owners get it)

  • Gardening supplies (bulbs, seeds, bird seed, etc.)

  • Herb garden

  • Specialty chocolates

  • Baked goods

  • Cocktail mix (my favorite is WithCo!)

PS Before you think I’m a cheapskate, you can pair a lot of these together for a more complete gift. For example, you could create a local food/drink basket with some of your favorite specialty foods, a bag of coffee, a bottle of wine, etc. or a spa basket with soaps, lotion, bath bombs, etc.

Experiential Gift Ideas:

  • Wine subscription

  • Coffee subscription (I love Trade + MistoBox!)

  • Gift card for delivery services (like Grubhub or Postmates)

  • Gift card to local coffee shop, restaurant, brewery, etc.

  • Movie tickets

  • Concert tickets

  • Theater tickets

  • Sporting event tickets

  • Gift card for meal delivery services (like Blue Apron and HelloFresh)

  • Massage or spa treatment gift card

  • Night’s stay in a hotel for a staycation

  • Cooking class

  • Museum or zoo membership

  • Gift card for hot air balloon ride

  • CSA subscription

  • Yoga pass for a month or two

  • Music lessons

  • Digital subscription to a publication (like their local newspaper or The New York Times)

  • Audible subscription

  • Gift card to nail salon for manicure or pedicure

  • Amusement or water park tickets

  • Wine tasting (and you can go together!)

  • Kindle books (select “send as a gift”)

  • Gift card for skydiving or bungee jumping

  • Airbnb gift card

  • Airbnb Experiences (cooking classes, yoga and fitness, mural tours, concerts, etc.)

  • Language course (Babbel can be as low as $6.95/month)

  • Photoshoot

  • Creative online class (Brit + Co has a ton to choose from!)

By the way, experiential gifts are especially ideal for last-minute gift hunting (I know this from experience!), as it typically requires printing a ticket at home or swinging by a local business to pick up a gift card — or simply buying a digital gift card.


BONUS: You get extra sustainability points if you wrap your gift in a recycled or recyclable material, like newspaper or my favorite — brown kraft wrapping paper. Simply add ribbon and a stem of greenery or a flower for some color!

What would you add?

Let me know what consumable or experiential gifts you love to give or receive! I’m hoping to continually add to this list.

Holly Ragsdale1 Comment