When I first got into minimalism, I approached Christmas all wrong. 

At first, I wanted to tell everyone that I did not want any material items that Christmas. I felt wrong asking for stuff when I was in the process of trying to own less. 

But at the time, I was not very good at making it clear what I wanted from friends and family. So instead of saying anything, I kept quiet and made the same sort of Christmas list I’ve always made. Everything worked out just fine in the end (as it always does) but it was a more stressful year than usual for me. 

Since then, I’ve learned quite a bit more about minimalism. I understand that someone can be a minimalist and still want things every so often. The difference is that you have an intention for the thing you want. 

This year, I had friends and family request a Christmas list and I am proud to say that I have found a happy balance between thinking of appropriate things that people can buy me to show their love as they want to and still maintaining a lifestyle of less.

Today, I want to share with you some of the things that you can ask people to buy you that will honour their desire for gift-giving and your interest in a minimalist lifestyle.

But before I give you a clear gift guide for aspiring minimalists, I want to tell you about three lessons that were important for me to learn for a healthier approach to the tradition of gift-giving. 

Brief Lessons I Learned about Minimalism and Gift-Giving

Lesson #1: Just because you want to own less doesn’t mean you want to own nothing. 

This lesson was super important for me to understand in order to learn to accept gifts with grace. When I first aspired to live a minimal lifestyle, I thought it meant that I should never ask for things again.

It was like I wasn’t allowed to even want things.

But that is simply not true.

In fact, your Christmas list will probably look a lot more specific than in previous years. As a minimalist, you’re still allowed to want things, but you need to be more intentional about what is worth buying. Maybe your pillow is getting worn out and you’d like a replacement. Perhaps you would like a special lens for your camera.

There is nothing wrong with wanting things, so Christmas lists don’t need to be riddled with guilt. 

Lesson #2: Some people want to show their love by getting you something- don’t squash that

You’ve probably heard of love languages before.

Some people like to show their love through actions, others prefer words. Others still prefer to show their love through gifts. Imagine how you would feel if a loved one refused to let you say “I love you” because it goes against their personal preferences. You would feel rejected and frustrated because you can’t express your love in a way that you’re comfortable with.

My mom is a natural gift-giver, for example. She loves to find the perfect gift for everyone she knows. It is her way of showing her love and support. I cringe thinking that I had ever considered asking her not to give me gifts. It would have hurt her to be refused this expression of love for her child. Make sure you take other people’s feelings into consideration, as well as your own.

Lesson #3: When you make it clear what you do and don’t want, everyone wins!

Just because you are letting people buy you gifts doesn’t mean that you can’t voice your preferences. Instead of swearing off gifts entirely, make it crystal clear to others what gifts will be well-loved by you (don’t worry if you can’t think of any- I’ve got ideas for you soon!)

Tell them what sort of things you do want, and what sort of things you have no use for. Remove the guessing, set your boundaries, and let them gift you something they know you will love! 

Okay, now that we’ve gone over some of the important points, let’s get into the actual gift guide for aspiring minimalists. Below are some categories that you can consider when making your own Christmas list this year, even if you are an aspiring minimalist. These items will allow you to continue developing a minimalist lifestyle while receiving gifts with open arms. 

Gifts you can give and receive as a minimalist

Food and Drinks

This is such an easy go-to for minimalists- and really for anyone! Items that you can eat and drink are perfect because they are a special treat that you can enjoy that will eventually go away. It is not a thing that needs to sit on your shelf permanently or an object you don’t have space for. It is also a nice option for people who like to give homemade gifts!

Here are some examples of things you can ask for: 

• Alcohol you don’t by for yourself
• Specialty coffee beans
• Loose leave teas
• Chocolates
• Ingredients to make your favourite hot beverages
• Cookies (homemade or storebought)
• A family recipe that you’ve been wanting to learn how to make

Small items that can be used up within the year

I intentionally do not ever buy myself special bath and shower products. I stick to a very basic DIY skincare regimen that can mostly be done with items from my kitchen. This way, when people want to buy me something, spa products are guaranteed to be something I love. They become a special treat that I only receive when someone gets it for me, and it ensures that it will be used and emptied before the end of the year.

Here are some other items that you could ask for:

• Skincare products
• Nail polish
• Makeup
• Notebooks
• Office supplies
• Essential oils
• Candles 

Very Specific Items

This one will require a lot of effort on your part.

Minimalism is not necessarily about owning nothing. It is about intentionally owning things. Sometimes, you will want something, and you should use that to your advantage when people want to buy you a gift.

For example, I usually read books I rented from my library on my e-reader, but there are some books that I want to own. I will still put books on my wish list because they are books from authors I love most. I will also need kitchen items, new bedding, and plants for the house on occasion. These are all things that I can put on my list without feeling excessive.

Here are some things you can ask yourself when trying to think of specific items to put on your list: 

• Are there any kitchen appliances that need replacing?
• Is there anything in my bedroom or bathroom that is getting too old or unhygienic to use?
• Are there any products that would make my life easier? 
• Can I think of any products that have been on my wish list for a long time that I simply haven’t wanted to buy myself? 
• Are there any games I would like to play? Books I would like to read? 
• Could anything I own use an upgrade?

Remember as well, some objects can be enjoyed and then donated. Books are another good example of this. You can receive the book, read it, and decide if you want to share it with someone else or keep it for good. If you choose to get rid of it, the gift still served its purpose because you enjoyed it! 

Experiences

Not everyone is going to be okay with buying you something less concrete, but for those who are comfortable with this, you can ask them to give you experiences. The obvious advantage to this is that you don’t own it, you do it!

Here are some things you could ask for: 

• Gift cards for restaurants
• Seasons passes to parks
• Tickets to a show
• Vouchers for a day pass somewhere
• A spa package

Memberships and Subscriptions

This has been a fun up-and-coming gift option that fits nicely into a gift guide for aspiring minimalists. You could ask for monthly mailing subscriptions for things you like, or you could ask for memberships to places you like. With all of the streaming services and online learning platforms out there, you have a lot of places to choose from.

Here are just a few: 

• A subscription to a streaming service
• A subscription to a radio service
• An online class you are interested in
• A subscription box 
• A membership to an online community you like

Charity Donations

Finally, if there is nothing you can think of for yourself but still need a Christmas list, you can ask for friends and family to donate to a charity of your choice. Do your research on a charity that means something to you, and ask people to give their gift money to this charity. It will be helping someone else and will still feel like a gift to you for the people giving their donations. 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there really are quite a lot of options for minimalist gift-giving, but it will require some work and planning on your part. Whatever you choose to do with this gift guide for aspiring minimalists, be loving in the way you approach friends and family about your decisions. Give them a way to express their love to you so that both of you can feel comfortable. Make your expectations clear so that there is no confusion, and everyone can have a pleasant holiday! 

What about you? 

How do you approach Christmas? Are gifts a complicated thing for your family, or is it pretty easy? Do you have anything to add to this gift guide for aspiring minimalists? Write about it in the comments below- I’d love to hear from you!