A Short Guide to Giving Experiences— Rather than Material Goods—as Gifts

The holidays should be a time of joy and wonderful memories made with family and friends. For many of us, however, the time-consuming and costly process of finding the perfect gift for everyone on our lists can create stress and sap the joy from the season. Adding to the frustration is the fact that many material possessions are enjoyed for a short period of time before ending up in the back of an overcrowded closet and forgotten. Does this sound familiar? If so, consider gifting your loved ones experiences rather than material goods this year. Giving experiences can help you avoid adding clutter to your home, while also creating lasting memories with your family and friends.

Here are some ideas:

• Purchase an annual membership at your favorite museum. Whether you’d rather visit a children’s museum, art museum, or science center, most museums offer annual passes. These are often less expensive than visiting once as a family, and will yield numerous fun and memorable learning experiences.

• Plan a visit to an escape room. Escape rooms, which are interactive games that require multiple players to use clues and strategies to solve a puzzle, have become widely popular in recent years. If there is an escape room in your city, planning a visit as a family gift could provide a fun bonding experience for adults and older kids.

• A couple’s day at the spa. Relaxing and reconnecting as a couple is easy when you are being pampered! Consider buying a gift card to a local (or destination!) spa for yourself and your special someone. Whether you use it during the holiday season or at a later date, it will surely provide a welcome respite from the stress of everyday life.

• Plan a family volunteer day at a charity that is important to you. Sometimes, giving back to those in need is far more satisfying than any gift. Whether you are passionate about helping children, animals, the homeless, or another cause, involving the whole family in a day of volunteering can be a great bonding opportunity—and a powerful learning experience for kids.