Presents that are not "things"

[woollysocksaresexy]

I'm trying to cut down on the amount of stuff filling our house! I currently feel like I'm fighting a losing battle against a tide of tat overwhelming us. So please could I have some great ideas for presents for me, dh, dcs who are 6, 4 and 2 and other family members. Thanks!

In the past we have given trampolining park tickets, ice skating entry and vouchers for a local dessert place. They have all give down really well with kids. Hoping for some more ideas for this year from others.

Magazine subscriptions, we got dd a subscription for national geographic kids last Christmas and she loves it, like a present every month!

If you have friends / family with children of similar ages?

If so do a book circle, each child gets a book but after a month or two it is given to another child in 'the circle', it can be done by post so the child gets a book and a padded envelope with the next person's details.

Things that can be put away for when they are older, jewelry perhaps? Shares? Not very interesting for a child but some have perks attached and you do get a dividend.

Lessons and days out, a cooking lesson, a riding lesson etc.

For the 2 year old, a big box filled with blown up balloons, they won't last forever and you can get some that light up.

An instant camera? Yes it's a thing but you can make an old fashioned album. Also it's fun to see teenagers try to take a selfie.

I'm getting my mum an afternoon tea. My children have had tickets before.

My youngest got a dogs trust sponsorship.

Magazine subscriptions have been very popular in our house.

theatre tickets are brilliant
subscription - DSS loves Beano so will probably get him a subscription this year
fun day out voucher

we are terrible & recycle stocking filler's regularly

for family members , over the years, we have done annual family zoo membership, individual bags for everyone in family with a voucher for cinema (enought for a couple of tickets so older kids in family could go with a friend) a bag of popcorn and some chocolate, panto tickets, booked one of those escape rooms ( my sil declined, gave away her place) , gave one set of newish parents a voucher for a photographer to come to their home for a baby shoot, phone credit or music vouchers for teens- in later years this seems to be replaced by amazon.

I always get my parents tickets to a musical or ballet or something similar in London and I go with them. I live in London and they like to come to visit. They are in their 70's and they just don't need any more things! Plus it's nice to have a day out together.

Panto tickets can be good for using after Christmas. Or maybe an annual membership for the National Trust or a local attraction?

Debenhams and such places do all sorts of gift experiences. We've had a couple bought for us and always really appreciated and enjoyed them. They include weekends away, cooking classes, days out, activities etc. Always welcomed and appreciated.

We also enjoy vouchers to nice restaurants for posh date nights throughout the year.

Contributions towards savings accounts? Premium bonds?

Tickets to events are a great idea, annual family subscription to National Trust, English Heritage, local zoo etc.

DS is getting a Spotify subscription

I buy my parents a weekly entry into their local air ambulance lottery and, before the, their local hospice lottery. They have won a "big" prize, from memory about £400, with each of them. The hospice one used to come with a stuffed animal, but I did decline those in the end!
My parents have bought my DD sponsorship of a trainee guide dog, and a bale of hay for a donkey sanctuary, before now.
Premium bonds for the children (minimum purchase of £100 per child).
Annual entrance to local zoo/farm/soft play/Legoland. Or family membership to the NT.
Swimming lessons for the DC, and maybe buy a costume/goggles/swim bag.
For adults, I would just buy a selection of nicer than you would usually buy food and drink - for me, cheese and wine - without wrapping it up in a hamper.
Selection of teas and coffee, with a nice mug/cup. Or tea or coffee subscription.
Stationery - I know it's a "thing" but it does get used up.
Gift card for Costa/Nando's/cinema - wherever!

Voucher for things like:

Cinema
Soft play
Swimming Pool
Trampoline Park
Climbing Wall
Costa
Starbucks
Pizza Express
Steam train ride

Also consumables are good

Bath bombs
Bubble bars
Chocolate
Coffee
Wine/spirits

I agree with pp, annual memberships are great, we have NT membership since years and when DD was younger it really was worthwhile. English Heritage can be good depending where you live.

We got Merlin passes one year as a family gift.

Theatre tickets are good or tickets for a holiday workshop, DD got a children baking one one year. Friends got their DCs a chocolate making one.

Magazine subscription

Equipment or outfit for any hobby like a new bag for dance or sport

Fees for a new hobby? Riding lessons only if you can afford them for the years to come, I know what I am talking about.

Over the last couple of years I’ve bought my DD an annual pass for Seven stories in Newcastle (the National centre for Children’s books), my DS who is at uni in London an annual membership for the British museum, my mum and dad a voucher for afternoon tea at lumley castle and my brother and his wife a voucher from groupon for a silversmithing course where they made themselves matching rings

My dad hates "things" unless they're expensive gadgets or slippers but yeah he made a comment one year how he hates getting smellies,clothes,diaries/books etc for christmas and other "pointless" gifts as to him they're just clutter and they just dont get used. Ever since then me and my sister get him experience day vouchers which he's not complained about yet! You could gift a subscription service? Vouchers for cinemas, restaurants, hair/beauty salons etc?

My parents, late 80s, comfortable life style, genuinely like to receive a ‘charity gift, the the one that works particularly well is where you pay for a homeless person to have a Christmas (Crisis).

I never forget when we cleared out my grandmother’s house after her death there were years worth of unused presents, nice soap sets, bubble bath, scarves, photos, slippers, chocolates, biscuits etc all unused.

We've had success with theatre tickets and cinema vouchers before. Also with adopting an animal.

I've also given gifts that are things, but are a bit more practical, like duvet covers with characters on, swimming bags, toys or towels, aprons or an musical instrument combined with lessons. They don't feel so much like tat.

Mine are a bit older and I've done spotify subscription and Google play vouchers for them to download a couple of movies to their tablets.
We looked at the zoo subscription, National trust and Merlin pass.