Minimalist Christmas gifts that are thoughtful, practical, and frugal—perfect for the minimalist who wants to live with less but still celebrate the season.
If you have someone in your life who has yelled, “We have too much junk!” while wildly throwing stuff into garbage bags, I’ve got great minimalist christmas gift ideas that will work for you, including practical things and experiences.
Minimalism is all about living with less so you can focus on what matters most. A lot of people have embraced the minimalist mindset in recent years, realizing that material possessions don’t necessarily lead to happiness.
There are a lot of things people think they need, but the truth is that we can often be happy with less. Minimalism is all about living with less so you can focus on what matters most. There are a lot of things that people think they need, but the truth is that we can often be happy with less.
Having children while living frugally can be a hard balance to find. You don’t want to pay full price (so you stock up during sales) or be unprepared. At the same time, you don’t want all that stuff cluttering up your life. Christmas shopping during the holidays is especially challenging—family members and friends want to show their love with material gifts of all kinds, but you don’t want even more unnecessary stuff. That’s why the best way to handle this season is by choosing thoughtful gifts that either serve a real purpose or don’t add to the clutter.
Good frugal gifts for minimalists are things that bridge the gap between extravagance and excessive frugality, between piles of stuff and spartan. Meaningful gifts don’t need to be expensive or lavish—just thoughtful and practical.
If none of these suggestions feel just right, ask for a Christmas gift list. Trust me, the minimalist (or regular parent) in your life will appreciate it. We don’t want more junk, but we do want to foster the relationships that truly matter during the Christmas season.
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Gift cards
Giving a gift card might feel like a cop-out, but it’s really a thoughtful gift. Moms, in particular, tend to not spend much on themselves, but a gift card gives permission to do exactly that. Focus on stores, restaurants, online retailers, or services that you know the recipient likes or frequents. An Amazon gift card is always a great gift idea since it can be used for nearly anything, from useful items to fun gift experiences.
A gift card lets the recipient get exactly what they want. I like to research purchases, and my family has specific needs for certain things. I feel guilty when we receive unwanted gifts we can’t or won’t use, even when the giver has the best of intentions.
If you’re shopping for busy parents of young kids, a dinner date gift card (plus the promise of babysitting!) makes a fun and much-appreciated start to a date night gift. Even just a night of free babysitting is an amazing gift. Anyone who works early morning shifts will enjoy a gift card to a coffee shop. What millennial woman doesn’t have a wish list at Target? Local businesses often offer gift certificates, making it even easier to support small businesses.
Gift cards are an easy, physically small, and thoughtful gift.
Cash
I know cash itself isn’t frugal, but it can be the perfect gift for a large family or for someone with specific needs. In my family, over the past couple of years, grandparents, aunts and uncles often contribute cash toward a larger purchase for the children. This method allows my family to buy more expensive but more useful items, such as a specific double stroller or an outdoor play kitchen. This approach helps avoid new toys that break in a week and gives everyone a chance to stay within their budget but still contribute to something meaningful.
Used books
You can find unexpectedly good reads in used bookstores or thrift stores. Anyone who loves to read will tell you that paying for new books is the worst, and can really add up. It just doesn’t make sense to buy brand-new books that will be read in less than a week.
One year, we spent $3 at Goodwill on a big book about the solar system for my nephew. He loved it, and we saved at least $25. If he had hated it, no big deal either. It was in great shape so it can be passed down to his younger siblings too.
If you have a hunter or outdoorsman to shop for, old books are a top pick. My husband and his dad both love browsing old (like early 1900s) hunting books. They fight over who saw what book first, then end up trading them back and forth. Historic books like these are usually a little pricier than Goodwill finds, but they seem to bring joy!
A meal
Everyone needs to eat, but not everyone has the skill, time, or budget to make a home-cooked meal. A meal is a quality gift because it’s thoughtful, practical, and doesn’t leave a trace of physical gifts behind. . Go the extra mile and include a salad and dessert too. You can even throw in paper plates, utensils, and napkins to make cleanup simple for your recipient.
If you’re not a chef or pressed for time, you can always order a meal delivered to their home. Who doesn’t love cheesy pizza and breadsticks?
Keep this gift suggestion in mind when you are celebrating a new baby or want to support friends going through a hard time. A serious diagnosis, a loss, or a hospitalization are all great times to give a meal. This could be one of the best ways to show you care without adding any more material goods to their home.
A meal kit
Another meal gift option is a meal kit, like Blue Apron or Home Chef. If you’re feeling generous, you can order more than one meal, or even purchase an ongoing subscription. Young adults, inexperienced cooks, and busy people can all benefit from learning to prepare new recipes without having to waste time at the grocery store.
Fuzzy socks or slippers
Socks and slippers are always useful, especially if the recipient lives somewhere cold. Everyone in the family will be happy with socks or slippers, making your shopping trip easier.
Multi-packs of fuzzy socks are really affordable, so they make great stocking stuffers.
Slippers are more expensive but well worth it. I especially like the kind that has a hard sole, so you can wear them outdoors for brief periods. There’s quite a price range for slippers, so look for a pair the recipient will actually use.
Experiences are the ultimate frugal gift for minimalists
Giving an experience is literally the most minimalist gift you can offer. There is no physical item, or it’s small, like a ticket. Your recipient won’t have clutter problems, and they’ll get to do something fun. Parents of young children will appreciate that combination for sure.
You can go even further and include yourself in that activity, taking the children off to a fun event and giving their parents a break. That’s really a gift for the whole family.
An experience gift can be as simple as a trip to a fancy ice cream shop or as involved as a trip to Disney World.
Other ideas include a museum membership, a wine subscription, or tickets to a live performance. In my opinion, experiences are one of the best Christmas gifts out there. I guarantee your loved ones will care more about the gesture than the cost.
Other experience gift suggestions:
- Museum or science center membership
- Subscription box for children’s activities or crafts
- Lessons – karate, music, gymnastics, swimming, a second language
- Wine subscription
- A night of babysitting
- A family vacation
- Needed sports gear
- More frugal activities
- 90+ other ideas
Massage
Technically, a massage is one of the best experience gifts ever, but I listed it separately because they’re so beneficial. A good, professional massage will allow the recipient to have less pain, looser muscles, and less stress and tension.
A more extravagant option is a membership to a location that provides a certain number of massages per month for one price. Pamper someone on an ongoing basis for maximum impact.
The most frugal route is to provide the massage yourself. Just make sure you’re offering it to the right person. A nice bottle of massage oil and some candles could be just the ticket.
Blankets
You really cannot have too many throw blankets. They’re great for keeping warm, but also useful for fort-building and general coziness. It’s nearly impossible to watch TV without a blanket to snuggle under.
You could go another route with a blanket gift and buy a waterproof picnic blanket. They’re perfect for actual picnics, but also for camping, beach-going, and other outdoor activities. We keep one in each vehicle because we never know when we’ll need one.
Clothes drying rack
OK, I know it’s a weird gift idea, but stick with me.
A clothes drying rack reduces the need for a clothes dryer. Using a dryer less saves you money, especially if you rely on a laundromat. Air drying clothing helps it last longer and is a good step toward sustainability and lessening our carbon footprint.
If you know someone in your circle is trying to live more sustainably, a drying rack is actually a very thoughtful and frugal gift for minimalists.
This one has a pretty small footprint but has the ability to expand and hold more clothing. I have a longer, more horizontal one that takes up a lot of room in my hallway, but I’m seriously considering this one instead.
House cleaning
Busy professionals, busy parents, or people with limited mobility could all benefit from a house cleaning. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, a clean home is amazing to walk into—especially after family gatherings around Christmas Eve. It’s one of those thoughtful gifts that provide extra help and quality time back for your loved ones.
Near the end of the year, you may be able to find a cleaner offering a special, making the gift even more frugal. Just make sure to find someone who is licensed and insured, and willing to follow whatever safety protocols the homeowner requests.
Hiring a cleaning service is also a great gift option when you live far from the recipient—like when you miss a family member on Father’s Day but want to help out. You may not be able to assist in person, but you can find someone else to do so.
Emergency kit
Emergencies are going to happen, which is why preparation is so important. An emergency kit isn’t the most exciting frugal gift for minimalists, but it could be one of the most important items in the home.
There are many options at very different price points, so you can choose exactly what works for your budget and for the recipient’s lifestyle.
This emergency kit is perfect for something larger, like an earthquake, fire, or evacuation for another reason. It includes survival gear and food, as well as personal hygiene items and tools. It’s on the more expensive side, but it includes so many useful items.
A cheaper option would be a car emergency kit. This one includes car-related items like jumper cables and a first aid kit. Living in Montana, I know how important it is to keep supplies in your car. You never know when the winter driving will get you. Warmer locations require different supplies, but preparation is still so important.
An even smaller option is a first aid kit for the home. Most people have bandages on hand, but who buys gauze or those weird tweezers? It’s nice to have a variety of first aid supplies in one place, especially when you have kids who can find trouble anywhere.
For young adults leaving the nest or those just moving into their first place, a tool kit makes a practical gift that they’ll use for a long time.. I received a homemade tool kit for my high school graduation, but pieces slowly disappeared after moving in with my husband. Now, I have a pink tool kit that I keep in my office… and all the pieces are still there somehow!
Basically, the perfect frugal gifts for minimalists are presents that fit in YOUR budget and in THEIR lifestyle.
Great article ! Perfect for the holidays coming up.