The holidays can be fun. Going to parties. Spending time with family and friends. Exchanging gifts. But, after the last gift has been unwrapped, the reality of the situation begins to set in … Where am I going to put all the gifts?!? Taking a few key steps can eliminate packing on those extra holiday pounds (of stuff).
Pre-Holiday Purge
Taking time ahead of the holidays to pare down clothing, toys and other items can free up vital space for new gifts that will enter your home. I think we all did a fair share of pandemic buying over the last year or so. Extra food. Extra toiletries. Extra toys to keep the kids occupied. Now is the time to assess whether you still need those items in your space. Go through the kitchen cabinets and donate any good but unused food to a local food pantry. If you bought kids’ toys that you thought were a great idea, but they never played with them, donate them to toy drives or local charities. It’s also a great time to pull out any clothes in your closet that you haven’t worn or no longer fit.
Being proactive and reducing the number of items in your home prior to the holidays will make it easier for you to find space to put your new gifts. But you can also help alleviate some angst by chatting with your loved ones, prior to the holiday, about considerations around the gift giving process.
Set Gift Limits
It’s ok to set limits on gift giving. And I’m not talking about the gift amount. I’m specifically talking about considerations your loved ones should contemplate when buying gifts for you or your family. If you have parents like mine, they want to shower their grandchildren with everything they want. But our modest home can’t accommodate those grand gestures. So, I have discussed with my family what gifts would be best and what gifts we can fit in our home. Nothing big because we don’t have the space. Not a ton of clothes or there’s a small chance of it being worn. And the most effective line I have used with my parents when they want to buy something is … Sure, you can buy that and keep it at your house so she can use it when she visits. When they face the situation of it taking up space in their house, they end up not buying that item. After having this discussion with them a few times, they are now accustomed to asking what my daughter needs or wants for the holidays which allows me to offer some input into the situation.
Offer Gift Suggestions
That brings us to another way of curtailing the flow of gifts into your space … offer suggestions for gifts to your loved ones. For example, if a family member would like an expensive item, perhaps multiple people can chip in for that one gift instead of everyone buying individual gifts. To avoid the annoying task of returning or exchanging gifts after the holidays, let your family know what size clothing everyone is currently or what toys your kids are into. Just because your son liked Paw Patrol at age 5 doesn’t mean he still likes it at age 10.
You can also ask for consumable products that can be used up and then leave the space. For example, a cute set of bath products for the teen in your life or a set of cooking spices for the chef in your life.
You can also guide them towards buying experiences instead of physical things. Tickets or gift cards to the movies, a museum, a concert, or the nail salon are just a few examples. These items take up no space at all and so many places offer eTickets now you don’t even have to keep track of physical tickets any longer.
And, as you strive to have your loved ones be mindful of what gifts they get for you and your family, don’t forget to be mindful of the gifts you give others. They may be in a similar situation and would be grateful to receive gifts that don’t overwhelm their home.
Karen Kabara
Your Tasks – Our Time
