When someone gives you a gift, either during Christmas, a birthday, wedding anniversary or any other special occasion, it’s because they mean well and want you to know that they have you in mind.
On the other hand, as a minimalist, receiving gifts could be too much to handle since we constantly try to avoid clutter in our lives. But at the same time, refusing to accept the presents would pass the wrong message across to the giver, considering how much time, money, and effort they must have put in to get it in the first place.
Luckily, you do not need to change your minimalist lifestyle because of these; instead, you can follow these minimalist approaches on every gift occasion.
Ask For A Gift You Can Use Up
As a minimalist, if you find that you already have everything you need, instead of asking for items that’ll take up more space, you can request for what you can quickly consume.
For instance, if you already have a pressing iron that’s working perfectly, if the giver asks you, tell them to use the money to buy groceries or other items that you can use up.
Put It Up For Sale
If you got a gift that you do not like or you’re beginning to feel overwhelmed with the amount of presents you got, you still have the option of selling it.
Fortunately, you can either trade it for money at your local store or through Amazon, Alibaba, eBay, and so on. With the money you make from the transaction, you can buy a better gift or save it.
Let Others Know About Your Minimalist Lifestyle
Not many people know that there’s such a thing as a minimalist approach to life. Let people who care about you know why you have chosen to live a simple life that involves keeping only items that add value to your well-being.
That way, they’ll first ask for what you prefer or need before getting you a gift, and if you do not want anything, it’ll be easier to communicate with them, knowing that they’ll understand.
Ask For An Outdoor Experience
I recall an experience I had several years ago while I was practicing minimalism with gifts. My birthday was just about a month away, and I could tell that if I do not do something quickly, my new apartment could be cluttered with gifts.
So I wrote a list of up to ten outdoor activities that people could sponsor to celebrate my birthday, and I got them.
From spa treatment to one-year gym enrollment, all-expense-paid tickets to see my favorite movies, and so much more! The best part is that I enjoyed every bit of it without slacking on my minimalist lifestyle.
Be Grateful
To be honest: irrespective of how you plan, someone (all in a bid to surprise you) may end up getting you a gift that you do not quite want.
In this case, say thank you and mean it. Avoid asking questions that might indicate you do not like the gift. They still made an effort and that’s worth the appreciation!
On a final note, these tips will help you handle gifts received as a minimalist in the most decent way, without hurting anyone’s feelings. Just remember that you need to practice them like I did to get the same results.
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