Minimalist Gift Guide

                                       

Nowadays, minimalism and zero waste are huge buzz words. Many people would rather collect experiences and get rid of things that clutter their minds and space. When you ask them what they want for their birthday and they say "nothing" they probably really mean it. Or at least, they mean no material things. If you have a friend like that or if you're that person, here's a quick and pretty affordable gift guide to get you started for any gift giving occasion. 

1. Homemade Coupons

Give your friend a sheet (or email) of homemade coupons that are free and never expire! For example, "This coupon is good for 1 chore of your choice" or you can flex your own personal skills and offer something like a free personal training session or cooking class. If you and your friend or significant other are close like that, you can also offer a foot or shoulder massage.

                                                                     

2. Explore your city 

Yeah, of course it would be nice to have thousands of dollars to splurge on your friend with a fancy European holiday but some of us just don't have cash like that. The next best thing is to explore your own city like a tourist. Some towns have bus tours that could give you a deeper understanding and spark a newfound love for where you live. Are there any cool historic or artsy museums nearby? What about an awesome hiking trail that you can check out? A quick google search will help you find out. 

3. National Parks Pass 

This one’s definitely for the nature lover within. If you or your friend enjoy camping, hiking, or just sightseeing in general, you should definitely consider buying a National Parks Pass. It’s just $80 per year and that covers entrance fees, standard amenities and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a vehicle (at per vehicle sites). A pass is way cheaper than paying every time you want to go spend time in the great outdoors, especially if you go often. When my husband and I went to Big Bend last year we spent $25 total to get in and that was only for one week. So, if you go or want to go camping more than like 3 times a year, this one’s for you.  

                                                                        

4. Ancestry DNA Test 

If you’re like me, you’ve always been curious about where your people are from. Yeah, I’m African-American so I know that some of my ancestors are from Africa, most likely West Africa. But where about in West Africa? What tribe(s) are they from? What languages did they speak? What was their culture like before being kidnapped and brought to the US? Do I have roots in other continents of the world? If so, I’d love to travel there too and learn more. A DNA test could put some of the questions to rest and replace them with answers. So if you or your friend is interested in knowing more about your own ethnic makeup, there are some DNA tests for $69 right now.  

5. Fun Groupon Activity 

Groupon is known for having fun activities for cheap and they’re always offering deals on top of deals with their coupon codes. I love this site because it allows you to try new things at a discounted price so there’s less of a risk if you don’t like it. If you or your friend just needs to relax, maybe give the gift of a spa massage or try something more out of the ordinary like cryotherapy, acupuncture or a float tank. You can also experience things like a new fitness class (aerial yoga, anyone?), cooking class, or even a winery tour.  

                                                           

BONUS: Spend time with them, not money 

After all, they do say that the best things in life are free! If they enjoy the outdoors, ask them if they'd like to join you on a walk at a nature preserve and talk about each of your goals for the next year of life. Maybe go on a picnic or if they’re more of a homebody, try cooking their favorite dish and watching a movie.  

Hopefully this helps you to get started! What other gift ideas do you have for the minimalists/zero wasters in your life? Leave suggestions in the comments.