From “There’s nothing I really need” to “I’m trying to unclutter,” there are many reasons why friends and family members are getting harder and harder to buy for. If you’re determined to ‘gift’ those folks this holiday season, consider purchasing ‘experience gifts’—hands-on or virtual experiences that require no wrapping, take up no space and are sure to please the most finicky recipient if you can match the gift to their interests.
- Give a Venue Membership – A year-long membership to a local museum, aquarium, or zoo can be a fun gift not just for the recipient, but for the whole family.
- Treat Them to Tickets – For sports fans, tickets to an in-season game or two could be the perfect gift. For music, play, or movie buffs, give a gift card for a local theater.
- Let Them Taste Wine – If there’s a wine-producing area within a few hours’ drive from where they live, oenophiles may appreciate a paid-for reason to visit. Since tastings are typically free, give a gift card for a few bottles of their favorite wine, to be used onsite or online. Or consider a wine club membership.
- Tap Into Their Hobbies – From online tutoring by master artists, writers, craftsmen and more at MasterClass.com to gift cards for local shops that cater to their interests, show them you care about the things that put them in their happy place.
- Save the Animals – A serious animal lover would love to know an endangered elephant or panda is safer thanks to a donation made in their name. You can sometimes even purchase an adoption certificate from any of several wildlife organizations.
- Help Them Relax – Busy, sometimes stressed-out friends will thank you for the chance to relax a bit with a gift card to a local spa.
