Our Top 5 Christmas Gift Ideas for 2022
This time of year is stressful to say the least. Between Christmas, a financial crisis, extreme weather events and a pandemic that seems will never end…it’s no wonder we are all exhausted!
I caught up with some girlfriends today for brunch and we spoke about the usual struggle of finding the perfect Christmas presents for our family and friends. We brainstormed and shared a few great ideas, which I thought I would share with you. So if you’re looking for some inspo for great Christmas gifts this year, here are my top 5 ideas.
Hands holding a Christmas present surrounded by Christmas lights and decorations.
1. Gift an Experience
We all have way too much stuff. It’s a fact and I’m sure there are some scary numbers out there about the amount of Christmas presents that end up in landfill each year, so let’s not add to that. Giving someone an experience is the perfect solution to this!
Think about experiences you’ve been on recently. Have you been to any nice restaurants or wineries lately that you enjoyed? Is there an art exhibition or a fun activity you’ve always wanted to try? Although gift cards can seem like a cop out, I believe buying one for a specific experience is a beautiful gesture. Especially if you pick something that means something to you or the person you are giving it too, it shows you’ve put a lot of thought into it. You can also be smart and pick something that you can go and experience together with your friend or loved one. It’s a win, win!
Below are some fun experiences to get you brainstorming:
2. Gift an adventure
Who doesn’t love a holiday? Unfortunately, with the cost of living at an all-time high, getaways are usually the first thing cut out of anyone’s budget. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Brands like Riparide, Unyoked and Tiny Away offer unique accommodation in nature so we can all switch off and recharge.
When it comes to my family, we all live an hour away from each other. So, for us time together is the most important thing. Being able to spend a weekend away together somewhere is so simple but so special. Gifting a voucher for a getaway or even just money towards one is honestly one of my favourite gifts to give.
These are just 3 of my favourite companies that offer nature-based accommodation, but you can always look at Air BnB for closer options instead. I love how Unyoked have named their vouches “prescriptions”, even the design of the voucher looks like a real prescription from the doctor.
3. Gift a Christmas Hamper
Everybody loves a Christmas Hamper! But I like to go the extra mile and create my own instead of just buying a premade one. It’s so easy and makes for a lovely present if you can personalise it to their favourite things. Have a friend that loves coffee? Why not buy a bag of their favourite beans, a beautiful mug, and some handmade biscuits to go with it! Wrap them all up together and you have a special gift that they will absolutely love, as it’s been hand-picked by you!
If you’re a baker or a whiz in the kitchen, then why not bake or make something special to include in the hamper too. When has anyone ever received a jar of freshly made lemon curd or a delicious carrot cake and not been happy with that? Never!
With this kind of gift, I find it’s all about the presentation. Be sure to bundle everything beautifully in a box or better yet head to your local op shop to find a 2nd hand basket to fill with all their favourite treats!
Some of my favourite shops for hamper goodies are:
4. Gift AUSTRALIAN MADE
There’s nothing wrong if you are the more traditional type and want to give a physical gift. If this is the case, then I recommend buying something unique from a small business. Our rural communities have been doing it tough the past few years, between the drought, bushfires, the pandemic, and floods, it’s been a hard slog for many small businesses in rural Australia. So, buying something Australian made is a great way to give back to our communities and find something truly unique for your friends and family.
My tips here are to really think about the person you are buying for. What are their interests, hobbies etc. It’s nice to buy them something from a small business local to their area too. That way they can learn about their local makers and hopefully continue to support that business in the future.
There are also lots of great markets on in the lead up to Christmas too, so have a look at what’s on in your area and visit a design market nearby. Supporting our creative community of Australian businesses not only feels good but can honestly be life changing for those business owners too.
My usual go to’s for Australian made presents are:
5. Gift a subscription or membership
If all else fails, then a subscription or membership to something they care about is a no brainer. Again, think about their interests, are they an aspiring beekeeper? Then why not get a subscription to a Bee Keeping magazine! There is honestly a magazine for every hobby, you just have to do a bit of research to find them.
If you don’t think a magazine is their thing, then why not look at a membership for an art gallery or the zoo!
The best presents are usually something you would never think to buy for yourself, so a subscription or membership to something they’re interested in will make the perfect gift this Christmas.
Below are some of my favourite ideas:
Although this time of year can be overwhelming and the thought of Christmas shopping can seem daunting, it really is easy to come up with special presents for the people you love. With a little bit of research and creativity you’ll blow everyone away with your thoughtful gifts this Christmas. I hope you’ve found this helpful and have been inspired by some of the ideas listed above.
But after the past few years we’ve had, I think we can all agree that being together is the best gift of all. So, try to not get caught up in the stress of the silly season and just enjoy some down time with your family and friends this Christmas.
