The Year We Stopped Buying Christmas Presents
(…And What We Do Instead)
And Why So Many Of Our Workshop Guests Now Do The Same
Christmas in our house looks a little different these days.
There are no piles of presents under the tree from me and Dave.
No last-minute panic buying.
No buying just for the sake of buying.
And honestly?
It’s one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
Why We Stopped Gifting “Stuff”
Years ago, gifting used to feel stressful.
And some presents… well… they weren’t exactly winners.
One year Dave bought me a spade and fork.
A proper heavy-duty set.
Lovely in theory — except I was heavily pregnant and couldn’t lift them, never mind use them.
We still laugh about it now, but it was the seed of a bigger question:
Why are we buying things that don’t truly mean anything?
Something had to change.
What We Do Now
We decided:
No Christmas presents for each other.
None.
Instead, we save a small amount every month into a shared pot and use it for experiences.
Time together.
Moments we’ll actually remember.
Days that feel intentional — not stressful.
And it has genuinely transformed how we experience Christmas.
We Now Do This With My Best Friends Too
This approach worked so well that I shared it with my closest friends.
We all agreed:
No presents. Just time together. Doing something we love.
It’s become our tradition too — one we look forward to every year.
We’re Not The Only Ones Choosing Experiences Over Gifts…
So many people who’ve joined our workshops this year share the same mindset:
Less “stuff”, more moments.
Couples Choosing Time Together
A day without rushing, without phones, without pressure — just making something meaningful side by side.
Siblings Reconnecting In A Way They Haven’t For Years
A whole day to chat, laugh, create and be together without life pulling them in different directions.
Friends Swapping Gifts For Memory-Making Days
A chance to slow down, try something new and spend quality time they wouldn’t normally carve out.
Why Our No-present Rule Actually Works
- We stick to it
- We both agree fully
- We spend money on memories instead of things
It takes away the pressure and brings back the joy.
This Is Our New Christmas Tradition
That little monthly savings pot has given us:
- Days out
- Creative workshops
- Nights away
- Family experiences
- New memories we’ll never forget
Everything we actually want from Christmas.
If You’re Craving A Different Kind Of Christmas…
Maybe this is your sign to try it too.
To shift from gifting things to gifting time.
To choose connection over clutter.
If this resonates, our 2026 workshop dates and experience gift vouchers are ready for you.
Experiences, not things
Connection, not clutter
Memories that last
Give the gift of time together. Check out our 2026 workshops and gift vouchers.
