Give the Gift of Decluttering

While we at the Organizing Blog often preach minimalism, we still maintain a childlike sense of anticipation about finding brightly wrapped gifts under the tree with our names on it — not to mention the many hours of “retail therapy” that go into giving a thoughtful gift.

But the many new things you’ll give and receive during the holidays do take up space, and when left haphazardly around the home, they become clutter. And when left unchecked, clutter not only crowds tabletops, hallways and closets, it can crowd the mind.

That’s why some of the best gifts are ones that organize all of the stuff in one’s busy life into spaces that make sense — or even cut down on what and how much of any category of thing one hangs onto. Treat decluttering as a gift, and you can show you really care.

This year, try giving things that maximize the space already available in one’s home. SimpleMost suggests 19 clever gifts, for example, that will help your giftees create more storage space in kids’ rooms, mud rooms, kitchens and closets.

Another excellent gift at year’s end is a daily, weekly or monthly calendar, planner or journal. You can’t magically make someone into a Type A, but having a place to write down and organize one’s appointments is a great start. Self offers a number of options.

Some of the best gifts are things that hold other things. Sorting small, like items into a designated place can help keep them from scattering around the house or getting lost. Pop Sugar has selected a bunch of bins, hooks, caddies, shelves and holders that can contain the clutter in style.

You can also give a gift that doesn’t add to the clutter whatsoever. Anything that can be used up is a great choice — homebaked cookies, a nice bottle of wine or a gift basket of gourmet charcuterie. Or you can gift an experience with theater tickets, dinner out at a local restaurant or a spa treatment.

If you get something for which you just can’t find a place, there’s no shame in getting rid of it. The goodwill won’t go unappreciated— even though whatever it is might get lost in a heap of surplus stuff. Quietly set whatever it is aside and include it in your donation to ClothingDonations.org so it can’t clutter your home.

Less clutter means less stress. And who doesn’t want that?!

Decorate on the Cheap With Homemade Ornaments

Decorating a large tree for the first time? You may not have enough ornaments to really fill it out. To bring it a distinctive, homey look without spending a lot of money, make your own ornaments. Try making some of the creative ornament suggestions from Woman’s Day such as mini snowglobes, glittery jingle bells or yarn-covered Christmas stars. You can also use “found” twigs to form ornaments or print whimsical family photos to hang on the tree. And you live near the ocean, all you need is a drill and some string to hang oyster or beachcombed shells on your tree.

Crafting Christmas Cards for a Personal Touch

Southern Living says you can make Christmas cards every bit as clever and stylish as those you’d find in a store, and “be able to add personal touches to each and every card.” Make French knots on a card to illustrate a string of Christmas lights or a red-nosed reindeer, for example, or use decorative holiday ribbons to form the shape of a tree. Use buttons and bows to sew a wreath onto cardstock, or use glue and felt to create a holiday scene. Now get those cards in the mail — your addressees will appreciate the thought and creativity you put in!

Print Your Own Holiday Greetings at Home

Fancy greeting cards can cost up to $5 each. If you want to save money during the holiday season, try printing your own. Simply add a greeting to ready-made kraft paper greeting cards using a computer printer, Earnest Home says, and use a hot glue gun to affix a miniature wreath of boxwood to it. Total cost? 35 cents per card. You can try sprigs of rosemary, pine needles or holly instead of boxwood sprigs to suggest the holiday season, too; just use your creativity to get into the holiday spirit.

Craft Your Own Holiday Cards and Save

The Organizing Blog always advises using creativity to save money on things you ordinarily might buy. This year, try making your own holiday cards! Not only will you save money, you’ll create distinctive-looking greetings the recipients will love. Use felt, glitter, string and construction paper to craft your own cards. HGTV has 14 do-it-yourself ideas that will wow your friends and family, including a whimsical Santa-with-cotton-ball-beard idea that will help get the kids involved in making one-of-a-kind cards for everyone on your mailing list.