Alternative Gift Ideas for Christmas

At this time of year, it can be really hard to figure out what to give for gifts to grown ups. Perfume – been there done that. Weekend getaway? Out of your budget. Thus, you are in desperate need for alternative gift ideas for Christmas. Maybe even gift ideas for hard to buy people. Either way, in honor of the holidays, here are seven gift ideas in lieu of the standard go-tos, and not out of the money league either. (Links are affiliate links.)

alternative gift ideas for christmas

What you want to give: A weekend getaway

What you can give…

You may want to gift a weekend at a ski chalet or hip hotel in New York, but those can be swanky prices. Instead gift an awesome pillow worthy of a four star hotel. My favorite is the Snuggle-Pedic Pillow. (I’m actually gifting one I bought to my spouse!). Most people don’t replace pillows often enough or buy the cheap ones. Gift them with something they need and rocks the night away….
Snuggle-Pedic uses a proprietary mix of hypo-allergenic materials (that are dust mite resistant too). The foam is non-toxic and has been tested and shown to be made without ozone depleters, PBDE flame retardants, mercury, lead and other heavy metals, formaldehyde, without phthalates and be Low in VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality. The foam enables you to adjust to each position you sleep in, while giving proper orthopedic support. The Bamboo Cover allows air to circulate through the pillow and keep you cooler all night long!


The adjustable Cover and Liner lets you easily add or remove fill at your leisure. The company also provides complimentary additional foam if needed. The zipper to allow for easy access to add or remove foam, which will allow you to change the amount of thickness, as well as the softness/firmness of the pillow. The whole pillow is completely machine washable (just follow the instructions! You can even pop the pillow in the dryer every so often to revitalize it over the years! Comfort and luxury at its finest!

What you want to give: Perfume

What you can give…

Yes, you can go the drugstore olfactory route or get a free gift with your perfume purchase at a department store. However, take it up a notch with AERA For Home – an app enabled room fragrance maker.


Fully adjustable settings ensure a scent experience perfectly tailored to your home and capable of evenly scenting small, medium, or large rooms. Create scenting schedules with the AeraForHome app to extend the life of your fragrance capsules (not included) and experience consistent scent from day 1 to day 60. Plus, the base is a newly reengineered with whisper-quiet technology; compact, sleek design is both beautiful on display and small enough to tuck away. It is the royal version of room spray.
Bonus? You can gift more fragrance capsules during the year. So you are already covered for father’s/mother’s day, birthday, anniversary, etc.

What you want to give: Workout Gear/Membership

What you can give…

Whether it is a new snow board, pair of roller blades, or membership to the gym, those can bust your budget. Instead, give them a gym bag filled with products from Hero Clean.
Hero Clean is Hero Clean is the first line of cleaning products that is formulated specifically for guys. (Not just marketed to guys.) It was created and developed specifically for men. The reason is that guy stuff smells. If you have teens or spouses that do sports, you know what I mean! First Responders have other odors they have to combat when they get home too. There is truly something biological on why guys smell they way they do.

The juniper-based scent leaves homes and gear smelling clean and fresh and not flowery and sweet. There is laundry detergent, dish and hand soap, All Purpose cleaning spray, Odor Eliminating Spray (great for stinky, dry wicking fabrics, gloves, inside of sneakers). Made in the USA and 7% of the profits goes to support America’s veterans!

What you want to give: A Spa Day

What you can give…

There is nothing like getting a gift certificate for a massage for a day of utter relaxation, but you’ve been there done that with the gift giving. Instead, gift them with relaxation all year with Touchpoints.

touchpoints

Touchpoints is a neuroscientific wearable that manages your stress. It is manufactured in the US. It uses alternating vibrations that redirect the body’s stress-driven fight flight or freeze response. By shifting back into a calmer state, it can help restore homeostatic nervous system functions, making you experience calm. They come in a set  – to be worn on both the rights and left side of the body, on wrists or in locations such as in socks or pockets. (Note that these are not medical devices and should not be a substitute for medical treatment or intended to cure any medical condition.)

What you want to give: Pet Treats

What you can give:

While those with pets gift their furry friend owners with treats and even pet sweaters, go above and beyond for a pet lover with a Petcube Play. It is an interactive WiFi pet camera that you can use with dogs, cats and heck, even a hamster! You can check in on your pets and see what they are up to, talk and hear your pet with two way audio. Snap pics and videos and share, play and exercise your pet with the built-in laser toy and get notified on what is going on in your home.

What you want to give? Caribbean vacation:

What you can give….

Who doesn’t want one of these during the holiday season. (Hello, freezing sleet, ice and snow.) Whether the plane is grounded or your wallet is in a time out, grab a beach bag, fill it with flip flops, sunglasses, water bottles and a Laguna Blue towel.

A Laguna Blue towel is a machine washable, 100 plush microfiber fabric, that dries 50% faster than cotton. It is also anti-bacterial and fade resistant. Since it is ultra-absorbent, it is energy efficient because it does not take as long to dry as a traditional cotton towel. It may not be a tropical getaway, but it will make a daily steam shower feel like the tropics.

What you want to give: A security system.

What you can give…

Nothing says love during the holidays than making sure your family (and Amazon boxes) are safe. However, gifting security systems can be too personal for most. As they do require certain systems and requirements.

Instead, give them a few Wemo outlets, so they can control lights and appliances remotely from their phone via their home WiFi. Just plug into an outlet and program with smartphone. Sound too complicated? Treemote is a good alternative. It is like a remote control. While shaped like a Christmas tree, and designed to turn off your Christmas tree from the couch during the holidays, use it for any lamp the rest of the year. It is a much cooler version than the clap-on, clap-off option of the 90s!

Hopefully these seven ideas give you some alternative gift ideas for the holidays and beyond!

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