23 | How To Simplify Gift-Giving and Stay Organized This Holiday Season
The holiday season is here, and while it’s a magical time, it can also be overwhelming—especially for moms. Between finding meaningful gifts, managing budgets, and making sure everything feels special, the pressure can quickly take over.
That’s why I’m sharing simple, practical ways to approach gift-giving this year—so you can enjoy the season instead of feeling stressed by it. Whether you’re trying to cut back on clutter, stay organized, or just make shopping easier, these strategies will help bring more joy and less overwhelm into your holidays.
Intentional Gift-Giving: Less Stuff, More Meaning
1. Experience-Based Gifts: Give Memories, Not Clutter
Instead of adding more stuff to your home, consider gifts that create lasting memories. These kinds of gifts don’t take up space, but they add so much value to your family’s life. Some ideas:
Event Tickets – Surprise your family with tickets to a concert, play, or sporting event.
Memberships – A year-long membership to a children’s museum, zoo, or aquarium is a gift that keeps on giving.
Classes or Activities – Try a cooking class, art lesson, or music subscription that allows your child to learn something new.
These gifts shift the focus from material things to experiences, creating quality time and lasting moments instead of clutter.
2. Practical Gifts That Get Used (And Used Up!)
Some of my favorite gifts are ones that can be used up—no extra clutter, just something that brings joy and then naturally disappears.
Activity Kits – Art supplies, science experiments, or craft kits that let kids create and explore (and then be done with!).
Consumables – Favorite snacks or a stash of their favorite treats make great gifts for anyone who’s hard to shop for.
Gift Cards – A coffee shop, bookstore, or gas station gift card is simple, thoughtful, and always appreciated.
These gifts still feel fun and intentional but don’t add extra “stuff” to manage long-term.
3. Stress-Free Gift-Giving Frameworks
If holiday shopping feels overwhelming, try using a simple framework to make decisions easier.
Want, Need, Wear, Read – Buy one gift from each category for each child. This keeps things balanced and meaningful.
Decide Once" Method – Pick a signature gift for certain people each year.
Example: I always give my mother-in-law a custom Shutterfly calendar with family photos. It’s a thoughtful, easy-to-repeat gift that she loves.
Teachers & Service Providers – Make it easy on yourself:
I always give my kids' teachers an Amazon gift card – done! No overthinking.
Simplifying your gift-giving process makes the season feel lighter and more enjoyable.
How We Found Our Family’s Perfect Gift Formula
A couple of years ago, I realized my kids were getting way too much stuff during the holidays. So, I tried scaling back by limiting them to four gifts each.
It didn’t feel like enough. I wanted them to feel the magic of Christmas morning without overdoing it.
The next year, I adjusted and found a sweet spot that works well for our family - six gifts per child:
1 medium-sized gift from Santa
1-2 small stocking stuffers
1 big gift from Mom & Dad
1 gift from each sibling (so that’s 2 each)
This felt just right for our family—enough to make Christmas morning exciting, but not excessive.
Siblings picking out gifts for each other has been a work in progress (kids keeping secrets? Impossible!), but I’ve learned to let go of control and focus on the joy of teaching them generosity.
Finding your own “just right” amount of gifts takes time, but once you do, it makes the holidays so much more enjoyable.
How to Stay Organized with Holiday Shopping
One of the best ways to simplify holiday shopping is staying organized. Here’s how I keep everything in check:
Use a Gift Tracker – I track every purchase in a Google Sheet with:
Who the gift is for
What the gift is
Where I bought it from
Price
Whether it’s been delivered
Whether it’s wrapped
Keep a Shopping List on Your Phone – When I’m running errands, I don’t want to open my whole spreadsheet, so I keep a simple list of gifts I still need to buy.
Using a tracker makes shopping more intentional and prevents last-minute panic purchases.
Stress-Free Gift Wrapping Hacks
Match Wrapping Paper to the Occasion – I use a different wrapping paper for each family Christmas. This makes sorting gifts easier and saves time!
Simplify Your Supplies – I keep it basic: sticker labels, brown craft paper, and simple ribbons. It’s classic and stress-free.
Pre-Printed Santa Gift Tags – I found a cute Etsy template for Santa tags, printed them on sticker sheets, and now I have years’ worth ready to go!
By batch wrapping gifts instead of doing them one at a time, I save time and reduce stress.
Let’s Make This Holiday Season Simple & Joyful
At the end of the day, simplifying gift-giving isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what matters most.
Less clutter, more meaningful gifts
Less overwhelm, more intentional choices
Less stress, more joyful moments
Want extra help simplifying your holiday prep?
Submit a photo of your cluttered holiday prep zone, and I’ll send you a FREE personalized 60-Second Session with quick tips to streamline your space!
Click here to submit your photo & get your free 60 Second Session!
Be confident. Make your own decisions. Don’t let social media or societal pressure steal your joy this holiday season.
