This Christmas, gift well
Presents that feel good and do good
I rarely enjoyed Christmas gift guides in magazines when I was growing up. It always seemed to be a list of expensive stuff that was included either for advertising reasons or because the person compiling the guide had got a freebie.
But while the internet taketh away (the death of print journalism 😕), it also giveth, by which I mean it provides an array of creative ideas for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life.
And there are lots of excellent gift guides on Substack this year.
I particularly loved Melissa Abbott’s beautiful selection on 5 Things Friday, Rhiannon Evans’ gifts for gardeners on Growing Things, Sarah Gallagher Trombley’s ideas for tech-obsessed kids on Thoughts From a Digital Mom, and Alexandra Stedman’s exhaustive curation on The R.U.E.
(Side note: I used to work with Alex, aka Stedders, at Red magazine years ago and she has the BEST eye for a bargain - very fitting that her Substack is called the Really Useful Edit.)
Having said that, when it comes to present buying, I tend to go by the maxim that experiences make us happier than possessions. Not a fan of clutter, I’m usually only interested in presents that I can eat, read, slather on my skin, or enjoy as an experience.
A book that recently made me even more determined to not accumulate any more stuff is The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer. In it, she argues that “gift thinking” (ie. considering every plant to be a gift from the world) creates a sense of abundance that stops us lusting after shit we don’t need (not in those words, obvs).
“Recognising ‘enoughness’ is a radical act in an economy that is always urging us to consume more,” she writes. “Ecopsychologists have shown that the practice of gratitude puts brakes on hyper-consumption. The relationships nurtured by gift thinking diminish our sense of scarcity and want. In that climate of sufficiency, our hunger for more abates and we take only what we need, in respect for the generosity of the giver.”
Yeah, but what do I buy for Auntie Brenda? I get it, we can’t float through Christmas telling our loved ones that the roast potatoes are “a gift from the earth”, and so they don’t need anything to unwrap. But still. I would like to take the spirit of The Serviceberry into this Christmas and 2025.
Here is my guide to shopping well (and therefore feeling better) this Christmas…
Give books
Books don’t feel like clutter to me. And even better if you can buy from a small, independent retailer. I know, it’ll be a few quid more expensive than Amazon, but you’ll be supporting a struggling industry and get that warm book shop glow that you don’t get with a big button screaming BUY NOW.
For your perimenopausal friend with whom you really want to discuss THAT tampon scene: All Fours, the outrageous (and weirdly relatable) novel by Miranda July.
For the one who’s seeking nourishing home inspiration: Home Matters, a combination of beautiful photography and insightful conversations by Penny Wincer.
For the person on the cusp of change, who wants to design their dream life: Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025, a brilliant guided journal by Project You.
For the kids: Charlie and the Christmas Factory, in which modern children’s authors, from Adam Kay to Konnie Huq, create new tales for Roald Dahl’s classic characters.
Not sure what book they’d fancy? Bookshop.org, the online store that financially supports independent British bookshops, also sells gift cards.
Give experiences
I am a big proponent of identifying your giftee’s favourite exercise class, massage therapist or beauty salon and buying vouchers for that place. My mum got me vouchers for my local (very pricey) hot yoga studio for my birthday, and I thanked her inwardly every time I spent a Sunday evening stretching into a yin class, rather than doing whatever I’d usually be doing on a Sunday evening (panicking about work, stress-eating and doomscrolling I guess?).
Planning a daycation is a gift for both that person you love, and yourself! I love a classic bathhouse, and can personally recommend this one in Harrogate, and this one in Brooklyn for NY-based friends. I haven’t been to this one in London, but am desperate to try it.
Earlier this year I took my then-nine-year-old son to a Tempest workshop at Shakespeare’s Globe, since he’d been reading the play in school, and it was amazing for bringing the story to life. He also had a chance to walk onto that famous stage, and it made me think that a guided tour of the Globe would be a great gift for anyone with a passing interest in literature or history.
Give a subscription
Print journalism is not actually dead, guys! I love having a break from screens to read a physical magazine, and you probably know someone who’d really appreciate receiving Grazia, Red, Vogue or the New Scientist regularly through their letterbox.
A flower subscription is a brilliant gift that lasts all year. Arena Flowers have a range of options and currently doing a Black Friday discount.
I love the idea of this surprise subscription box from Norfolk Natural Living, which offers a mystery mix of fragranced candles, body oils or bath products every month.
Give a celebratory drink
People who know me well turn up to my house bearing gifts of LA Brewery sparkling blush kombucha, cans of Trip or bottles of Three Spirit Social Elixir with a good ginger ale and oranges, with which to make a mood-boosting cocktail.
I LOVE that it has become so easy to enjoy delicious, celebratory alcohol-free drinks - a big change that I’ve noticed in even the eight years since I wrote Mindful Drinking.
But sadly not all supermarkets or off-licences have as wide a range as they ought to, so it’s a good idea to stock up on AF options from a specialist online retailer such as Club Soda, Wise Bartender or the Alcohol Free Co.
Give coffee
Lots of people love coffee; some worship at the alter of their morning coffee ritual. Either way, coffee is a great gift.
I like to buy from Girls Who Grind, who source their coffee from change-making women producers, and the branding makes this a v cool gift.
If your coffee-loving friend is a wellness girlie, the chances are they’re into mushroom coffee. As a good starting point, this DIRTEA Welcome Kit includes 1,000mg of lion's mane per serving, and comes with a cute mug and tin.
For the shroom aficionado, adaptogenic coffee brand London Nootropics have collaborated with my favourite mushroom extract brand, Hifas da Terra, to create three targeted blends:
FLOW for mental clarity and focus (with lion’s mane + rhodiola)
ZEN for calm and balance (with ashwagandha + L-theanine)
MOJO for endurance and vitality (with cordyceps + Siberian ginseng)
They’re currently doing a gift box with a lovely green reusable coffee cup that I would be very happy to find under my tree (yes, a reusable cup is a physical object BUT it’s obviously an eco-forward one).
Give food
You can’t go wrong with a hamper, and these ones from Odysea are the dream. I particularly love the party hamper for friends who love to host.
Chocolate coins are a festive necessity so, if you’re going to buy them, make sure they’re Fairtrade and from Oxfam.
Give oil
Most of us use some kind of cooking oil every day, and it’s such a treat to have a nice one. I love this Hunter & Gather avocado oil, this very sexy Tartufi black truffle oil (a drizzle will seriously elevate your soup), and this Zaytoun olive oil gift set, which pays for an olive tree to be planted in Palestine.
Give back
Buying something that also supports a worthwhile cause is win-win, creating a warm glow for both the giver and the receiver.
A William Morris self-care gift set to support Marie Curie.
Candles and home fragrance to support The Red Cross.
A golden take on the classic Choose Love t-shirt to support refugees.
Letterbox Flowers bouquets for Cancer Research UK.
Give love to small businesses
Some events call for a physical gift, such as when you’re going to see a good friend in their home, and want to bring them something lovely. Small businesses need you now more than ever so, if you are looking for a nice candle, necklace, vase or notebook, is there a local shop you could support?
In the spirit of this, Holly Tucker is running her brilliant Colour Friday campaign again this year, to counterbalance the faceless mega-discounting around Black Friday.
Give plants
Like books, plants don’t feel like clutter. And having just urged you to shop small, I must admit I bought this yesterday in M&S (£20 including the pot) and I just love it…
And, if all else fails, a gift subscription to Well Well Well is a very thoughtful idea 🧡
A really thoughtful guide; thank you for sharing!
I have bookmarked about 80% of these recs - outstanding! Thank you so much 🙏🏻