The Gift of Consumption
Oh yes, we love our tuberculosis jokes in the Cupcake Factory (see: The Boy always shortened to TB on twitter).
I’m not actually suggesting you try to kill someone by infecting them with TB I’m making a very grown up suggestion (again) that you stop cluttering your friends and families houses gift shop trinkets and candles because you really had no idea what to get them. Instead you should be gifting consumables. Great gifts that will leave nothing but memories in the end.
Even in a recession many childless couples and singles are in a position to buy themselves whatever takes their fancy, they don’t need to wait for gifts or an increase on their credit limit, they just buy. But if they’re anything like me they’ll be buying chocolate, but never a box of the really good ones; the wine but nothing above $20; and the only foliage in the house is plants, not flowers. You see where I’m heading with this?
There is only one week till giftmas day! I know right, I have never been this disorganised before leaving on holiday in my life. I have 2 days to clean all my clothes and pack up my life for three weeks.
Just in case you’re a slacker like me this year here are some ideas for last minute gift buyers without a clue what to grab.
- Hampers Great for food lovers, fill a decorated box (easier to get rid of, and cheaper, than a wicker basket) with chocolates, olives, nuts, and sauces.
-
Alcohol Be a gracious guest this holiday season and provide some lovely wine to drink. It doesn’t have to be too expensive, your host will be stoked that you appreciate them.
Or if you have 17 year olds in your life you’ll go own in history as the best sister/aunt/mum ever if you provide the just under ageds with something that will get them wasted. - Subscriptions Magazines, dvd rentals, cheese of the month. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
- Cleaning I would LOVE someone to come scrub my kitchen and bathroom – unless the recipient is a clean freak that doesn’t need a break in that department I wouldn’t worry too much about offending.
Or you could offer to clean mum’s house in preparation for guests, she’ll really appreciate your help! - Homemade treats Chinese takeout boxes can be bought for cheap and filled with homemade treats like sugar cookies, truffles, and fruit mince pies.
- Lessons Cooking lessons (available at every price point), language, dancing, photography. Won’t clutter the house but will stick with them for life!
- Tattoos What could be more special than paying for a much wanted permanent artwork that your recipient will carry for life? I say nothing.
- Body care While usually an intensely personal item if you know your recipient well, or spend a lot of time in their bathroom, you’ll probably know what products they use. Buy those. Moisturiser can be expensive yo.
- Geek stuff If you’re a geek you could create your bestie a site of her very own. Buy your travelling friend a subscription or renewal to Flickr so you can keep an eye on the snaps. Surprise your internet buddy with her very own .com so she can get rid of the blogspot part of her address.
- Vouchers If all else fails vouchers of any kind trump incense and ceramic kittens. Make it personal by giving a voucher to their favourite clothing shop, a meal at their favourite restaurant, or iTunes money for your music obsessed little brother. Other great vouchers include food, spa treatments, movie tickets, and those booklets from your boyfriend that you can use at any time and he has to do what it says.
What’s your favourite consumable?
13 Responses to “The Gift of Consumption”
Some sweetbix ideas here :) The booze is always a good idea!
Great ideas! I think maybe i will give people diseases though, like for instances I have a tummy bug at the moment, may be very easy to pass this on at chrsimas dinne – ‘Merry Christmas everyone!” tee hee.
Food and booze are always a winner! I have a friend who’s going to bake me a plate of biscuits for Christmas, which is going to be so spesh (and delicious). And I will always ALWAYS accept a bottle of gin. Even the cheap gin. I don’t care, they all taste good.
The rule with food is to keep it simple. Get small amounts simple foods that are good quality. A small bag of top milk chocolate, for example. Not a box of revolting Christmas themed chocolate that tastes like filth (which is what a colleague got me for our work Kris Kringle – blech).
if someone gave me a cleaner or something along those lines, i would die of happiness. seriously. maybe im showing my age here
Consumables are actually my favourite things to receive, usually – give me a Frankie subscription, a Borders gift card, some loot from The Body Shop, a bottle of vodka and a box of Guylian seashell chocolates this Christmas and I would be stoked. This is such a perfect post because it’s so, so true and everyone really needs to keep it in mind that if they don’t know what to buy someone – buy them something that will get USED. Useless clutter is the bane of my existence.
Oh yeah and I forgot to mention – one of my besties has just done a massage course and is now certified, and because she doesn’t have much to spend at all this Christmas (she’s a young mum!) she’s giving all her friends massages. Services like these should be added to the list here because not many females at least would not be stoked with a new hair cut and colour, a massage or, hell, a psychic reading just for kicks! I have scoliosis and my back has been really unhappy lately, so I am just DYING for a free massage this Christmas!!
Charlie the Grinch :p
O yes, many a cheap scorched almond has been eaten at xmas. Cheap chocolate is waxy and gross. Food presents should be top quality stuff that is a treat away from the stuff you buy yourself from the supermarket.
I would LOVE a cleaner too. Because I am the laziest housewife in the world.
My sorta sister in law did the same thing last year. Free massages for anyone that wants them. Kind of touched on that with vouchers for spa treatments,.
Hair cuts are hard to buy for people unless you know who their hairdresser is though.
These are all bang on, I think the Starbucks people might be upset that they aren’t on the list, though. But grocery stores have totally contributed to the slacker gift list too. Offering every gift card available from every shop or department store. You can even get someone a visa/mastercard or American Express card with cash on it right at the checkout counter!
I would never ever endorse Starbucks. I know American coffee is shit but in New Zealand and especially Wellington we have AMAZING baristas and there is absolutely no reason to drink the corporate nasty crap that Starbucks produces!
(welcome to Cupcakes and Mace!)
I disagree.
Ceramic Kittens are always a good idea.
Leave a Reply