The Best Alternative Christmas Gifts for 2020

Tired of the same old Christmas gifts every year?  Are you looking to try something different this year and save some money while you're at it?  Well, this comprehensive list of alternative Christmas gifts will point you in the right direction!

Every year we spend thousands of dollars on the latest tech, toys, gift baskets, etc.  All in the hopes that we will find the perfect gifts for our loved ones.

But all that spending and endless searching for the perfect gift is draining.  On you and your wallet.  So why not switch things up this year and get an alternative gift for your family and friends?

If anything, it will add some spice to this year's holiday season as it is something new and fresh.  And you never know.  Your family may love it and you just might have a new holiday tradition in the making.

The Best Alternative Christmas Gifts

Adopt a Family

What better way to celebrate the season then by giving to a family in need.  There are plenty of people less fortunate than you are who are probably in need of help this Christmas.

And you could help by offering to make Christmas dinner or by buying clothes, toys, and other gifts.  With your help, they will have something to celebrate and can have a truly magical Christmas.

By choosing to support a low income family, you are truly embodying the reason for the season.  So try it out and see how fulfilling helping others can be.

Donate to Charity

Another charitable alternative Christmas gift idea is to donate to a charity.  This could be a present you give to yourself and your family or you could donate in the name of someone else as their gift.

This is often a great gesture that they will appreciate a lot.  So do not hesitate to do this, especially, if you know your friend is very big into helping the homeless or volunteering at an orphanage.

Not only are you giving back to the community but you are giving your friend a unique gift they have probably never received before.

Community Service

Speaking of giving back, this year as an alternative to the usual gift giving why not volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen?  Or help clean up your local park?

You can even help pantries organize and deliver food to people in need.  It doesn't take much of your time and energy to volunteer but the rewards for everyone involved is priceless.

You could make this into a family activity.  And it can easily become a tradition and maybe even replace your old gift giving one.

Sign Up for Subscription Boxes

Better known as the gift that keeps on giving, subscription boxes are one of my favorite kinds of gifts.  For that very reason.  

There are a number of subscription boxes on the market that you can buy for your family and they will send them a package every month. That's why it's called the gift that keeps on giving.

Yay! It's like Christmas year round!

There's literally something for everyone.  You can get a cheese subscription box for the cheese lover, dinner and movie box for the movie lover, dinner boxes for those who don't have time to cook, wine boxes for the wine connoisseurs, and the list goes on.

So if you are looking for something fresh this year, why not looking into getting subscription boxes for your family and friends?

Pay for Other Subscriptions

Besides subscription boxes you could give the gift of other services such as Amazon Prime or Netflix.  I mean who wouldn't love a subscription to Netflix? or Amazon Prime for that matter?

Got an avid reader in the family who's always on the go or someone who loves audiobooks?  You could buy them a subscription to Audible.  

And for the illustrator, designer, or photographer in the family, how about a subscription to Adobe Creative Suite?  It comes with over 20+ apps so they can design til their heart's content.

The best thing about subscriptions is that they can be easily tailored to the person you're giving the gift to.  And in the grand scheme of things don't cost that much.

Buy Classes

For Christmas this year why not give the gift of learning.  Instead of toys or clothes that they probably don't need or won't use, you could help them learn new skills.  Why not pay for some yoga classes or art classes?  

Or you could even help them further their career buy paying for those programming or marketing classes you know they've been dying to take.

Check out Udemy, Coursera, and other great sites for classes.  You may even want to check on Groupon or other discount sites to make sure you are truly getting the best deal.

Buy Memberships

Why not take it a step further and actually get them a membership to a nice gym?  Or how about a Costco membership for the friend with 6 kids. Hats off to you Brady Bunch Mama!

You could even get them a membership at a local museum.  Explore some modern art or local history.  For those over the age of 50, you could nab them an AARP membership and help them enjoy their golden years to the fullest.

There are a ton of membership options out there.  Have a wee peak and see what can work for you and your fam.

Pay for Necessary Services

Another great alternative to the usual Christmas gifts is paying for services your friends and relatives need.  For instance, you could pay to have someone come out and mow their lawn every few weeks.

Or how about hiring a babysitter to come over once a week to give your sister and her husband a chance to have a fun night out?  You could even pay for your baby brother's car insurance for the year.  

For your friends with pets, you could pay for dog walking, grooming, or vet visits.  These necessities while they seem small are so helpful to the recipient.  So they are sure to be super grateful and happy.

Everyone needs something.  So this is a gift idea that is easy to do and has unlimited possibilities.

Buy Useful Home Appliances

Forget anything your hear on TV, useful gifts are always the best gifts. Not everyone needs or wants a fancy TV or computer.  

Instead how about getting them a food processor or an Instant Pot to make cooking easier?  Or what about a sleep sound machine to help them get better sleep at night?

There are loads of useful gifts out there.  All that's needed is to tailor it to the person in question and scour the internet for the best deals.  

So many cool items are out there waiting to be discovered.  Like electric blankets, mini-crock pots, or a wine aerator.  There is something for everyone.

Give the Gift of Apps

In this day and age, Apps rule the world.  There is quite literally an App for everything.  So you should have no problem gifting friends and family members an App they will love.

And the best part is most apps aren't even that expensive.  So you could end up saving some serious coin just by skipping the traditional gifts and  going digital.  And you don't have to leave your house and fight the masses to do it.

Pay for the Experience

This year give the gift of experiences and create special memories with the fam.  Nothing beats a great experience so why not book that much needed vacay or family cooking class?

Or how about booking a Safari or a trip to Disney World for the holidays.  Never been ziplining?  Well, its high time you try.  Your adventure awaits!

And no worries if you are on a budget.  You can always opt to do an airbnb or have a staycation at a local B&B or hotel.

Offer Your Services

Got a skill or talent you're exceptionally good at or well known for?  Why not package that up and gift it to friends and family members?

You could give them free finance coaching or hook them up with some nice landscaping.  Or why not be their personal stylist for the day?

As a matter of fact, you don't even need any special skills.  Take it back to the good old days when you would write coupons for washing the dishes, or cleaning the living room.

How awesome was it to receive those!  Those things came in handy especially when you didn't feel like cleaning your room or doing the dishes.

So make a cute coupon book filled with these services and give them out.  Your family will love them!  

Write a Poem, Make a Photo Album

Got a way with words?  How about writing a poem for your loved ones? While it may seem corny to some in theory, actually receiving a poem as a present is beautiful.

You know that the person took the time to really truly think about you and speak from the heart.  It's way better than a generic Walmart Christmas card.

If you're not a writer, you could get artsy in other ways.  You could take all those pictures of the good times you've had together and whip up a photo album or make a calendar.  Don't overthink it.  Get creative and have fun!

Do Some Re-gifting

Instead of letting that gift you got from your Grandmother last Christmas just waste away, why not give it to someone who could use it?

I know regifting is not so highly looked upon in the alternative Christmas gift category but it is eco-friendly and will save you some money.  So it's a win-win in my book.

Besides if you're not going to use (slash haven't been using it this whole time), why not give it to someone who will?  Waste not, want not.  And you're doing the environment a favor.

Buy Tickets or Passes

Gotta friend who loves the Red Sox?  Grab them a pair of tickets to a Red Sox game.  Or better yet buy them season passes.

Or how about your girl friend who stays at the movie theater?  Why not get her some dinner and a movie tickets from the fanciest theater in town?  You could even throw in some popcorn to sweeten the deal.

AMC theaters even has a Tickets for Two Experience Gift Card that you can buy on Amazon.  Or how about their AMC Black Tickets?  Good for any show, any time.

The point is people love to go out to events.  So why not give them that opportunity.  So go out and grab some tickets to a concert or music festival and watch your friend or family member light up with joy.   

Specialty Food/Products

There are some things that people just never think to buy or are too cheap to get for themselves (ahem, me!).  This is where you come in.  Get your friend or family member something unique and useful.

You could pick up the latest in Korean skin care products.  Or grab some cute, and yum Japanese snacks.  Or any other specialty food or products you know they can't or wouldn't normally buy on their own.

Trust me, your friends and family will be pleasantly surprised!  

Shop Sustainably or For a Cause

One thing we should all be concerned about is the planet that we live on. For years now we have been destroying the place we call home.  So it is about time we give back.

When you are out shopping for your gifts, look for the companies that sell sustainable products or who give back to the community.  Some companies will donate food to children in need, help promote education for girls around the world, or help fight for social justice.

And after giving the gift, don't hesitate to let the recipient know about the company and the cause! Hopefully, it will inspire them to also think about being more sustainable when they are out shopping for gifts, groceries, or other items.

Bake Some Delicious Treats

As an alternative this year to sending flowers and gift baskets full of apples and popcorn from Harry and David or 1800Flowers, you could just make some goodies yourself.

Bake some yummy brownies or cookies, cakes or cupcakes and drop them off at your neighbor's house.  Or give them out to coworkers.  

It's in easy way to ingratiate yourself with the neighbors and your colleagues while serving as your Christmas gift as well.  Done and done.

Try Your Hand at Homemade Presents

In my humbly, biased opinion this is the BEST alternative Christmas gift idea ever.  What better way to express your love than by making something from the heart.

It takes time and energy to make presents for everyone and people will really appreciate all the effort you made to make their gift.  And bonus point good news, not only will you be saving lots of money but you will also increase your creativity and learn some new skills.

You never know.  Those new found skills may lead you into a new hobby or new career. 

Get Your Traveler Friend the Gift of House-Sitting

As an avid traveler myself, I really, really like this gift idea.  

Have you heard of house-sitting?  It is literally like baby-sitting for houses.  So when you plan a vacation, you could simply look for someone who needs a house-sitter and stay at their house for free!  

You may need to look after some plants or pets.  But that's a minor price to pay considering you don't have to pay for a hotel.

Most house-sitting sites come with a subscription fee.  So you could purchase a year subscription for your cousin that is always somewhere around the world.

Some popular house sitting sites include: Trusted House Sitters, Mind My House, Nomador, and Work Away.  Work Away even has a cultural exchange, service, and other unique experiences component to it as well that you could look into.

Adopt a Pet

If you've got a pet lover in your family, a great alternative Christmas gift is to adopt a pet for them.  Welcoming a new family member this year could add a little excitement back in your life and be just what the doctor ordered.

Adopt-a-Pet is a site you can use to search for the perfect pet whether that be dogs, cats, horses, or rabbits.  It's a site where you could adopt a rescue animal, one from a shelter, or pets directly from the owner.

There's a bit of a process when adopting from a shelter or a rescue animal as well as a small fee ranging from $25 up to a couple hundred dollars.

You may also want to check out Petfinder.com.

Borrow a Pet

If you can't afford to adopt a pet, then why not treat your family to a doggy for a day by borrowing one?  Yes, I know this does sound strange at first but I promise it is totally legit.

There's even an App for it!  Several in fact.  There's Share Your Pet, Lend Your Pet, and Walkzee.  Walkzee allows you to borrow a dog from a local shelter.

Share Your Pet, based in the UK, allows you to pet sit, share a pet, or volunteer to re-home a pet.  Lend Your Pet seems to be Australian based but does essentially the same thing.

You can also borrow a pet with Borrow My Doggy.  They allow you to select your duration.  It could be just for a walk, a weekend, or the holidays.  And, of course, everyone is vetted.  

They also have gift vouchers you can give to your dog lovers or owners.  And needless to say, they also have an app.

Pay Vet Fees For Struggling Pet Owners 

This year especially many people are struggling financially.  And for those who do have, it could be nice to try and help those less fortunate.

One way to do this is to help those with pets who can't afford their vet bills.  There's nothing worse than watching your dog die because you can't afford the medicine he needs.

So this Christmas why not give to a furry friend in need.  After all, we all deserve a little love and attention and most definitely medical care.

You could check out YouCaring.com.  It's a crowdfunding website for people in need.

Donate to Plant More Trees

For the more earthly minded friend, this year you could make a donation to an organization to plant more trees.  There are many organizations that do this.  So have a look around.

Planting trees is not only good for the environment but it is necessary for life as we know it.  So even if it's not for a present to a friend.  Make it a gift to yourself and your loved ones.  For a better more sustainable Earth.

Buy a Grow Your Own Plants Kit

Got a green thumb or know someone who does?  Pick up a grow-your-own plants kit and make them the happiest person in the world.

Maybe your friend is always talking about how much they want to start a garden but has yet to get around to it.  Enter the plant kit.  

Now they have absolutely no excuse as these things come packed with everything you need to get started growing your own plants at home.

You can pick up some on Amazon starting at just $16 with Terrarium kits starting at $13.

Buy Upcycled Alcohol Glasses

For your alky friend, you could get them some nice upcycled alcohol glasses or bottles.  It's environmentally friendly and useful.  A definite win-win.

There are also plenty of other upcycled glass products that you can find on Esty or Amazon.  Which can then be repurposed and used to make candles, hold plants, or just a regular cups.

Give Food and Clothes to Refugees

If you are like me, you probably have a ton of clothes that you are not using.  And it is needlessly taking up space in your closet.  Why not give those to a few refugees in need?

In light of all the recent turmoil that has been happening around the world, there are a lot of refugees who may not have the means to buy food or nice clothes.

By gifting these to them this holiday season, you will help make their holiday season bright.  Having to leave your home for a whole new country with new customs and culture is hard.  So having someone like you looking out for them would be greatly appreciated.

Do Secret Santa

Another great alternative gift idea that will save you loads of cash is to do Secret Santa.  The beauty of Secret Santas is that you only have to buy a gift for one person and not the whole tribe. 

Furthermore, you can limit the amount each person can spend on a gift, say $20 max.  That means you could potentially get away with celebrating Christmas for just $20!

Additionally, you won't have to feel embarrassed if the recipient doesn't like your gift as no one will know you got it for them.  Not to mention doing Secret Santa is loads fun!

Make Christmas Dinner

This year why not let the fam know that you'll be hosting Christmas and making Christmas Dinner.  This could be your gift to your family and extended relatives.

Cooking dinner for your loved ones is a great idea if you are culinarily inclined.  And it could help save you money.  Because now, you won't have to buy presents for everyone.

The food is their present. So enjoy!

Start an Investment Account for Your Children

As a gift to your children, how about starting a savings or an investment account in their name.  

This could simply be for their use when they get older or for a specific purpose such as a wedding fund or educational fund.  Either way, it is always a good idea to get started early when saving for the future.  

Also, by including your children in on this gift they will learn about saving and investing.  Both great skills that everyone needs to know.  So start them early.

Skip the Gifts and Host a Party

Save some cash and host a party this year for Christmas.  Instead of the traditional rounds of Christmas presents, why not host a party for family and friends?

You could throw a themed party like Christmas on a Cruise, a White Christmas, or a throw-back Flappers party.  Who doesn't like themed parties?

Better yet.  How about throwing a White Elephant party.  White Elephant parties are usually hilarious and lots of fun.  So definitely give it a go!

You can even add that into your themed party to keep a little of the gift-giving Christmas tradition.  Except, like Secret Santa you'd only have to buy one gift!  Perfection!

Celebrate Christmas in the "Off Season"

If you're interested in saving a little cash, this alternative gift idea may be perfect for you.  Instead of celebrating Christmas on December 25th this year, why not celebrate on the 28th or the 30th?

If you do that, you have the opportunity to get loads of nice gifts on the cheap!  Everyone knows that the best sales happen after Christmas so why not use it to your advantage.

Celebrating after the holidays, will greatly reduce how much you spend on gifts and also your stress levels.  As you won't feel the need to be competing with the masses on Black Friday or the weeks leading up to Christmas.

You could take it to a whole 'nother level and celebrate Christmas in the summer.  This opens up the door to not just great savings but also new vacation opportunities as well.

Buy Useful Group Gifts for Families

A big way to save money and a great alternative Christmas gift idea is to buy group presents for families including your own.

You could buy your brother's family a grilled cheese toaster, matching mugs, or pjs they can use in the winter.  Or maybe a board game or popcorn and a movie that everyone can enjoy.  In addition to that, what about a make-your-own ice cream set?  Yum!

There are some many great ideas out there.  So have a look around and make this Christmas extra special for the ones you love.

Anonymous Cash Gifts in MailBoxes

Talk about alternative Christmas gift ideas! When I came across this idea, I immediately loved it!  Something about it just seems so magical and heroic.  Like Robinhood.

Just think.  What if you, as a family, decide that this year instead of (or in addition to) doing the regular gift giving, leave a surprise stash of cash in your neighbors mailbox?  Wouldn't that be awesome!  Or is it just me?

You could visit a part of town where there are low income households and give there.  Or simply give them out to your neighbors.  Just imagine how they'd feel to open up the mailbox one day and find money!  So exciting!

I think this is definitely going to be my new thing!

Visit Hospitals and Nursing Homes

Not to be forgotten but visiting hospitals and nursing home during the Christmas season could be one of the greatest gifts you give.  These places typically don't have much cheer to go around.

What's more, a lot of people at nursing homes and hospitals may not have loved ones who care for them or who can show up during the holidays.  This could leave them feeling very lonely at a time when we should feel our most joyous and connected.

You could bring that Christmas cheer to them.  And help them enjoy the holidays.  So take some time to spread the love.

The Money Management Gift!

Do you know someone who wants to get their finances in order once and for all? Is that going to be your New Year's Resolution?  Why not give the gift of money management and get ahead of the game by downloading savings trackers, debt payoff spreadsheets, and more from my Etsy shop?!  Your financial freedom awaits! : ) 

All in All

The sky really is the limit when it comes to these alternative Christmas gifts.  I hope these ideas have gotten your creative juices flowing and now you can go forth and make this one of the most unique and memorable Christmas' ever!

If you have any other great ideas, be sure to let me know in the comments below!  I'd love to hear them!

Happy Holidays!