Long before our house fire, my husband and I were starting to embrace a more minimal way of life.  We finally acknowledged the stress all of the “stuff” we owned was causing us.  We successfully removed the emotional attachment from almost all of our possessions and began donating and tossing stuff.  Then came our house fire.  We were forced to start from scratch.  It was devastating, but also freeing.  We no longer had childhood memorabilia, heirlooms, nothing we felt we must keep.  It had all been taken from us.  From this point on, WE decide what comes into our home. 

The problem now is WE might be living a minimalist life, but those around us aren’t.  Here are my tips for handling gifts you receive from others, that you don’t feel comfortable keeping in your home.

1. Make it clear to your friends and family that you have begun a minimalist-style journey.  If you don’t inform those around you, how can you expect them to honor your new lifestyle?
2. Accept gifts graciously.  Never reject a gift outright.  Yes, it would save them money if they had the option of returning something you didn’t plan to use.  However, those close to you know the risks of purchasing you items without your approval.  They know you cannot be expected to keep items that THEY’VE chosen for you.
3. If you do plan to donate an item that was given to you, before you do so, hold it in your hands.  Think about the kindness and love that that gift holds.  Even if you plan to donate it, you can still honor the intangible value of it and keep those memories with you.

Over the years, I’ve found people can be extremely emotional regarding possessions whether those be possessions given to you or possessions they own.  So remember, not everyone may understand your new way of life and that’s okay.  What’s best for you, may not be what’s best for someone else.  As long as you and your household are happy with the way you live your life, that’s all you need to worry about.

Feel free to share your minimalist lifestyle with others when holidays arise.  Instead of a gift exchange, maybe you do a gift CARD exchange.  Get creative!

-Aud