Mindful Christmas Hacks

Wow the end of year is coming for us with STARTLING speed.

This year we thought we'd approach our B&B Christmas Shopping List a little differently with some gifting life hacks from the team.

Our main tip is to give yourself the time to be mindful about your shopping and to be inspired.

Shopping for people you love should be joyful. Lets take the stress out and put the love in!

When you're stuck we have a little formula. Of course we do, we're nerds.

So that you don't break the budget but also curate personal, thoughtful gifts:

Try adding: Locally Made Item (eg cookbook) + Secondhand Item (eg little serving bowls ) + Homemade item (eg bookmark)

Some fun accounts to follow for inspiration:
@afterhoursgifting
@consciously_curated_home
@hardtofind_
@everything_but_flowers

Vita says: Buying Christmas gifts can be super overwhelming, so to reduce the stress, research and wasteful gifting I'm a huge fan of sharable wishlists.

We use a wish list app, so everyone in the family creates their own Christmas wish list (yep the adults get involved too, Christmas isn't just about the kiddies) with items at various price points. These lists can then be accessed by everyone else so they can see what you'd like and select an item to buy you for Christmas.

Everyone is a guaranteed to have something they really want under the Christmas Tree.

There are heaps of different apps including, Things To Get Me, Giftster and Gift Hero

Peter is a big fan of the experience gifts, we all have enough "stuff" so shout your friends dinner!

Bonus hack you can jump on @firsttable and get 50% off the food. Win Win.

GOOD FOOD Gift Card or Best Restaurant Gift Card

Alisha says: Presents don't have to cost an arm and leg. Is there someone in your life that you wish you had more quality time with?

You can block out a day and be a tourist with them in Melbourne.

There are plenty of fun, free activities you can do with them, like a walking tour! Have a look at WHAT’S ON MELBOURNE for some inspriation.

Make a picnic, take it to the botanical gardens and go from there!

PS Our friends at @depot_adventures do a great Bar Tour in Melbs!

Ok yes Purdy is our resident creative girlie and she loves making gifts.

Here’s her tip - If you think you're not a homemade gift person, it’s easier than you think!

Can you google a cocktail recipe and copy it out? Boom you've got a cute hand made gift to go with that bottle of (Falling Crane) gin.

Or what about cooking, can you make some gingerbread to go in the cute tin! Easy peasy.

Another great one (especially for the grandparents) is the photo gifts.

I use SnapFish for photo books, Office works also has really easy photo gifts like mugs and calendars.

Amanda says: Kris Kringles are the best for big groups and for the budget.

This year we are getting all the kids to do a Kris Kringle between themselves so that they’re involved in the giving, and they get to help choose a special gift for one of their cousins. That way they will only receive one meaningful gift from the extended family instead of opening a million presents and frothing for more more more!

My family uses Draw Names, it’s really good because you can make sure certain people don’t get others (so you don’t get your own partner or the kids don’t get their own sibiling)