My Family Is Skipping Holiday Gifts This Year — Here’s What We’ll Do Instead

I love the bright lights and general sense of ease that the holidays bring. Every year, I look forward to playing board games with my family, hearing them laugh, spending time with my nephews, and making new memories. That feeling of comfort is something I never take for granted. 

In the past years, my family and I always got together and exchanged gifts. We usually bought presents for each individual family member, which totals seven people. For me, it typically costs around $800 on gifts alone, but this year could be even more pricey. A recent NerdWallet survey found that Americans may spend an additional $200 on gifts this year due to tariffs and inflation, money that could easily go toward personal expenses or bills.

With prices rising and travel costs adding up, my family and I decided to pause our traditional gift-giving this year and find ways to connect in more meaningful, affordable ways instead. That means for the first time in the past three years, we won’t physically be together over the holidays, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be spending time together. This season, we’re switching things up with thoughtful gestures like writing cards and connecting in other ways. Instead of the usual gift exchange, here are the five activities we’re planning to do.

These plans are a mix of traditions we already love and a few ones we’re excited to try. If your family is also celebrating differently this year — either virtually or in person but without gifts — these ideas might help spark your own versions. 

One of my favorite holiday traditions is cooking with my family. I love learning new recipes from my mom and revisiting the dishes passed down from my grandmother. Normally we divide up the menu, but this year, since we won’t be together in person, we’re planning something simpler and more affordable: cooking together on FaceTime. 

We’ll make dinner together in our own kitchens, and have conversations while cooking so we’ll feel connected even though we’re far apart. I’m especially excited to make the meals that I grew up on and start this tradition in my own home.

Another tradition we’re planning is a holiday memory night. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a FaceTime call where we share stories from past celebrations, talk about loved ones who’ve passed on, and revisit moments that left a lasting impression. 

We’ll also pull out old photos, the ones my mom keeps in a box from the ’90s, plus whatever we have on our phones, and show them to each other on FaceTime. It’s nostalgic, grounding, and honestly priceless. Even though we won’t be in the same living room, talking about these memories still brings us closer. 

Writing handwritten cards is my grandmother’s 31-year-old tradition that I’ll always keep alive. This year, instead of buying gifts, we’re planning to write heartfelt notes to one another. I’m writing seven cards for each family member and plan to mail them out a week before Christmas. 

A handwritten card costs only $1 at Trader Joe’s (and not too much more for postage) and means so much more. It’s thoughtful, personal, and something you keep forever, unlike a trendy gift that might lose its value by January.

The holidays are about giving, but gifts aren’t the only way to make someone smile. Donating is another meaningful option, and my family plans to give to a few causes this season. We’ve always been a family that values giving back, and this year we’re choosing organizations that matter to us instead of exchanging physical gifts.

We’re looking at the Brooklyn Book Bodega, which supports children’s literacy in NYC. My sister loves animals and plans to donate to the ASPCA. We also want to support the Food Bank for NYC and Project Hope, which is especially important to us as a Jamaican family after Hurricane Melissa impacted communities across the Caribbean. Even small amounts make a difference. And if you’re unsure where to donate, sites like Charity Navigator can help you find reputable organizations. 

Lastly, we’re giving ourselves permission to rest. I plan on sleeping in, unplugging, and going on slow walks. Holiday shopping can be fun, but it can also be overstimulating and exhausting. Resting gives us space to reflect on the year, reconnect with ourselves, and think about what we want the next year to look like. It’s truly one of the most valuable things you can give yourself. 

While these are things my family plans to do this holiday season, they’re traditions you can adapt whether you’re celebrating with a friend, a partner, or on your own. At the end of the day, the holidays are about joy, connections, and choosing what feels right for you. Though I’ll miss being in the same room as my family this year, the new ways we’ll celebrate each other are just as meaningful, and for that I am grateful.