Inside: Looking for minimalist Christmas gift ideas for Grandma? From consumable options to experience gifts to practical ideas, this list is full of (mostly) clutter-free gift ideas for someone who already has everything she needs – or seems to, anyway.
As much as we love them, grandmas can be super difficult people to shop for! They can sometimes seem to already have everything they need.
You’re not sure what to get – or encourage your kids to get – that won’t be clutter OR be something she already owns.
And while your kids giving their grandma yet another dollar store mug or set of coasters is sweet and all…grandma probably has a whole basementful at this point.
Save grandma’s cabinets – and basement – from more clutter with these thoughtful, (mostly) minimalist gifts.
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50 Mostly Minimalist Christmas Gift Ideas for Grandma
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Here’s a list of fifty mostly minimalist Christmas gift ideas for grandma.
There’s everything from consumable gifts to practical gifts to experiences. She’s sure to love and/or need something on this list!
With some of the practical gifts, obviously consider whether or not she actually needs it. These gifts are why I titled the post “mostly” minimalist.
If you don’t think she’ll ever learn to use a Roomba (because she HATES technology), then get her something else. If she just got new pillows, she obviously doesn’t need more.
You get the idea, right?
Now that we got that explanation out of the way, on to the list!
Related: Minimalist Gifts for Her – 39 Christmas Gift Ideas for Women Who Hate Clutter
1. Nostalgic Candy
My dad adored chocolate Necco Wafers, but they became increasingly rare and harder to find.
Whenever I came across them, I bought them for whatever gift-giving day came next. And they always made him smile.
My mom fondly remembers sharing Whitman’s chocolates with her own grandma.
Especially if it’s a harder-to-find candy, this gift will be extra special!
2. Baked Goods
I know, I know, grandmas are typically the ones known for their baking, so it seems silly to give a baked good.
But maybe yours is the exception? Or maybe you have a speciality like cheesecake that she loves, but can’t make herself?
3. Digital Picture Frame
Grandmas love pictures of their family and grandkids!
Give her a digital picture frame (THIS one is very affordable, but I hear really good things about THIS one from friends), already set up and loaded with the latest pictures.
4. DIY Calendar with Photos
Shutterstock and Snapfish both let you create your own photo calendar.
Upload your own photos of the grandkids (or other photos) and create your own calendar for the upcoming year, so grandma can see photos of her family all year long.
This can become a fun tradition where grandma can count on a new grandkid calendar every year.
5. My Life in a Book
Many older people love telling stories from their life. As they get older, it becomes increasingly urgent that they get those stories written down and preserved forever.
That’s where My Life in a Book comes in. They’ll send grandma prompts all year long that she’ll respond to with her stories and memories.
At the end of the year, they’ll put it all into a book and send it to her!
6. Craft Supply Store Gift Card
Maybe Grandma is into all kinds of crafts, and you have no idea what supplies she wants or needs currently.
Give a gift card to a local craft supply store. She can get all the supplies she needs for her next project.
7. Yarn Assortment
If you already know Grandma is a hardcore knitter who loves to knit all kinds of things, give her an assortment of yarns.
Choose brands she already uses and loves, or if she loves a surprise, get her yard that’s special and unique.
8. Embroidery Kit
Embroidery kits that you can hang on the wall when you’re done are so fun!
Etsy is full of gorgeous kits, so you can support small business AND give Grandma a gift that will keep her busy for hours.
9. Bottle of Wine
Does Grandma love wine? Give her a bottle of her favorite or a unique brand/year to try.
10. Meal Kits
Sometimes cooking for one or two people is so much harder than cooking for a family.
Meal kits can be a fun way to learn new recipes, and there tends to be a lot less waste with the pre-portioned ingredients.
Try Every Plate for simpler, more basic meals, or Hello Fresh for fancier, more gourmet options (we’ve tried both and enjoyed them!).
11. Favorite Restaurant Gift Card
Maybe Grandma is seriously tired of being in the kitchen and cooking?
Give her a gift card to her favorite restaurant to give her a night off (or two) from cooking!
12. Meat Subscription Box
My mother-in-law literally almost sat down in the grocery store and cried the other day over the cost of meat. Ok, maybe not sat down, but definitely near tears.
Especially when you’re living on a fixed income, the increasing prices of food can be so tough!
Gift her a meat subscription box for Christmas – there are several options like Butcher Box or Missouri Farm Fresh, to name a couple.
They have a variety of boxes with various meat combinations and prices that will fit just about anyone.
13. Meat from a Small Farm
Maybe she loves the taste of meat from small farms or just supporting small and local business?
Shop around in your area and give her several pounds of farm fresh meat to stock her freezer for the next few months.
14. Favorite Coffee
Pick up a couple bags of her favorite coffee to go with the coffee maker, or pair it with another consumable gift of this list.
15. Coffee Gift Card
Maybe Grandma loves her weekly Dunkin run. Or coffee from a closeby local coffee shop. Or (I’d be surprised, but) maybe Starbucks?
Give her a gift card, so she can get coffee out without worrying about the price.
16. Tea Kettle
If her tea kettle is dying, replace it with a new one.
Maybe she’s committed to keeping her stovetop tea kettle? Get her THIS one – it’s gorgeous!
Or maybe she’s tired of how long it takes to heat up her water on the stove? Give her an electric kettle, instead.
17. Pyrex Set
I can’t tell you how many Chinese take-out containers fill my mom’s cabinets.
If her tupperware system is seriously lacking, give her THIS starter Pyrex set to replace all of those old takeout containers that are leaching god knows what into her food.
18. Knife Sharpener
Help her keep her kitchen knives in good shape for forever!
Give her THIS knife sharpener, so she’ll never have to cook with a dull knife again.
19. Roomba
Give her a break from vacuuming all the time by giving her a Roomba for Christmas!
Keep in mind, it works best on hardwood or linoleum floors.
20. Plant
If she loves plants, give her a unique one similar to those she already likes.
For example, if you know she loves Pothos plants, but she doesn’t have a silver pothos yet, give her one of those.
You could even propagate one from your own house plants, making this a super affordable gift idea!
21. Self-Watering Plant System
My mom hates leaving her plants alone for long trips or at her other home and always worries they’re going to die on her. But she doesn’t want to hire someone to water them.
Enter: the self-watering plant system for when grandma’s on vacation.
It automatically detects when the soil is dry and your plants need more water, which it then supplies. Genius!
22. Grocery Store Gift Card
Again, have you seen the price of groceries these days? It’s enough to make anyone cry, but especially seniors who are on a fixed income.
Give her a gift card to her local grocery store, and let her take her mind off the price of groceries for a couple weeks at least.
23. Gas Gift Card
Same idea: the price of gas isn’t what it used to be! And Grandma probably reminds you of this all.the.time.
Give her a gas gift card for everyday use, or for a trip she’s been wanting to take but worries about the price of gas to get there.
24. Electric Blanket
If she lives in a freezing winter climate, she probably can’t get quite warm enough.
Give her an electric blanket for those super cold winter nights!
25. Mattress Topper
Is she trying to stretch that mattress and make it last forever?
Give her a mattress topper to extend the life of her existing mattress (a purchase everyone hates forking over money for).
26. Bedding Gift Card
Bedding can be so expensive, Grandma might be reluctant to replace any of it.
Give her a gift card to your favorite bedding store and let her pick out a new duvet, duvet cover, sheets, or something else.
27. New Pillows
Pillows definitely wear out over time. If hers are in desperate need of replacing, find out what kind of sleeper she is or stealthily investigate what kind of pillows she currently has.
Gift her a new set, complete with pillow protectors to keep them in good shape long-term.
28. Space Heater
Again, older people never seem to be warm enough. The gift of warmth will be much appreciated.
We adore THESE super affordable space heaters (we have 3!). They are so lightweight and can easily be carried from room to room.
29. Hand Warmers
THESE genius little hand warmers can be charged and ready for any occasion that involves being outside in the cold for long periods of time.
(Or just in your house where you keep the temperature low to save money!)
30. Frame with Grandchildren’s Art
THESE frames are genius: you can store art in the back and display one piece of art at a time in the front.
Give grandma a frame already filled with her grandkids’ art. She’ll love it!
31. Vertical Mug Storage
I have never met a grandma who doesn’t have too many mugs.
Encourage her to declutter those mugs and display her favorites with a new wall shelf for her kitchen.
THIS shelf is gorgeous, but I’m sure you can find a more affordable option.
32. Shadow Box Frame
Still in the decluttering vein, give her a shadow box frame to display her absolute favorite memorabilia (so she can let go of the rest) – a baby outfit, show tickets, a collection of favorite pictures.
33. Essential Oils
If she’s into essential oils, this would make a great gift. They can be SO expensive!
Refresh her stash with classics like orange, vanilla, lavender and lemon or fun blends for easy diffusing.
34. Carpet Cleaning
There’s nothing like freshly cleaned carpets!
Make sure to coordinate with her to help move furniture before the cleaners get there, and help move it all back afterwards.
35. Home Services
Has she been putting off things like pressure washing or landscaping?
Covering the cost can make a great Christmas gift!
36. Oil Change
Another annoying thing you have to pay for, but really don’t want to.
37. Show Tickets
Does she love going to plays, musicals, concerts or symphonies? Give her tickets to an upcoming show.
Better yet? Get her tickets for you and her! Grandmas love when their grandkids want to spend time with them.
38. Movie Theater Gift Card
There’s nothing quite like seeing certain movies on a big screen.
Find a theater near her that is a great viewing experience and get her a gift card.
We recently went to a new theater that has recliners for each person, and I can never go back! Totally worth it if you only go 2-3 times a year.
39. Hotel Gift Card
Help fund her next getaway with a hotel gift card.
Give her something generic (like a Marriott gift card in the US) that will give her options in almost any city she wants to travel to.
40. Puzzle Book
If Grandma loves Crosswords, Sudokus or Logic Puzzles, get her a fresh book!
We love New York Times mini crosswords and THESE Logic Puzzles.
Another reason to give this gift: it’s been proven that doing puzzles OR reading daily can prevent the progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
41. Jigsaw Puzzle
What I love about puzzles is they are super easy to pass along, making them a clutter-free gift in my mind – there’s always friends, family or libraries to donate them to!
Give her a brand new one, OR hunt for a few used ones at your local thrift store.
(If you choose the latter, just make sure they have all their pieces before you buy!)
42. Puzzle Mat
If she’s really into puzzles, make moving and storing an unfinished puzzle easier by giving her a puzzle mat for Christmas.
Skip the puzzle board, which can be heavy and difficult to move (we know – we have one), and give her a puzzle mat, instead.
43. Favorite Clothing Store Gift Card
I rarely give clothing as gifts – this is probably the most returned gift.
Instead, let her update her wardrobe in her own taste and her own time at her favorite clothing store.
44. Slippers
Now slippers are one piece of clothing I will buy for someone (and THESE socks – they’re the best!).
They tend to wear out every few years. Give her a replacement pair of her faves, or a different pair you think she’ll love.
45. Book Store Gift Card
Feed her book habit with a local book store gift card.
Normally, I’m a big fan of the library, but sometimes there are new releases you just can’t wait to get your hands on.
46. Mani/Pedi Gift Certificate
Give her a special treat, or just fund her regular mani/pedi habit by giving her a mani/pedi on you.
47. Audiobook Subscription
If she loves audiobooks AND is a big “rereader” (or it this case – “relistener”), give her a subscription to something like Audible or Scribd.
She’ll get access to audiobooks her local library doesn’t offer.
48. Bluetooth Headphones
If she needs a way to listen to all those audiobooks or just the music on her phone, give her a new pair of bluetooth headphones.
Find out whether she’s a big and bulky, over-the-ear headphone kind of person or an earbud gal.
(If she likes earbuds, we love THESE super affordable earbuds , and we love THIS pair for over the ear headphones.)
49. Macrame Plant Hanger
Keep those plants off the horizontal surfaces where clutter attracts clutter. Either give her one from Etsy, OR, if she enjoys crafting, give her a kit where she can make her own.
Make sure to offer to help her with the installation!
50. Your Service
Does grandma have a long list of fixes and decorating projects waiting for someone to do them?
Give a card with a certificate promising to come over for a half a day and help her out! Fix things, paint rooms, hang pictures, garden – whatever she needs.
Her wish is your command.
51. Your Time
Probably more than anything else, (most) grandmas want to spend time with their grandkids!
Take her out to lunch, to the movies, or out shopping. Make memories.
What did I miss? Share your minimalist Christmas gift ideas for grandma in the comments!
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