This is Better Gift Coach, where we help you clear all the bad gift ideas out of your head so you have more space for better gift ideas.

In the spirit of this week’s gift story, check out the free Clean Freak Weekly newsletter and its Spring Cleaning Spree 2023 series. I’ve been reading it…it’s awesome.

Also, see the P.S. section for an overview of the insights collected from the recent BGC newsletter feedback survey. For those with visual formatting skills, please note the bat gift signal.

Estimated read time: 2 minutes & 36 seconds

THE GIFT STORY

🎁THE GIFT:

The “birthday dumpster" Gift

Your stories inspire others
to be better gift-givers.
Reply with your story of a gift given/received
~ or ~ click the button below

🌮 WHY THIS GIFT IS GREAT:

• Unique gift

• Material and experiential gift combo

• Gift that solves their problem/annoyance (straight out of the playbook from 🎁 She listened, now I don’t chew my smoothies)

• If the rental is given as an IOU, could be a good last-minute gift (similar to the story from 🎁Super last-minute gifts)

MAKE THIS GIFT YOUR OWN

💡TIPS FOR YOUR GIFT:

In general tips:

• Pricey rentals could be good group gifts

• Rentals are great for folks who don’t want to accumulate things

• Some rentals could have gift tradition potential (see more gifts with tradition potential)

• Lavish rentals might be something your recipient wants, but would never treat themselves to

• Just like the story about gifting a professional cleaning service, for some rentals you should probably seek the recipient's approval before you act

Ideas for renting physical things as gifts:

• Lodging - (Airbnb, Vrbo, hotels, etc.)

• Spring cleaning dumpsters - ~$400 for a 10-yard-dumpster

• Holiday lights/decorations - check out rent-the-holidays.com

• Outdoor equipment for camping trips or vacations - check out REI or

• Powertools, construction equipment, trucks - check out Home Depot

• Professional cameras, VR headsets, GoPros, other tech items - see Grover.com

• Prom dresses/tuxedos, limos, etc. (more ideas for graduation gifts that aren’t money)

**There are endless services you can rent as a gift for something (e.g. cleaning, pet care, lawn care, grocery shopping, etc.), but for this piece, we decided to focus on physical things you can rent as gifts.

Please reply with any questions/thoughts

🚀PUTTING THE GIFT IDEA INTO ACTION:

• Who is on your upcoming gift list? ___

• What could you rent them that would bring them happiness? ___

• If the rental is pricey, who would go in with you on the gift? ___

📂 If this gift idea is save-worthy, create a “Gift Ideas” inbox folder & file it away for future use ~or~ find it again in our library.

COMMUNITY FUN 

▶️FORWARD THIS GIFT IDEA TO:

• Someone whose parents are trying to downsize their household belongings

And introduce them to your favorite 1-minute-a-week shortcut to always having awesome gift ideas well in advance. They can read past editions and subscribe here.

👂LET'S HEAR FROM YOU:

🔍SEEKING GIFT STORIES FOR:

Please reply to this email if you have stories of awesome gifts to share with the community that fall under the below topics:

• Wedding gifts

• Anniversary gifts

Thank you!

😆GIF/MEME:

Wishing you friendly rental insurance options,
Patrick Kucharson
Better Gift Coach

HIGHLIGHTS FROM BGC FEEDBACK SURVEY:

I’m so grateful for the hundreds of subscribers who completed the recent BGC newsletter feedback survey. Thank you!

I’m still pouring through all of the responses, but here are some initial insights and quotes that made my day: 

• 38% of respondents would be VERY DISAPPOINTED if they could no longer receive the BGC newsletter!

• When clarifying the type of people who they think would most enjoy the BGC newsletter:

  • Answers ranged from folks who were already great gift-givers to those on the other end of the spectrum, but words very commonly used to describe (and bond together) folks in either party were: thoughtful, intentional, and caring.

  • Someone introduced me to the concept of the CGO - Chief Gift Officer of the household. This is such a brilliant title for so many of you I’ve gotten to know!

• When sharing the main benefit they receive from the BGC newsletter:

  • Most included the words ideas and inspiration in their answers

  • Other commonly used words: creative, thoughtful, unique, proactive

  • A few even pointed out they enjoyed my sense of humor…(seeee Mom! I am funny.)

• When providing critical feedback on how the newsletter can improve:

  • Folks reminded me that I am far from an artist when it came to the poor visual formatting of the email.

  • Someone even said that they’ve hesitated to forward it to friends or family b/c it's not a visually easy read. Now that…is valuable feedback!

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