In 2015, as Netflix was gaining popularity, one low-budget documentary about simple living somehow made it big. Director Matt D'Avella's "Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things" made a huge splash and publicized a shift in American culture that some had been embracing but many didn't know about: the concept of getting rid of most of your material possessions to focus more on living.

In line with this movement, many are embracing "experiential giving" for their anniversaries, holiday seasons and birthdays. Instead of bogging down loved ones with tons of stuff, why not coordinate a fun experience for them or for both of you to share? Creating memories (instead of filling storage units) sounds enticing, but how do you break into this world of adventures over Abercrombie? From proper planning and budgeting to properly assessing your recipient's interests, selecting a memorable experience can be rewarding for both parties.

Marisa Meltzer of The New York Times wrote a 2019 article on experiential giving, citing the chief content officer at Goop, a wellness and style brand, who states, "Community is the new luxury, right?" Creating experiences to strengthen relationships, whether it's you and the giftee or the giftee and his or her family, can make for a very individualized, thoughtful and special gift, but Meltzer cautions that the costs can add up quickly. Many experiential gifts are trips or events or getaways, state Lindsey Murray and Blake Bakkila, contributors for Good Housekeeping, and require a lot of logistical planning and coordination between the giver and the receiver.

Meltzer agrees, claiming that, although the monetary aspects can be abated -- smaller trips and smaller gifts, such as a Hello Fresh meal prep kit or tickets to a Broadway show instead of a weeklong surfing trip in Fiji or a VIP tour of Disney World -- the stress of planning is often the main cost. It can be tough to line up loved ones' schedules, but the payoff is always worth it. Melissa Willets, for the website Parents, cites a study from the University of Toronto published in the Journal of Consumer Research showing that the lasting impact of experiential gifts (even small ones, such as a day trip to a state park or tickets to a museum) is far greater than any type of material gift.

This is driven home in an article by author Katie Wells on the website Wellness Mama. Wells cites Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, who said: "Our experiences are a bigger part of ourselves than our material goods ... You can really like your material stuff. You can even think that part of your identity is connected to those things, but nonetheless they remain separate from you. In contrast, your experiences really are part of you. We are the sum total of our experiences."

Although the best experiential gift is one that is custom-tailored to the giftee, here are some ideas for those looking to give their first experience rather than new clothes that will just take up space in a closet. These suggestions are from journalists Lauren Hubbard, Sam Dagnremond and Leena Kim from Town and Country, as well as Murray and Bakkila from Good Housekeeping and Wells from Wellness Mama.

-- Kayaking trips.

-- Guitar/music lessons.

-- Baking or sushi-making class.

-- Wine and painting evenings.

-- Airbnb stays.

-- Concert/show tickets.

-- Wine tasting.

-- Movie tickets.

-- Skydiving (indoor or outdoor).

-- Escape rooms.

-- Museum memberships.

-- Treasure hunts around their hometown.

-- Camping/outdoor trips (national parks are great, but make sure to get an annual pass).

-- Hot air ballooning.

-- Sailing.

-- Race car driving or go-karting.

-- Helicopter tours.

-- A short stay in a fancy hotel (even if it's in town).

Even if your budget is limited to an afternoon out of the house, an experience you can share is almost always better than an item that will be forgotten. Think about everything in your closet ... You probably can't. But imagine the fun you've had with your friends and family, the trips you've taken and the laughs you've shared. Enable opportunities for memories, and forgo the stuff. Follow this paradigm and you can't miss.