While everyone loves new things, it’s no secret that clothes go out of style, gadgets break and jewelry loses is luster. Those who feel opposed to buying into (literally) the consumerism that surrounds the holidays, here’s some good news: Studies have shown that people value gifts that are experiences, rather than products.

So rather than purchasing and wrapping up another product for your significant other or family member to open up and toss in their closets, help them make memories. Those are way more valuable than anything you can buy at a store, anyway.

Take a class at BCAE

The best way to bond is to learn something new together. And Boston Center for Adult Education offers classes in Art, Food & Wine, Fitness & Recreation, Growth and Languages that can help you learn photography, how to cook an awesome meal and pair it with wine, a new skill or whatever you’re interested in. All you have to do is browse the BCAE roster, reserve two spots and present them on Christmas morning, and let the fun begin.

Shuck oysters in the North End

You could slurp oysters at a restaurant, but shucking them is so much more fun. At least, here in New England, it’s acceptable to do so as a Saturday activity. Appropriately, the North End Fish Market offers free oyster shucking lessons every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. Afterwards, you pay for what you shuck, and then you get to the slurpin’. It’s probably best to make reservations for an early North End dinner after the lesson so this gift doesn’t seem half-baked. (Or raw. Get it?)

Invest in concert tickets

Now’s the time to look ahead to what’s going on next year in terms of big concerts. Does your lady love Taylor Swift? Great, she’s coming to Gillette Stadium over the summer, and now is the time to buy tickets. So is One Direction, and because you and your best friend both love Harry Styles, two tickets are the perfect present. Sam Smith, Garth Brooks, Dr. Dog and Billy Idol are a few more upcoming names to hit Boston. Check out the list here.

Take a local getaway

A tropical vacation may not be in your budget this season, but it always feels special to post up in a hotel room for a night, even if you’re a few miles from your apartment. And since Boston is the most expensive city in the country for AirBnB, a return to the hotel room makes sense. Search Gilt City Boston for deals on hotels in the city, on the Cape and more.

Embark on a wine or chocolate tour

Sure, you can drink wine and eat chocolate just about anywhere, but if you’ve never toured the city on a mission to find the best of these luxuries, you’re missing out. City Wine Tours run wine-centric romps through Back Bay, the North End and the South End, and Boston Chocolate Tours take you on a whirlwind run through Boston’s best chocolatiers. Who wouldn’t want to find tickets to chocolate sitting under the tree?

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