At my parents house, I’ve stored a large stack of scrapbooks filled with keepsakes from all the family trips we took when I was a kid.
I once loved collecting plane tickets (back when they were more than just a flimsy sheet of paper), entry tickets to attractions, and photos that had been developed from the old film camera that we used before digital cameras became a thing.
After each trip, I would use coloured paper and cut-out lettering to turn all of these mementos into beautiful creations. This method of souvenir collection slowly built up into numerous large albums of our travel memories.
I would also buy souvenirs to keep in my bedroom. I had a miniature terracotta warrior from when I visited Xi’an in China. I had a giant foam hand from when I went to a baseball game in Chicago. I had fridge magnets from some Australian destinations that I’d visited. All the stuff I’d collected from my travels added up to quite a lot.
Nowadays, I collect souvenirs in a very different way. Since 2011, I’ve moved 4 times between 4 different cities, and each time I stack all my possessions into a moving van, it becomes harder to argue why I should be hoarding so much stuff. I wrote about this mindset a while back when I told the story of selling everything we own.
While I’m no longer a hoarder of physical possessions, I still am a hoarder of memories. Over the past few years, I’ve collected so many photos and videos from my travels that I’ve had to upgrade my digital storage multiple times.
If you want to reduce the amount of things you bring home from a trip, here are 5 genius ways to collect souvenirs like a minimalist!
1. Take photos of souvenirs instead of buying them
In my opinion, photos are the best way to keep a memento of your travels. And if you spot a cute souvenir but don’t want to carry it back home or store it in your house, why not take a photo of it?
I spotted this super adorable telephone money box in a gift shop in Hull, but instead of buying it, I snapped a photo with my phone so that I could remember the souvenir whenever I reminisced about my trip by looking through my photos. It’s like having the souvenir without actually buying it. Genius, right?
2. Take photos of attraction tickets
Speaking of photos, how about taking some snaps of your attraction tickets instead of keeping them? I did this when I went to a West End show in London, and I would argue that this is even better than keeping the original as I now have a photo of the souvenir which was taken in the venue itself.
This can go for any sort of ticket, like a plane ticket at the airport or an entrance ticket in front of the museum/theme park/attraction that you’ve just walked into.
3. Find recyclable or reusable objects
Recyclable objects make a great souvenirs. For example, I found some inexpensive posters in the gift shop of the Tenement Museum and decorated the walls of our apartment with them. I’m undecided if I’ll take them back to Australia, but if I don’t, it won’t be a big deal.
There are loads of other souvenirs that are made out of paper or cardboard and can be recycled after they’ve been used. I purchased a cardboard 3D puzzle of the Empire State Building for my nephew in Australia as I knew it would be no problem if it gets discarded after he’s finished with it.
Some other souvenirs that can be reused or re-gifted are games and puzzles, stationery, and even books. Whenever you’re looking at a souvenir, consider whether it will be recyclable or reusable when you get tired of keeping it.
4. Buy consumable souvenirs
Souvenirs don’t have to be permanent. If you buy something edible as a souvenir, then you’ll still be reminded of your trip while you’re consuming it! Items like chocolate, tea, or jam are all things that could last a while but won’t take up space in your house forever.
I purchased 3 blocks of British chocolate (with flavours like Eton Mess, Summer Pudding, and Apple Crumble) and took them back as a souvenir for Rob and I to enjoy. It was a great way to take a little piece of the UK back with me.
5. Use a blog instead of a physical journal
I’ve kept all my old travel journals as souvenirs of my past travels. I just can’t bear to throw them away for sentimental reasons, but they are just sitting in a cupboard taking up space.
These days, my travel journals take the form of a blog rather than handwriting on paper. I get just as much of a creative kick writing about my travels online as I did in those journals, and this way, it only takes up digital space!
I try to take pictures of things too, to save space and money too. My mum definitely got me started on this when I was little and very attached to toys and books which we couldn’t keep forever, telling me that a photo takes up less space! It’s definitely useful advice for travelling too. I totally know what you mean about moving- I try to be quite ruthless because I know some things just won’t ‘survive’ my next move!
Lisa | http://www.whatlisadidnext.com
It’s great that your Mum got you started on the minimalist lifestyle, Lisa! She was absolutely right, nothing lasts forever and it’s much easier to keep a photo than a material possession. Being ruthless every time you move is a great way to purge – whatever doesn’t make the cut can get sold, recycled, or discarded. It’s a great feeling to get rid of all that unnecessary stuff!
I always make sure to buy consumable souvenirs, usually, the other knick-knacks get thrown to a random corner and forgotten. But I could never go all digital when it comes to recording my memories. I love travel notebooks!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I think notebooks are the hardest thing to give up! They were definitely an item that I loved to collect as a kid. Still, if you’ve started buying consumable souvenirs and the only physical souvenir left is your notebooks, you’re doing pretty well 🙂
Fantastic ideas!! I prefer to travel as light as possible and sometimes forget to do the souvenir thing, but taking pictures of those pieces is a great way to capture them in your memory! Definitely trying this on my next trip.
Thanks Kevin! I’m glad you’re already on board with travelling light 😉 Keep us updated on how you go with collecting minimalist souvenirs on your next trip – I’d love to hear how it goes 🙂
No 2 “Take photos of attraction tickets” is one that I had never really thought of…so thank you!
x
You’re welcome, Stephanie! I have only started taking photos of attraction tickets in the past few months, and I have no idea why I didn’t think of it before now! It’s honestly the best way to keep an extra memory of the attractions you visit.
I like this too!
I like to bring home unique kitchen items. They’re practical as well as fun reminders of my travels while I’m cooking–two of my favorite activities.
As a (now, 6 years and counting) blissful “minimalist” expat who lives perpetually with only what will fit in a carry-on rollie and a backpack, I agree emphatically with the options you’ve listed here.
I’d only add a couple more alternatives: I now “collect” only A. scarves and B. earrings (and allow myself only a dozen at a time of both – tossing one out when I reach 13) as these can easily be tucked into a backpack and I can and do use them on a daily basis.
I also can recommend tattoos as souvenirs. While I don’t get “inked” in every country I explore (far too many now!) I do have a handful of small tattoos to remember extra special places (South Africa, Bali, Nepal and most recently an “Agradecido” script with tiny butterflies on my forearm – to remind me of my (finally!) visit to the trees outside of Mexico City – (literally!) *dripping* with Monarch butterflies.
And the “Grateful” script? That pretty much covers ALL the wondrous corners of the globe that I’ve been privileged to visit thanks only to the (sheer fluke) of my birth in the U.S. (as opposed to Mozambique, etc.)
Ooh of course, tattoos are a great souvenir idea! I don’t have any of my own, but they definitely fit within the minimalist lifestyle 😉
I really like your scarves and earrings rotation idea, too – I do something similar at home with the clothing in my closet. It keeps me from collecting too many wardrobe items!
Love this so much – I definitely prefer to keep possessions to a minimum. I tend to go down the consumables route, but I love taking photos of tickets too! I also buy local items to send to my niece and nephew occasionally, anything from postcards to themed books/toys. They appreciate getting post and treats from afar and I’ll be able to feel a connection to the place when I’m next home. 🙂
Consumables are definitely one of my fave souvenirs! 😉 I’m so glad you’re on board with the minimalist movement, Lorna!
I can relate to this so much. Since I started travelling and transitioning to the nomadic lifestyle, I find myself getting rid of more and more material possessions.
I’m at the point where all my earthly possessions neatly fit in 6 small boxes in my dad’s garage, I only own two-three pairs of shoes at any given time and my wardrobe is down 5 shirts, 1 dress, 3 pairs of pants.
From someone who was always buying new clothes every single month, I surprise myself by how much I’ve de-cluttered my life. When it comes to travel, I’ll be adding some of these tips to my souvenir collecting which usually includes buying a small painting I can roll up in my bag or a bracelet to add to the growing collection on my arm 🙂
You are owning this minimalist lifestyle, Lauren! I used to be similar – buying clothes every week when I worked in a city job. It builds up to a point where you have way too many items of clothing, when all you really need is a few key items to change up every few days. Kudos to you for de-cluttering your life!
I think this is great. I collect Christmas ornaments from the places we visit. They are lightweight, small and have a purpose. And when not using them they can all be condensed into a few boxes and put into my storage room. I used to try to buy an ornament AND another souvenir, but it just got to be too many “dust collectors”. I try to now only buy things that bring me joy, or that have a purpose. For example, I bought a tea set from Poland that I use all the time. It’s beautiful, holds memories, AND it is functional. That piece of the Berlin wall isn’t functional and just sits on my shelf. I am far from a minimalist, but I definitely appreciate your approach to things. It is really freeing to not have so much “stuff”. | http://ourpassportpages.com
I love that term “dust collectors”! It describes exactly the type of souvenir we’re trying to avoid 😉 It’s great that you’ve been able to question whether each souvenir will bring you joy or have a purpose – I think that’s a great approach!
I can relate to this post so much! My husband and I are moving cities and it struck me how much extra stuff we have that we don’t use. We’re both hoarders so it’s bad. I try to collect only small souvenirs, like magnets and little knick knacks. I find that when I take photos of stuff they get lost and it takes a lot of time to dig them back up. I do like your minimalistic ideas of taking photos of tickets and souvenirs though! Thank you for this post!
Lydia | http://littlewanderess.com
I’m glad you can relate, Lydia! It’s definitely tough to stop buying souvenirs if you’ve previously been a hoarder, but it is possible – I’ve seen people change from hoarder to minimalist! Maybe you could try storing your photos in a different way, where they won’t get as easily lost? I store mine in folders divided by the year they were taken, and then sub folders divided by the events/places 🙂
Since I must wear a “med-alert” bracelet, I found one with an interchangeable “Pandora” style band. I collect a bead (or two or three…) on my travels, some of them handmade. Each band holds over a dozen beads. I have one band filled, and am working on the second. They take up virtually no space. I wear my memories on my wrist, and love reconfiguring them as the whim takes me.
That’s such a great idea, Lynne! It’s something that will take up very little space and that you can carry around with you to remind you of your travels. I love it!
I guess it’s not a good sign that I’m the first to bring up alcohol, but I’ll always bring back a bottle or two (OK, sometimes more) of a good local, hard-to-get-in-the-US liquor. Tullamore Dew Whiskey from Ireland, Havana Club 7 year Rum from Cuba, Sake from Thailand, etc. A great way to invite friends over for a taste of a far off land, pictures, stories and laughs. I’ve never had anybody turn down an invitation yet.
That would be ideal, exceot I like to travel carry-on only.
Yes! Alcohol is a fabulous idea for a minimalist souvenir, especially if it’s one that’s not so easy to find in your home country. And let’s face it, it’s an enjoyable way to remember your trip 😉
I like to buy beautiful greetings cards by local artists. They are flat and lightweight. Store them in a box at home, and they are instantly ready for birthday celebrations.
That’s such a fabulous idea! What a nice way to celebrate your travels 🙂