Gift giving grievances

It’s that time of year when the stores are packed and holiday tunes are everywhere. The music coming out of the store speakers puts shoppers in the mood to spend.

People are checking off their lists making sure they’ve got gifts for everyone dear to them. Excitement bubbles up as they find the perfect present.

Then begins the stress for finding a gift for those hard to shop for people. On many occasions this dilemma happens for more than one person on the list.

You stare at something, ponder it, walk away, go back and stare more. Then you wonder if maybe you’re spending too much. The nauseating, yet exciting feeling knowing you’ve gone over your budget, but you just have to buy it for them.

Not only are you watching your bank account drain and your credit card balance get way too high, you’re also working overtime. Running up and down aisles, waiting in line, finding parking… shopping can be a lot of work.

You know, I don’t want to put a damper on this magical time of year. I love giving people presents and hopefully putting a smile on someone’s face. However, sometimes I think the Christmas gift giving just goes a little overboard. I agree there is some kind of rush involved in the whole thing when you count down the days until you get to hand over your presents. The anticipation as you wait for the big day to find out if they’ll like their gifts as much as you think they will.

Then comes the awkwardness of receiving gifts. You know, those ones that you have absolutely no use for. You act excited knowing it will probably never get put to use.

There’s also the occurrence when someone spends more on you, than you did on them. The guilt starts to overcome you and wish you could have a do-over.

Honestly, in my opinion, the stress of gift giving far outweighs the rewards. I am totally happy spending the holidays without presents.

Forget about showering people in gifts, holidays should be your opportunity to spend quality time with those you care about.

So at the end of the day, I think we should just save the Christmas gift giving for little ones. Adults can keep their credit card balances at a minimum, the holiday stress low and eliminate the gift giving anxiety.

Leave Christmas to those who get the most joy and excitement out of it- the kids.

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I am in my final year in the Digital Communications and Media program. My strong passion for writing and learning led me to specialize in digital journalism.

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