I think as a culture we Americans overdo gift-giving and in so doing it we’ve practically ruined it. I hate overconsumption and consumerism just for consumerism sake. I also don’t believe gift-giving is what the holidays is about, however; I do think it can be a fun practice. I enjoy giving gifts and I try not to allow holiday gift giving to be any more stressful than birthday gift shopping would be at any other month. I do, obviously, have more to do this time of year but we keep it simple and we absolutely refuse to make it a debt-inducing experience.
I generally give lots of handmade items and food gifts (breads, home-canned items, cookies, etc.), but there are a few folks that just won’t work for so we buy for those people. We do a few gift cards for the teenagers on our list and books and/or toys for the youngest recipients on our list. Jeff and I rarely exchange big gifts either. We tend to give each other very practical gifts (think socks, slippers, gloves, etc.) and we’re both ok with that. I don’t feel the need to be “swept off my feet” by the most romantic Christmas gift . I also don’t expect Jeff to read my mind, when he asks what I want for Christmas or anything else for that matte I tell him. He does the same, he tells me what he wants or needs and generally there are few surprises under the tree. We do stockings for each other and those are generally full of silly little fun things that are surprise, however. Despite the fact that our gifts aren’t generally all that surprising, I love wrapping his gift rather surreptitiously and slipping under the tree for him to spot later, just as if Santa had slipped in while we were sleeping.
I enjoy wrapping gifts and getting creative with the wrapping. I have a box of wrapping papers, some vintage, that I’ve purchased at the thrift store or at yard sales. I have bows and ribbons, again found at thrift stores and yard sales that adorn many a package or jar as well. I use the comics from the Sunday paper and the selvage edges from fabric often as well. I enjoy all these little touches as it’s another way for me to make my love for someone real to them in a physical sense. I don’t believe that things are love or that they can be used as a substitute for love, however; I believe a small gesture can help make a person feel loved or at the very least thought of and don’t we all need that from time to time.
I think when done right gift-giving should be something that sticks with us. I think it should be something that allows us to feel loved and spread that love around. I believe that when done with a heart full of love and gratitude gift-giving & gift receiving can make the world around us seem a little lighter, a little less stressful for just a little while. I realize that I tend towards the polly-anna side of life, but in this instance; I don’t believe that I’m wrong. I’m grateful that I have people in my life that I want to bestow gifts upon and that those people want to receive those gifts. It’s not the gifts, you see; it’s the people, it’s the love behind the gifts that I enjoy.
My Christmas wish for everyone who reads this is that you have people and love behind the gifts you will be giving and receiving this year and always.
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We do a swap with my husband’s family, and that takes so much of the pressure off. And for each other, we tend to buy gifts that are things we can do together – board games, etc., or save up for something we’ve wanted – like one year we bought cross country skis. We change the “rules” to suit our needs that year.
I love your moderate approach to things. I feel like sometimes people go too far into the “I’m not buying anything” side of things, or too far into over consumerism. I think the middle is a good, practical place to be.