As we continue out the month of November, we are getting closer and closer to the holiday season. The holidays can be fun, yet stressful times. Aside from dealing with family members, one of the biggest stressors around the holidays surrounds gift-giving. It’s a tad early in the holiday season, but that’s the point- prepare! Let’s try to reduce some of that holiday stress with gift-giving and find some helpful tips as we go into the holiday season together!
Set a budget and stick to it. Figure out a budget that works for you and your family and stick to whatever you set it at. If it helps, try shopping in actual stores and using cash to pay for items. The more we use cash the more likely we are to stick to a budget instead of justifying to ourselves that it’s “just” $5 more and it can go on the credit card. Just $5 more for every person on our list will quickly add up. Also, if a budget was set by the gift exchange committee or a family member stick to it. Although you might think it looks nice if you overspend, it can make for an awkward gift exchange.
Look for sales. There is nothing wrong with scoring a deal on a gift, especially if you have multiple people to buy for. Start thinking early about your gifts and look for sales or discounts. With the convenience of online shopping, we can price compare and have multiple options at our fingertips. You might be surprised at how much you could save.
Create your list early and don’t add people to it. Create your list of people that you are purchasing gifts for and don’t add to it. When the third secret gift exchange comes up, politely decline. No does mean no and although many people push boundaries, it is your job to maintain them.
Think about homemade gifts. If you have little kids, homemade gifts are great keepsakes for family members. Even as adults, if you are creative and crafty, there is nothing wrong with a homemade gift! It shows that you put time, creativity, and energy into the gift.
Listen to what others are saying. If someone says they don’t want a gift, take them seriously. Yes, we all know those people who say it just to be polite and many of us can tell the difference. If a family member or friend is being serious about no gifts, don’t be that person that surprises them with a gift.
Buy gifts for the person and not you. The gift you are giving should be about the person receiving the gift and not about you, the gift giver. If the person doesn’t drink, don’t give them a bottle of wine just because that’s what you would want. Observe throughout the year and pick a gift that resembles the person. When in doubt? Grab a gift card to their favorite coffee spot and put it in a personalized mug!
Wrap your gift. Even if you can’t wrap, grab some tissue paper and a festive bag. You might also want to consider professional gift wrapping as part of your budget. Some stores provide gift wrapping free of charge with your purchase and others will gift wrap items for a small fee. You could show your added appreciation for the recipient by presenting a thoughtful gift that is also nicely presented!
Group gifts. If your work or school is thinking about getting gifts for the boss or teacher, consider a group gift. A group gift can help decrease feelings of awkwardness or favoritism. It also allows individuals to contribute what they can and perhaps put the money towards a gift that no one would have purchased on their own.
Avoid giving money. Although money is an “easy” gift to give, it can be uncomfortable for the person receiving the money. Depending on who the recipient is, they might not be able to accept a cash gift. As a last resort, you could consider a gift card.
Be culturally sensitive and aware. Every culture has norms and customs when it comes to the holidays and gift-giving and receiving. If you are thinking about purchasing a gift for someone from a different culture than yourself, be sure to do some research on gift-giving. You wouldn’t want to offend or embarrass yourself or anyone else when you are just trying to show appreciation.
Don’t sweat it if you received a gift and didn’t reciprocate. We have all been there… the difficult and wanting-to-crawl-under-a-rock feeling of saying, “I didn’t get you anything.” It happens. Don’t dwell on it. Show your appreciation and thank the person. You can always send a gift at a later date if you decide to. Depending on your budget, you might also want to consider getting some generic gift cards (e.g. Starbucks, Amazon, Dunkin Donuts) to keep on hand.
Honor your host or hostess. Bring a small gift if you are invited to someone’s house for a holiday party or to stay for a period of time. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but something to show your appreciation. A bottle of wine, a holiday plant or flowers, a box of chocolates, or something unique to them. It’s a small token that can go a long way.
Don’t re-gift. The recipient might find out, which is awkward.
Avoid sized gifts. Weight and sizing can be uncomfortable topics for people. If you are unsure of someone’s size, stick to a one-size-fits-all gift or just stay away from sized gifts altogether.
Provide a gift receipt. Nothing is more awkward than receiving a gift you don’t like or a gift that’s a duplicate and you can’t return it. It’s even more awkward to ask the gift giver for a receipt to return it. Yes, it’s the thought that counts. However, would you want your gift to go into the trash or collect dust when you could have just provided a gift receipt for it?
A final reminder for any gifts you receive… say thank you. Taking the time to thank the person who spent time and money on a gift for you or sending them a thank you note is a great way to show your gratitude. Grab some thank you cards when you are out and keep them handy. Although a verbal thank you is nice, a handwritten note or even e-mail shows that you took the extra time to show your appreciation.
The holiday session can be busy, chaotic, stressful, and feel never-ending at times. While shopping for your family and friends’ gifts this holiday season, don’t forget a gift for yourself. No, I don’t mean you have to buy something for yourself, although you can. I am talking about self-care. Make sure you are taking time to rest and recharge. The holidays and gifts aren’t worth it if you are too tired or even sick because you didn’t take a break. Find an afternoon to spend with yourself or do something relaxing and make it a priority.
*I have no affiliation with any of the companies discussed in this blog post. I received no compensation for mentioning them.