It’s become a running joke of mine to say that Christmas shopping is just going to a store, listening to Mariah Carey approximately 2,000 times, and questioning your buying decisions until you start wondering how well you know your loved ones. Call me a Grinch, but for “the most wonderful time of the year,” Christmas has a big flaw called gift giving. I could give you a list as long as Santa’s filled with reasons why I dread this holiday tradition every year, but here’s the big five.
1. It's expensive.
What do you spend on an average Christmas gift? $15? $50? Even if you’re buying gifts for your fuzzy sock-loving friend, a couple really good pairs will set you back about $7. Now take into consideration that I have a family of six, PLUS a sister-in-law, PLUS two best friends, PLUS a significant other, PLUS some more distant relatives and what are we at? The answer is a sad bank account and low morale. Don’t talk to me about DIY-ing either. A decent tie blanket comes out to at least $20 in cloth.
2. It's time consuming.
You know what’s really sad? Those little stand up signs at stores that tell you approximately how long it’ll be before you can check out. Every other day of the year I can spend 20 minutes debating gifts, pay within five minutes and leave. During Christmas I don’t go to any store unless I have an hour to spare.
3. I never know what to gift people.
Make a list, check it twice... Links to where to buy your gifts would be nice.
Many a Christmas has been spent at a store staring at some novelty gift talking myself into buying it for the practicality. ‘He mentioned he liked camping that one time, so he’ll definitely love this fire starter kit and toaster 2-in-1 gift. Or did he say he just liked going to the park? No. No. It was definitely “Man v. Wild.”'
4. I never know how much to gift people.
Here’s the dilemma, at what point do you get just enough gift? I’ve spent hours of my life dedicated to chatting with my closest friends about what the appropriate amount to spend on a gift is and what dollar amount to assign to time spent making a gift. You would think that after 21 years I would have figured it out by now, but the reality is that I’m still as clueless and in need of second opinions as ever.
5. No matter how well-organized you are, there will always be a last minute gift to buy.
Here’s a bedtime story for you: “’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, because everyone was at Macy’s frantically getting a gift for their cousin Steve…” What I should be doing on Christmas eve is sitting by a fireplace drinking hot cocoa, not being told that the store will close in 15 minutes over the loudspeaker.
