Christmas is considered to be the most wonderful time of the year. Snow covers the roads, the air hurts your face, and if you're so unlucky to have to go shopping you're stuck in line for what seems like forever. Yup, this time surely is wonderful.

Okay, so that was pretty Scrooge-like, but hear me out. I love Christmas as much as the next person. I love being able to spend time with family, hearing Christmas music everywhere I go, and finally feeling relief after a difficult semester. However, the thing I hate the most about this holiday is gift exchanges. I really can't stand them and as a broke college student it's pretty easy to understand why.

I'M BROKE.

Yeah. Money? Doesn't exist. Why doesn't it exist? I've been at college for the past four months and my only job is a maximum of seven hours a week at minimum wage. There's no way to make any sort of decent money that way. So this lack of income and savings makes it basically impossible to buy gifts for the multiple gift exchanges that occur.

My family deserves the world, but all I can afford is stuff from the dollar store. I know physical things and actual gifts like that shouldn't matter and it's all about spending time with them, but it is the most uncomfortable feeling when you are handed a gift with nothing to give in return. I hate that feeling. Just thinking about that inevitable occurrence brings me so much stress and anxiety, like my chest is tightening up. I can't handle it.

Gift exchanges just shouldn't be a thing for those of us in college or who have just graduated. We can't afford it and yes we know you're family and you want to get us something, but the feeling knowing that we will never be able to repay you for all you've done for us just eats away at our heart. I personally don't need any physical gift or anything like that this holiday season. I don't even want it. All I want and need is to spend time with those that I love, have some laughs, and make new and wonderful memories. Besides, isn't that what Christmas is really about?

So this Christmas, as much as it pains me, don't expect a gift wrapped up all nice and pretty sitting under the tree. Expect smiles, laughter, and a whole bunch of love.