With Christmas near days away, comes the fruitful tradition of gift-giving, normally incited by one’s caregivers or Santa. But as I entered high school, I ran into the expectation to give out full-fledged gifts for a blurred list of not just my closest friends, but even far acquaintances.
My normal day-to-day budget barely covers the overpriced gas I use to drive and the occasional snacks I treat myself with. According to EventSource.ca, the weekly scraps of my allowance cannot amount to the $25-$75 on average I am recommended to spend on a close friend for a variety of gifts.
Balancing a job allows some students a paycheck to spend, but others may not want to rely on their guardian’s money to spend. Especially when prioritizing gifts for family, a small allowance leaves little to no money to spare for others.
When someone whom I’m not very familiar with announces their plan to give me a gift, boundaries become hard to draw. Although I am grateful, I feel obligated to provide one in return, no matter the closeness of our relationship, even if that prompts a half-hearted guess at what they like.
Brainstorming a personalized gift that won’t be too costly, becomes hard to provide a set budget. But many cost-efficient alternatives exist to ensure heart-felt and thoughtful gifts without breaking one’s bank account.
Handwritten letters are low-difficulty for the writer, and high reward for the receiver; their customizable aspect introduces a simple way to spice up a sincere gift.
To stay more environmentally conscious, try upcycling old books or checking out thrift stores for random knick knacks or clothes.
I enjoy the gift-giving expectations within my friend groups where we understand each other’s preferences, and allow for the chance to set a spending budget.
Games like White Elephant or Secret Santa allow people in your friend group to buy just one gift, and give a certain anonymity to gifts that lessen the pressure of the gift exchange.
Overall people should respect others’ budgets, and people should not be afraid to set boundaries for what they can afford to give in return.
