There is no right or wrong.
Buying gifts can bring lots of questions to mind. Is this the right gift to give? Did I spend enough money on it? Is it too generic? Rather than worrying if you are giving the “right gift,” understand that all that truly matters are your own good intentions in gifting.
Budget.
Buying gifts for friends and family all at once can cause some financial stress. Therefore, set a realistic budget for how much you can spend on gifts and stick to it.
Set a time limit.
It can also be helpful to not only budget your money, but also the time you dedicate to gift shopping. Think through which stores you need to visit and then block out a specific amount of time to get what you need.
Stop guessing.
If you are really having a hard time deciding what to get for someone, it may be best to keep things simple and ask your recipient for some pointers.
Focus on the meaning.
Although most of us would be lying if we said that we don’t look forward to giving and receiving gifts, we can probably all agree it is more important to create other non-materialistic traditions. Whether that’s gathering in front of the fire and playing board games or squeezing onto the couch for a holiday movie marathon, these fun traditions are the ones that will be sure to create lasting memories.
Remember to give back.
Consider forgoing some gifts all together and shift focus to giving back to the community. Try donating toys to a local charity or animal shelter. You could also think about giving the gift of time by volunteering with your family at the local soup kitchen or food bank. Coming together with your loved ones to help others is bound to fill you all with holiday spirit.