I wont lie; it does feel good to make someone happy.
But I would never say this process is entirely selfless, either.
Its a fun challenge, and winning comes from getting the gift right!
But even beyond this, I viewgift-giving as one of the purest expressions of loveand compassion.
Through being intentional, I hope my loved ones can see how deeply I know and understand them.
But why do we give?
When I first became financially independent, I was quite reckless with my money.
Particularly during the holidays, I assumed that spending significant amounts is what made a good gift-giver.
Though I was still thoughtful, I did pressure myself to go above and beyond for my loved ones.
In my mind, my savings werent for the future but rather surplus money that needed to be spent.
So while my gift-giving practice may have started for altruistic reasons, it soon began negatively impacting my life.
This change was also spurred on by my return back to college.
But even still, I wasnt as strict as I should have been.
Yet, COVID-19 was the wake-up call I didnt know I needed.
Id still have moments where Id overdo things, but I was more successful than not.
Yet, this improvement would go awry once the holidays approached.
So in true form, I overdid it yet again.
But, last year, I found myself bored of the cycle Id created.
What Does a No-Gift Christmas Entail?
The reasons for this are theorized to be due toCOVID-19s impact on the financial sectorand theincreasing economic divide.
Nevertheless, this is still a record-breaking figure that hints at many individuals rethinking their consumption habits.
But what does a no-gift Christmas look like in practice?
Well, for me, it simply means not spending money over the holidays.
The beauty of the practice is that you might tailor it according to your own unique context.
But Ive personally found total abstinence during the holidays the best method for me.
With the holidays approaching, I can feel myself starting to feel the same guilt I felt before.
I simply cant afford holiday gift-giving, and that doesnt make me a bad person or friend.
So Ill be reaching out and being present with them instead.
I simply cant afford holiday gift-giving, and that doesnt make me a bad person or friend.
Additionally, Ive already had a small amount of financial freedom to surprise friends and family here.
Financial security and mental health should always take priority.
The gifts can wait while we take a beat, reassess and recover.
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