The Pains of Christmas Gift Giving

Christmas is right around the corner and one thing I dread during these times is the gift giving. It feels fake because I believe giving gifts shouldn't happen just because there's an occasion. But it is what it is.

One of the most frustrating things about this tradition is the expectation that you should just know what the other person wants. This is so much easier said than done. Even if I could just ask, most people will say they don't know. I think this is because 1) If they say something too expensive, it feels wrong to ask for it and 2) If they needed something, they'll just buy it.

The other frustrating part is the strain on finances. I don't have much money to spend right now for even myself so imagine having to give gifts to five people if you're lucky. Even if I have a budget of PHP 300 per person, that's already PHP 1500 down the drain. And I'm honestly lucky if I can get those amounts properly.

I don't really like Christmas gift giving but it is what it is. I save up for Christmas the whole year because it's not like it's going to move a day for a year. But during the season, I curate the people I give my gifts to. They're not necessarily people I'm close to. I try to include a few people I want to have a closer connection with.

But to be honest, I want to be done with the tradition of gift giving. I want to simply focus on the experiences made during the season rather than having to be stressed out with my finances.