Mariah Carey flooding your feed and television car advertisements, clinking golden spheres below green wreaths, soft white snow, hot chocolate steaming plastic glasses, thick scarves, woolen coats, NYC light shows, crackling fireplaces, pom-pom topped red hats, peppermint bark: Christmas evokes a variety of imagery for everyone. Originally started to celebrate religion, the hallmark of Christmas has evolved to become a star-adorned tree, its limbs covering wrapped presents. As Christmas grows closer, social media feeds become filled with Christmas wish-lists and after the event, hauls of items upon items emerge, populated with Gucci and Lululemon. Christmas has become symbolized by the gift-giving process, one that surrounds us as it comes closer to the holiday. While most people do not expect the designer-item filled lists that disperse across social media, buying presents for the holidays remains challenging. 

The holidays are almost always marked by financial expenditure, with presents being the hallmark of Christmas. Buying Christmas presents also comes with different expectations through different parts of people’s lives. As a child, it is customary to not give gifts, though as you grow older, more and more people are able to partake in the gift exchange. Junior Sophie Im states, “The amount of presents I give has increased through high school because I’ve been able to start earning money in recent years.” As one enters high school, they are not only given more purchasing power, but the amount of people they may know increases, which can also contribute to increased spending.  

In order to combat the holiday costs, Im states, “I set a budget per present and try my best not to go over it.” Budgets help while shopping for presents because they set a hard line for maximum spending, ensuring that whatever is bought is within a comfortable amount. Having pre-planned budgets enables people to understand what their comfort level truly is. Planning before shopping can also help reduce impulsive or last-minute buying that someone might regret after the purchase, and overall helps people feel more prepared to take on holiday shopping. Another way of reducing your budget: buying less presents. Options like secret Santa have individuals assigned to one person and target them in the gift-giving process. This is ensures that within a group, each person is assigned to one other. Secret santa reduces the amount of gifts bought while also ensuring that everyone has a present. Additionally, because individuals are not frantically scrambling to buy a gift for multiple people, meaning that they can put more effort into a single gift. 

For Im, giving presents is a way to “show gratitude and appreciation for the one receiving the gifts…[it] shows appreciation” Im goes on to state, “My favorite gift that I have ever given was a k-pop album. The friend I gave it to was a huge k-pop fan, and the album was an album from her at-the-time favorite group, so I knew it was something she would really love.” Ultimately, it is the thought behind the gift that gives it the importance, the customization and knowing that your present will bring enjoyment that gives it appeal. Senior Ishaani Roy states, “My favorite present is a teddy bear I got, because it’s adorable.” Roy’s gift was customized to suit her personal tastes, which is why a simple stuffed animal ranks at the top of her cherished gift-list. 

 Yet with this, another question is posed, this one surrounding the time it takes to find customized presents. While money is a constraint, so is time, especially as a student with pre-break exams cluttering the two weeks before break. Roy states, “I had roughly 10 assessments the week before break, with another two projects due as well.” Students’ schedules become cluttered with work the weeks surrounding the breaks, so it can be difficult to find time to shop for people. Yet, this time is also the prime-time to buy presents, with stores pushing out seasonal items. Freshman Jinno Nam states, “I like online shopping because it’s easier.” Roy adds on, stating, “Online shopping can be faster if you know exactly what you want to buy.” Despite this, Sophomore Rohan Nyman prefers to go shopping in-person, stating,  “In-person shopping is better because you can see what you’re buying so you won’t have false expectations.” Roy uses in-person shopping as a break in-between her studying sessions. She says, “I have a target right by my house, so it’s nice to go there and have a change of scenery while taking a break.” 

Buying presents for the holidays can be both frustrating and satisfying. It is a long, stressful process, but it is rewarded through the enjoyment on others’ faces. No matter what you do this holiday season, gifts or no gifts, it remains that your loved ones and bonds of friendship define the season.