Forget Halloween Town, the true nightmare before Christmas is deciding how much to spend on gifts
Showing your appreciation for friends and partners through presents and watching them smile as they unwrap really does feel good. But then again, so does not being broke in January… Thankfully, it’s more than possible to strike a balance. Arranging a secret santa in a friendship group is nice because everyone gets involved but you only need to buy for one person, and you can fairly agree on a spending limit in advance (£5-10 seems to be standard). For individuals, the idiom is cringey but true; it’s the thought that counts. Gifts are nice for their association with the person that gave them – something small but specific is better than something more expensive and generic.
All in all, there’s no ‘right amount’ to spend; it’s more about putting the right thought into it. Finding small, inexpensive things that really resonate with them might require more consideration, but is the way to go.