The Christmas and New Year period is a stressful time for me because I have to think of a lot of presents! Presents for family and my girlfriend for Christmas, but soon after is her birthday as well, so I need to come up with a lot of ideas, which is stressful. After over four years of being together I have bought her plenty of gifts and some have been great, others not so great. I was thinking about what makes a good present and realised that the amount of money spent is usually inversely associated with its value and how ‘good’ a present it is. This is true for me at least. Typically, if I’m running out of time or haven’t thought of something yet, I resort to something that is expensive, because I suppose at the time I think that she will know I care because I spent a lot of money on something for her. When I really think about it, I believe the opposite is usually the case.
The goal of a present is not to just supply the person with more things, fundamentally, giving presents is to show the receiver that you care and thought about them and getting them something that will show that. The best presents are things that they didn’t even knew they wanted but love it, showing that deep thought went into the gift, which is what they really care about.
I am always amazed that my mum likes it when my brothers and I hand make her cards, because they never look amazing, but nevertheless she loves them. The reason for this (I think) is again because it shows that we put effort and thought into the card, rather than buying her another mass-produced card from the shops.
This all makes a lot of sense but goes against the current culture of consumerism which has captured the world. We are all very ‘busy,’ allowing external things like work and study occupy our consciousness. This distraction is when we aren’t able to think of an appropriately thoughtful gift, because our mind is elsewhere. I believe this is all changing with movements against todays consumerism such as the increasing focus on sustainability and the environment, deterring the pursuit of more.
Another Christmas has come and gone and I’m sure everyone ended up with more ‘stuff’ and everyone has had birthdays where they may get an expensive present or two but somehow still feel unsatisfied with it. When it comes to presents, the amount of money spent is usually inversely associated with the amount of thought that has gone into the present, thus, the amount of pleasure the receiver gets from it. The reason we give presents is to make people feel valued, appreciated and cared for, and spending money isn’t the best way to show that, time, effort and thought is. So next time you’re in need of a present, stop and think what the person would really value, and ask yourself is spending more money the answer.
Harrison Hansford 