The winter holiday season started on November 1 this year.
Or at least, that’s how it felt to me. Within the span of a night, the carved pumpkins and fake cobwebs disappeared while colorful lights and tiny Santa’s poofed into existence with an explosion of winter spirit. After the last trick-or-treater had rung our doorbell, I barely had a day to prepare myself for Mariah Carey’s carols on the overhead speakers in every mall.
Obviously, not everyone celebrates the same holiday—or even any holiday at all. Yet during the season of giving, it’s undeniable that millions of American hearts and wallets are gripped by the holiday fervor—almost to the point of detriment, in my opinion. Apparently, Christmastime equates to shopping time
The average American spends close to a thousand dollars on gifts every year during the holiday season. This is mind-boggling to me; when I shop for gifts, I start crying if my total goes above one hundred, much less one thousand.
I feel like the winter holiday season has become incredibly over-commercialized, and you can see it wherever you go. In stores and malls, on websites online, during commercial breaks on TV—no matter the place, you’re bombarded with advertisements telling you to BUY! BUY! BUY!
It’s one thing to buy someone you love and appreciate a meaningful gift to show them you care. But it’s a completely different thing to give into the ad-fueled frenzy and blindly purchase something just to check off another obligation.
As we dive into winter in earnest and holidays creep ever closer, take a moment to consider what you’re buying. Sometimes it’s not about the price tag on a gift, but rather the thought that went into it.
Happy holidays and happy shopping!
