TRURO, N.S. — The holidays are fast approaching and I, like many of you, I’m sure, am stumped on what to buy those I’m closest to for Christmas.
While the saying goes that the true meaning of Christmas is to love one another, and bring joy to the community, etc., the bottom line is everyone still buys each other stuff. And it’s hard, because you don’t want your present to pale in comparison to other people’s. (Comparison really is the thief of joy – more on that next week!)
When you don’t know what to buy for the people in your life it can make the Christmas season stressful instead of jolly. That’s where I come in: I present to you “Angèle’s 2019 Christmas Gift Guide!”
I’ll start with the obvious: your parents. I think your best bet is some sort of gift card, to a restaurant or the movies. Give them a date night with each other, or a date they can go on by themselves for some much-needed alone time. Going along with this, if you have younger siblings, construct a “One Free Babysitting Service” card and attach that to the gift. It may sound cheesy to you, but your mom will totally post a picture on Facebook, which is the easiest way to know you’ve done something good.
Now we’ll get into sibling gifts. It’s always easier when they are younger kids because at those ages they always have a “thing.” You know, my baby sister’s thing is books that make sounds, one of my cousins loves basketball (Go Raptors! The only team I know), another loves middle-grade fantasy novels. All you have to do is buy something that corresponds with their “thing.” Simple. If they’re a bit older (around 12) just buy them some product their favourite Youtuber sells; you’ll be their new favourite.
If you are an adult who doesn’t know how to shop for the teens in your life, don’t bother, just give them cash. I promise they would much prefer that as a gift; it will not put them out any. At least that way you know they spent the money on something they liked, rather than wondering if they liked what you bought.
Let’s talk significant others! First of all, do not spend hundreds of dollars on your s/o that you’ve been dating for a month. I know we’re in high school and virtually everything is a milestone, but I can guarantee you will regret it later. Save your money, especially if you graduate next year; we’ll need as much as we have and then some. My tip is to buy them something they’ll use often. That way, every day when they reach for it, they’ll think of you. So sweet.
Maybe the most difficult of all: the secret Santa you barely know. That’s when it’s appropriate to pick up some fun Christmas socks and some sort of junk food, maybe some tea or hot chocolate. The best way to find out what they like is to lie and say you’re asking for someone else, then “accidentally” namedrop someone so it’s believable. I don’t advocate for lying except in this situation. You never want to get someone a useless gift.
Now, I want to reiterate that Christmas is not about gifts, it’s about love, spirit, and all the stuff the movies tell us. Try to enjoy Christmas instead of making it something you dread every year. If the people around you love you like I’m sure they do, they’d be happy receiving something from you no matter what it was.
Don’t stress too much about buying perfect presents for people – that’s Santa’s job.
-
Angèle Hatton is a Grade 12 student at Cobequid Educational Centre who hopes to pursue a career in journalism.
