Holiday spending does not have to hurt
Kursten Hedgis
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Lifestyle
With the holiday season being right around the corner, students are most likely plagued with endless questions about their holiday gift shopping.
Who should I buy gifts for? What should I buy them? How much should I spend?
These are just a few of the questions that students will contemplate before making their holiday gift decisions.
Georgia Highlands' student Erin King spoke about the way she approaches her holiday shopping.
"I prioritize my list of people I will be giving gifts to. The people on the top of the list are my family, boyfriend and my best friend. Then with the money I have left over, if there is any, I buy small things for the people that buy gifts for me," she said.
This is the same advice given on the article database, Sutie101.com, that offers tips shopping on a budget.
An article by freelance writer, Melissa Roberts, on Suite101.com reads, "Be selective about gift giving. Make a list of the people with whom you exchange gifts, and who you want to receive a gift this year."
The next question to answer after who to buy for is what to buy.
"I normally just look around malls, or whatever store I might go to, to see things that people would like. If it's reasonable, I will buy it for them. I don't make special trips to stores; I just think about gift ideas throughout the season and buy something when I find it. I don't really have a budget," said King.
However, this is not the advice Roberts would suggest.
According to Roberts, people should "prioritize the gift list. Figure out how much you can afford to spend on gifts, and break it down by person."
"If the money doesn't go as far as you would like it to, think creatively," she said.
Creating a budget helps eliminate stress associated with larger than normal spending on a tight budget.
There is still one dilemma that can arise that no amount of meticulous holiday planning can prepare for: what happens when a person gives a gift, and he or she doesn't get one back?
"If I buy a gift for someone and they do not give me one back, I just let it go. It happens. You never know what someone might be going through or how broke they are. I guess it just goes on my good karma list," said King.
Adopting a Zen attitude, like the one King has, helps her eliminate the futile worrying associated with shopping and gifting.
Without the worrying King is able to get into the holiday spirit of giving gifts and spending time with others.
"After all, that is what the holidays are all about," she said.
Who should I buy gifts for? What should I buy them? How much should I spend?
These are just a few of the questions that students will contemplate before making their holiday gift decisions.
Georgia Highlands' student Erin King spoke about the way she approaches her holiday shopping.
"I prioritize my list of people I will be giving gifts to. The people on the top of the list are my family, boyfriend and my best friend. Then with the money I have left over, if there is any, I buy small things for the people that buy gifts for me," she said.
This is the same advice given on the article database, Sutie101.com, that offers tips shopping on a budget.
An article by freelance writer, Melissa Roberts, on Suite101.com reads, "Be selective about gift giving. Make a list of the people with whom you exchange gifts, and who you want to receive a gift this year."
The next question to answer after who to buy for is what to buy.
"I normally just look around malls, or whatever store I might go to, to see things that people would like. If it's reasonable, I will buy it for them. I don't make special trips to stores; I just think about gift ideas throughout the season and buy something when I find it. I don't really have a budget," said King.
However, this is not the advice Roberts would suggest.
According to Roberts, people should "prioritize the gift list. Figure out how much you can afford to spend on gifts, and break it down by person."
"If the money doesn't go as far as you would like it to, think creatively," she said.
Creating a budget helps eliminate stress associated with larger than normal spending on a tight budget.
There is still one dilemma that can arise that no amount of meticulous holiday planning can prepare for: what happens when a person gives a gift, and he or she doesn't get one back?
"If I buy a gift for someone and they do not give me one back, I just let it go. It happens. You never know what someone might be going through or how broke they are. I guess it just goes on my good karma list," said King.
Adopting a Zen attitude, like the one King has, helps her eliminate the futile worrying associated with shopping and gifting.
Without the worrying King is able to get into the holiday spirit of giving gifts and spending time with others.
"After all, that is what the holidays are all about," she said.
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