I've Streamlined Gift Giving
May the joy of the holiday season be ever in your favor.
I’m sorry for being the most Capricorn person (read: streamlined, efficient, slightly insane) on the planet, but hopefully you enjoy this insight into my mind.
The last 2 holiday seasons, I’ve given essentially everyone the same thing. And you know what? It’s great for my budget and my time. I no longer have to think of individual things each person I’m giving something to will want, I just have to pick 1 item, and give a variation on a theme. You may be thinking: wait, that kind of sucks and isn’t very fun. But I would scour gift guides for best things to give your brother who you barely talk to or things your mom will for sure love even though she won’t and end up with a 1 in 3 success rate. I thought my mom would love the nice scarf I got her or that my dad absolutely needed a beer foamer, only to find out those things hit the Goodwill Bins a year after I gave it to them. I don’t think that’s very fun, IMO!!
So, now for the streamlining. 2 years ago I gave everyone Lands’ End totes with something embroidered on them. (My mom’s said “Curler” and I think my brother’s said “Dog Toys”). I then gave them a bottle of alcohol that they like. Whiskey, NA mixers, or this ghastly bottle of lemonade sangria I bought for my now sister-in-law.
Last year, I took a glass-etching class through community education a bit before the holidays. And I thought wow, who wouldn’t like a customized wine glass with their name on it! Me!! I thought that! It took $10 to buy some labels made with a Cricut on Etsy, a very helpful seller who resent things when the package got lost, and Dollar Tree wine glasses. It took a night with a friend to etch everything on, and I packaged them up in a fun way. (I was unemployed last year, so they did not get alcohol with the wine glasses. Hindsight.)
I think in 2025, I’ve really been tired with over consuming things. News, clothing, knowledge, everything. Being a human is expensive, and I do not have the unlimited funds I thought I did when I was in my 20s and making poor financial decisions. I also just no longer want you to tell me that you want certain things on Amazon. I pride myself on being a better than average gift giver, and I’m sorry dad - but bike lights for the tenth year in a row is too easy.
And maybe that’s not fair to my family or the other people in my gift giving orbit. Maybe all you really want is a Spotify gift card or something you need. But when you tell me, “I don’t care” about what you want and “anything you get me is fine” I’m going to take some creative liberties.
When I streamline gift giving, it allows me to get all of the materials I need from the same place and put some more time and effort into assembling something that you’ll like instead of sourcing down items from 10 different websites that you’ll only sort of like.
Alternatively, I’d rather give you nothing at all and spend some time with you, but I don’t think my family is quite there yet.
Part of the reason I started giving gifts like this is that I was pretty broke for a while. I had a lot of people I needed to give gifts to and not a lot of money to do it. I didn’t plan ahead well enough in advance for my budget.
I also have some caveats: for gift exchanges and my partner, I obviously give what has been laid out and I am a sucker for treating my boo. But if you’re someone named Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister-in-Law, other assorted family, you will be relegated to the streamlined option. This year will take a little work, but I’m getting started early.
Maybe some day when I have unlimited funds and less bisexual audacity, I’ll give this for presents: something you want, something you need, something you wear, something you read. The ideas are endless!
-Martha
(PS - I’d love if you would forward this to a friend who might enjoy).