Why in the world would a doctor be offering advice about Christmas shopping? Simply put, I am interested in anything that might exacerbate depression and anxiety. Holiday worries send stress hormones through the roof and can kickstart addictive patterns like overeating, overspending, excessive consumption of mood-altering substances and other self harming behaviors. That impacts your health. And this concerns me. (Enter, concerned physician, stage left.)
Let’s talk about holiday financial splurging and we’ll try to make it manageable together.
Pair down your shopping list. Limit your participation in Secret Santa, White Elephant, work or social gift exchanges. If you come from a large family consider drawing names and purchasing one slightly larger gift for the receiver rather than buy for 35 cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa, and all of their family pets. You can also opt to select gifts for the children in the family only. Honestly, do you really need one more ill-fitting blouse in your closet that you’d never ever wear in your natural lifetime? Give the fun toys to the kids. Besides, toy shopping is fun. Let your inner Santa shine!
Set a limit. Have a conversation before gift purchasing and set a reasonable spending limit. And stick to it. I understand feeling compelled by generosity but hear me out on this. Everyone has a different financial situation. Others participating in the gift exchange with you may welcome an opportunity to receive a credit card bill in January that does not exceed the US National Debt. It’s a win-win situation.
Be Creative. 
Make some of your presents.
Don’t tell me you can’t…everyone has a skill. People that engage in a hobby regularly often have excess materials laying around. Use surplus supplies instead of spending a lot of money on projects like woodworking, sewing, cooking, baking, drawing, designing. Or try offering your muscle instead of spending money. Balance your sister’s checkbook. Clean out grandma’s closet. Organize mom’s spices. Walk your cousin’s dog for a week. Babysit your uncle’s kids. Wash my car. (Just seeing if you’re paying attention.) These things really matter, really make a difference. It sends a message of loving care and devotion. You’d be surprised how well received a gift like this will be.
Price Comparison. Shopping online makes it a breeze to check numerous sources for the best price possible. Make sure you check the shipping rates, though, as this is often the place of hidden cost hikes. Be savvy.
Be a Hobbit. Channel J.R.R Tolkien. Re-gift things you’ve received but aren’t using. You probably have beautiful clothing that you bought but just don’t feel right wearing. Or jewelry that is valuable or charming but you have no need for anymore. Or you’ve been given a gift that doesn’t suit your taste. Why not give it away to someone that would really appreciate it? I’ve received repurposed movies, music, clothing, and jewelry numerous times in my life.
Discover What is Most Needed. Shop eBay for deals and special purchases that create solutions for a problem. In years passed, I was given a missing motor for my adored (non-snoring) Snoring Christmas Bear decoration that made it functional again, and a replacement for a broken salt shaker for my china set. Both FANTASTIC presents that showed a level of thoughtful attention that delighted and touched me deeply. Neither were expensive but had real WOW factor for me.
Christmas doesn’t have to create such financial strain that you dread the very idea of it. Relax. Enjoy the extraordinary time of connection and reunion with family, friends and loved ones. In the words of the immortal Dr Seuss in my favorite Christmas book, “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more”.
Happy HO HO HO Holidays!