This was the first Christmas where i have not had to worry about how i'm going to pay for tuition. My purchasing practices didn't really change though. I guess thats because i'm a pretty big fan of spending money based on whether i SHOULD rather than whether i CAN. I am in the very fortunate situation where i am not expected to buy any big presents, nor am i expected to buy anything for my extended family. I share the same sentiments toward my other family members as well and hope to maintain such low expectations. Unexpected gifts are the most genuine. I really hate the thought of receiving a gift just because i gave them a gift. And vise-versa. It cheapens the gift and makes it into a messed up form of bartering.
So, this year i went with quantity over quality. Everybody got something. Even if it only cost 1 or 2 dollars. If it truly is "the thought that counts" then i think dollar store gifts count for a lot. It is not easy to find one or two acceptable gifts for someone around a dollar. It takes quite some time and thought to find a gift that is either useful or humorous in a personal way.
I love my family and the time i get to spend with them.
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