As festive lights twinkle and the big day approaches, a familiar dread sets in for many: the frantic, last-minute scramble to buy Christmas presents. But does the season of giving have to mean a season of financial strain and stress? One writer explains how opting out of gift-giving a decade ago transformed her Christmas for the better.
The Crushing Pressure of Festive Spending
For years, Hannah Shewan Stevens felt compelled to drain her bank account every December to meet the looming obligation of Christmas presents. In tougher years, she would plunge into debt, believing a wrapped gift was the only true way to express love and festive cheer. The relentless expectation was simple: buy something, anything, to ensure there was a present under the tree.
The turning point came in 2015, when her entire family was grappling with debt, unemployment, or other financial pressures. They collectively decided to give themselves a year off from the tradition of gift-giving.
A Transformative, Present-Free Christmas
The first Christmas morning without the mountain of wrapping paper felt strange. A tinge of melancholy hung in the air as the family ate sausage rolls, missing the familiar rush of present-induced dopamine. Yet, after an hour or two of awkwardness, something shifted.
They snapped out of it, filling the day with dancing, games, a hearty roast dinner, and fond reminiscing. By the day's end, they had forgotten that presents once dominated the holiday. Nearly ten years later, the family has never returned to gift-giving. Their Christmas is now centred firmly on family and fun, free from the financial stress and people-pleasing that once defined December.
The Sobering Reality of Festive Finances and Waste
This shift away from presents is particularly poignant amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The financial backdrop for many households is stark. The average UK household carries approximately £14,300 in unsecured debt, a figure that often balloons further after festive overspending.
Britons spend an average of £300 on Christmas gifts annually, with many spending far more to meet expectations. This spending fuels not just debt but also significant waste. A conservative estimate suggests around £42 million worth of unwanted presents are thrown away each year, contributing to a 30% surge in waste over the festive period.
Shewan Stevens is not judging those who give gifts, but she questions the mindless consumption. Gifts given out of obligation rarely bring lasting joy and often create stress for both giver and receiver. By removing presents from Christmas, she has not felt deprived. Instead, she focuses on giving meaningful birthday gifts spread throughout the year when funds allow.
The call is not to become a Grinch, but to reframe the holiday. In 2025, perhaps it's time to move away from performative gift-giving that drains wallets and fills bins, and back towards what many need most: genuine connection and quality time.
