It’s that time of year again! Time for hot cocoa, Christmas caroling, decorating the house, but most importantly, it’s the season of giving! However, sometimes we begin to stress over Christmas shopping because we  just can’t afford it.

Many people struggle to find the right gift for their friends, family, or significant other. According to PBS, Americans spend about 15 hours Christmas shopping each year. They may worry that their gift will disappoint or be considered cheap. As a matter of fact, one study suggests that Americans spend a staggering amount each year on unwanted gifts.  What is an appropriate amount to spend? The Los Angeles Times suggested this price list for coworkers, friends, and family members, but the most important takeaways from this article are (1) if your group or family agrees on a price range, don’t exceed that price range and (2) accept that gift-giving is relative to one’s resources.

We asked 50 students at Bob Jones High School how much money they would spend on friends, family, or their significant other this holiday.

Here at Bob Jones High School, most of our participants replied stating that they would spend around $10 to about $25 on their friends and $50 on their family members and significant others. Freshman Craig Stephenson replied to our poll saying that he suggested spending “as much as possible without hurting you financially. Definitely don’t go into debt.” 

Therefore, this holiday season, don’t stress over finding the most expensive present. Believe it or not, gifts aren’t the most important thing this Christmas season. Buy only what you can afford. You can always show your appreciation in many other ways such as homemade Christmas cards, baking, or even just spending quality time with them.