This weekend I finished all the necessary shopping for friends and relatives. I think this has been the most expensive holiday season for me. A quick look, though this might not be accurate, shows that in 2004 I spent $286.03 on Christmas and Hanukkah gifts between October 1 and the rest of the year. That amount includes a gift exchange with my friends.
This year, I’ve spent $415.23 so far on gifts. That does not include a gift exchange with friends like we have done in the past. However, It does include holiday gifts for family and a few individuals, two birthday gifts, one holiday gift for a random coworker, and a few special items for the girlfriend.
There is one more item I may still purchase before the holiday season is over, so my holiday shopping is not entirely finished.
Only one gift this year was a gift certificate, but I think it was justified. My brother, who lives in California, plays guitar in several bands on the west coast. Rather than trying to determine what musical item he might need, I figured a gift certificate to his favorite guitar gear store will give him some flexibility. I don’t believe the gift certificate expires, so it’s as good as cash and I know he’ll use it well.
Updated February 7, 2012 and originally published December 18, 2005. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the RSS feed or receive daily emails. Follow @flexo on Twitter and visit our Facebook page for more updates.
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