When people think of the holidays they think about spending time with family, drinking hot chocolate and buying gifts for their loved ones.
Commercials are filled with skits about couples surprising each other with the newest diamond necklace or trip to the Bahamas, which puts the pressure on to make sure the gift they get for their significant other is the perfect one.
Some couples like to put a spending limit on the gifts they get and others think that it is really the thought that counts and all that matters is that they like the gift.
“I usually buy clothes for my boyfriend. The most I’ve ever spent was about $125 on timberland boots and I bought clothes to go with them. I’ve never talked about spending limits because I don’t think the price should matter as long as it’s nice and thoughtful,” Mia Venezia, a sophomore at Carnegie Mellon, said.
The gift couples give also depends on how long they have been dating. If the couple has only been dating for a few months something smaller but still says you care should suffice. However, if you have been dating for years, they should really think about something that has special meaning to their partner and shows that they know them and pay attention to what they like.
“I’ve only been dating my boyfriend for a few months now and I decided to get him this Star Wars mug he really wanted and a sweatshirt. I also want to get him a nice card too because I think cards are important,” Danielle Ciampoli, a sophomore at St. Joseph’s University, said. “We haven’t talked about spending limits but I am not the type to go overboard. I just want to get a gift that is enough to say that I care and I’m thinking about him. I think sometimes people tend to go overboard for gifts and get caught up in the commercial atmosphere of Christmas. I think it is more important to spend time together and get a gift that shows that you have been thinking of them.”
If you have been dating for months or even years it can still be hard to think of the perfect gift for your better half. Do not think too much into it because sometimes the best gifts are the ones that are sweet and romantic. Gifts such as photos of you together in a frame or having professional photos of you two taken are gifts that last a lifetime and bring back memories. Other gifts that couples can give are experience gifts. These gifts are fun things that the two of you can do together instead of buying an item.
“We don’t really put a price on it. Sometimes we get each other airplane tickets or very personal things that you can’t really put a price on. It could be a drawling and then you frame it or something that she likes,” Kassoum Diakite, a Cabrini University student, said.
“My boyfriend and I usually spend about $150 on each other during the holidays but we also like to make each other little funny things. This year I am giving him clothes and a new gym bag but I am making him a jar full of Hershey kisses and writing for every time you miss me here’s a kiss or something like that. I also bought a cute picture frame and was going to put a picture of us in it,” Brittany Hanson, a junior at Methacton High School said. “I think it is nice to get each other things that they can really use but also silly things that will make them laugh.”
The important part about holiday gift giving is the thought put in behind it. So all you couples out there do not worry because if it comes from a sincere place in your heart, your significant other is guaranteed to love it.
If you are stressed about what to get your significant other for the holidays check out the article LifeHacks that will make shopping during the holidays stress free.
