{"id":8989,"date":"2023-11-22T00:21:21","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T17:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8989"},"modified":"2023-11-22T00:21:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T17:21:21","slug":"how-to-tell-family-youre-cutting-back-on-gifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8989","title":{"rendered":"How To Tell Family You&#8217;re Cutting Back on Gifts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">I<\/span>f you&#8217;re considering spending less on gifts this holiday season, you\u2019re far from alone. About a quarter of shoppers have had or plan on having a discussion with friends or family members about cutting back on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/preparing-holiday-spending-inflation\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/preparing-holiday-spending-inflation\/\">spending for holiday gifts<\/a> this year, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/article\/shopping\/2023-holiday-shopping-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/article\/shopping\/2023-holiday-shopping-report\">NerdWallet\u2019s annual holiday shopping report<\/a>. It might be comforting to know you&#8217;re not the <em>only<\/em> one who&#8217;s going to be wrapping fewer gifts or gifting less extravagant items, but it can still feel awkward to dial things back\u2014especially if you wind up receiving more (or pricier) items than you were planning on giving.<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIt absolutely can affect your self-esteem, it can affect your self-worth, and it can affect your self-image,\u201d says psychotherapist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adrinedavtyan.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.adrinedavtyan.com\/\">Adrine Davtyan, LCSW<\/a>, of the financial need to scale back holiday gift-giving or worse, accept an expensive present while you&#8217;re in the fiscal trenches. And yet, you shouldn&#8217;t feel bad about drawing a line in the sand (or snow, rather) when it comes to gift expenditures, given the importance of prioritizing your financial well-being.<\/p>\n<p>To get ahead of uncomfortable gift encounters, it&#8217;s helpful to learn how to tell family and friends you&#8217;re cutting back on holiday gifts this year <em>before<\/em> the time comes. Read on for expert advice on approaching that talk, plus smart tips for reducing your gift expenditures without scaling back on holiday fun or memories.<\/p>\n<h2>How to tell family and friends you&#8217;re cutting back on holiday gifts this year<\/h2>\n<h3>Lead with honesty and vulnerability<\/h3>\n<p>In order to be upfront with loved ones about your decision to cut back on gifts, it&#8217;s important to be honest with yourself first, says Davtyan. Acknowledge recent costly events that may be influencing your holiday spending cap\u2014maybe you had a surprise increase in rent, or your car needed an expensive replacement, or perhaps you had an unexpected medical procedure. Or maybe you\u2019re trying to save up money for a baby on the way or tackle student loan payments. \u201cWhen we&#8217;re honest with ourselves, we bring awareness to what our life experience is, and sometimes, the cards that we\u2019re dealt can just mean it&#8217;s out of our control,\u201d says Davtyan.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts\/\" current-title=\"How To Tell Loved Ones You\u2019re Cutting Back on Gifts This Holiday Season\u2014And That They Should Feel Fine Doing the Same for You\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/valbar-STUDIO-425x285_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-05-21\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Bring the same honesty to the money talk with loved ones, well before the time for gift-giving arrives, says Davtyan. \u201cIf you&#8217;re changing something, it&#8217;s important to let your friends and family know as soon as possible to give them space to adjust to the change and shift their own gift-buying accordingly.\u201d This way, you&#8217;re unlikely to run into that awkward scenario wherein you receive a gift more extravagant than the one you were planning on giving.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIf you&#8217;re changing something, it&#8217;s important to let your friends and family know as soon as possible to give them space to adjust.\u201d \u2014Adrine Davtyan, LCSW, psychotherapist<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Allow your tone and choice of words to reflect your emotional vulnerability when having these conversations, suggests Davtyan. \u201cIt can prevent misunderstandings from happening when you&#8217;re being really honest and authentic, and it&#8217;s coming from your heart,\u201d she says. \u201cMake sure they know that the relationship you have with them is secure, and this decision isn&#8217;t personal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Offering some context for why you&#8217;re scaling back on gifts can also be reassuring\u2014though you certainly don\u2019t have to share <em>every <\/em>detail about your personal finances, says financial advisor <a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/gfbudget\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/gfbudget\">Elle Hall-Coleman, MBA<\/a>, CEO of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.girlfriendsbudget.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.girlfriendsbudget.com\/\">Girlfriend\u2019s Budget<\/a>.\u00a0If divulging information about the source of your debt and low <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/holiday-budgeting\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/holiday-budgeting\/\">holiday budget<\/a> is going to stress you out, keep these chats short and sweet. Still, Hall-Coleman suggests telling your loved ones that you\u2019re being intentionally conscious about how much you spend on gifts this year in order to meet your personal financial goals.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, too, that just as your family might not know about <em>your<\/em> financial situation, you may be unaware of <em>theirs<\/em>. Sharing that you\u2019re adhering to a tight gift budget could alleviate some anxieties in those who may be similarly struggling with money and hoping to spend less on gifts, too, says Hall-Coleman.<\/p>\n<h3>Set boundaries and expectations<\/h3>\n<p>Be clear about what your loved ones can expect from you, and express that you would prefer not to receive any lavish gifts in return. Chances are, they\u2019ll understand and follow suit, but if they challenge you, stay firm in your boundaries while also acknowledging that their resistance is valid. \u201cIt&#8217;s so important to be considerate and open to hearing how your loved ones feel,\u201d says Davtyan. \u201cThis might be an unexpected change that\u2019s dropped right in their lap, and they may not be happy to hear it, at least at first.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In this case, you can suggest establishing a spending cap for gifts among a group of your family members or friends\u2014so that others know they&#8217;re not expected to spend anything more on a gift for you than you&#8217;re planning to spend on a gift for them, within your new budget. And if Aunt Sue *still* insists on gifting you a flashy present, simply reiterate that she should not expect anything luxe from you in return, and accept the gift knowing that you have relieved yourself from the pressure of reciprocating it by setting clear expectations.<\/p>\n<h2>4 tips for minimizing spending on holiday gifts (without skimping on meaning or fun)<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Shorten your overall list<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re someone who likes to buy gifts for anyone and everyone, consider whittling down the list of people you\u2019re shopping for, suggests Hall-Coleman. It can be exciting to buy gifts for coworkers, bosses, teachers, and next-door neighbors, but trimming your list will help ensure you can afford to give what you&#8217;d like to give to the people closest to you. \u201cLook at your discretionary spending, or the spending money you have left after your expenses are paid, and then determine from there how much you\u2019ll realistically be able to spend and on whom,\u201d says Hall-Coleman.<\/p>\n<p>Another way to quickly shrink your list? Suggest that your family or friend group participate in a Secret Santa-style gift exchange this year, says Hall-Coleman. This way, everyone can anonymously draw the name of<em> one<\/em> person from a hat, and then get one gift for that person within a predetermined budget (rather than feeling obligated to get something for everyone in the group).<\/p>\n<h3>2. Fill the holiday season with memorable events<\/h3>\n<p>Material goods break down over time, but memories last forever. And those can be created without using any money at all\u2014by instead offering your time, effort, and energy, says Davtyan.<\/p>\n<p>A few ideas? Create a craft table to make <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FAerWo-Christmas-Ornaments-Unfinished-Colored%2Fdp%2FB09C5RS3FP%2F%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx9928-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fhow-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fhow-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/AerWo-Christmas-Ornaments-Unfinished-Colored\/dp\/B09C5RS3FP\/\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/AerWo-Christmas-Ornaments-Unfinished-Colored\/dp\/B09C5RS3FP\/?tag=wgtrx9928-20&amp;asc_refurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fhow-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts%2F&amp;asc_source=direct&amp;asc_campaign=no-campaign\">DIY ornaments<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.familyeducation.com\/entertainment-activities\/holidays\/hanukkah\/hanukkah-dreidel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.familyeducation.com\/entertainment-activities\/holidays\/hanukkah\/hanukkah-dreidel\">paper dreidels<\/a>, plan a group hike, or go caroling. Decorate a gingerbread house together (we love <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FCreate-Treat-BarbieTM-DreamhouseTM-Decorating%2Fdp%2FB0CFG8T9SR%2F%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx9928-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fhow-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fhow-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Create-Treat-BarbieTM-DreamhouseTM-Decorating\/dp\/B0CFG8T9SR\/\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Create-Treat-BarbieTM-DreamhouseTM-Decorating\/dp\/B0CFG8T9SR\/?tag=wgtrx9928-20&amp;asc_refurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fhow-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts%2F&amp;asc_source=direct&amp;asc_campaign=no-campaign\">this one inspired by the <em>Barbie<\/em> movie<\/a>), or make luminarias (aka Christmas lanterns) using paper bags, sand or pebbles, and <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FElectric-Operated-Realistic-Flameless-Tealight%2Fdp%2FB07CZVTW35%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx9928-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fhow-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fhow-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Electric-Operated-Realistic-Flameless-Tealight\/dp\/B07CZVTW35\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Electric-Operated-Realistic-Flameless-Tealight\/dp\/B07CZVTW35?tag=wgtrx9928-20&amp;asc_refurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fhow-to-tell-family-cutting-back-on-gifts%2F&amp;asc_source=direct&amp;asc_campaign=no-campaign\">LED tea candles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>According to Davtyan, emphasizing the experiences you share with loved ones (rather than the gifts you exchange) can establish new holidays traditions and create fun memories that your loved ones will cherish for years to come.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Focus gift-giving on meaning, rather than monetary value<\/h3>\n<p>You can still get something memorable (and absolutely fabulous) for your friends and family members without blowing your budget, says Hall-Coleman, but it may take some ingenuity and time.<\/p>\n<p>One of Hall-Coleman\u2019s favorite budget-friendly gift ideas is to shop for a collection of small items that you know a loved one would like, and assemble them in a thrifted gift basket.<\/p>\n<p>For a new homeowner, for example, consider hunting for small, inexpensive household items that align with their style or needs; for a foodie, dig around at local eateries for bottled versions of their favorite sauces and spices, or go thrifting for unique (and low-cost) glassware that suits their aesthetic. \u201cIt\u2019s thoughtful because you know what that person likes, and you&#8217;re able to put a few of those things into one gift,\u201d says Hall-Coleman.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Give yourself grace<\/h3>\n<p>Money is fluid\u2014it comes and goes for all of us. Just because you\u2019re low on funds this year, for instance, doesn\u2019t mean that you will be next year, says Hall-Coleman. (To get ahead of holiday money stress in future years, she suggests setting up a specific holiday fund now and dedicating a small amount to that fund from every paycheck.)<\/p>\n<p>Understand, too, that cutting back on gift spending is, again, totally valid\u2014and a tight budget certainly doesn\u2019t have to hold you back from having an enjoyable holiday season. There are many, many ways you can express your love for your family and friends that don&#8217;t involve spending money, Hall-Coleman reiterates. And in the spirit of the season, letting go of financial shame or guilt around the holidays is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"outline-earmark relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[20px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re considering spending less on gifts this holiday season, you\u2019re far from alone. About a quarter of shoppers have had or plan on having a discussion with friends or family members about cutting back on spending for holiday gifts this year, according to NerdWallet\u2019s annual holiday shopping report. It might be comforting to know &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8989","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8989"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8989\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}