Today, love is increasingly measured by a price tag. Influencers flaunt their wealth through shopping hauls and product reviews. Children who once asked for Barbies now wish for skincare and makeup products. As material value replaces sentimental meaning, gift-giving culture is shifting. Is it truly the thought that counts or just the amount you spend?

For teenagers, keeping up with these high expectations is nearly impossible. According to the “Bureau of Labor Statistics,” in 2023, about 22.5% of teens ages 16–19 were employed. When other expenses, such as gas, food, and personal items, are taken into account, there is little money left for gifts on holidays such as Christmas, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, etc.

Sydney Freuler comments on how, “Gift giving can sometimes feel like a lot of pressure…Especially when the people around you make it feel like a competition of who can give the best gift.”

Gifting should be genuine and show you put thought behind it. However, that doesn’t always mean large or expensive. For many people, handmade gifts can be more meaningful. “I don’t personally think the price of the gift matters. As long as I know the person put genuine effort into the gift,” Freuler adds.

One trend around gift giving that has emerged on social media has been the use of baskets. Things such as a “Boo Basket” and “Burr Basket” for Halloween and wintertime are where you fill a basket to the brim with various items and sweets. These are prime examples of how expectations are growing and the “standard” is becoming more unattainable.

There’s a wide range of emotions that can come up around events/holidays. Some people dread having to plan and purchase gifts, on the other hand, some people even dread receiving gifts. No one wants to spend time and money on a gift, just for the person to show no gratitude or worse… return it.

“I think I hold myself to a high standard of giving gifts because it was taught to us that is how you show how much you care about a person. I think social media has definitely influenced what type of gifts we give, like more expensive brands, because that is what we see as popular,” says senior Avery Jacobs.

There is frustration in trying to find a gift they will actually use, anxiety over whether someone else will buy the same thing, and guilt when your gift feels less “grand” than the one you receive. These worries pull attention away from the celebration or the person themselves.

Instead of stressing over how much money to spend, one solution is to set clear boundaries around gift-giving. This could mean agreeing on a price range, choosing to skip gifts, or going out for dinner and simply spending time together. Another alternative is creating a DIY gift. Handmade cards, collages, or paintings show genuine effort and thought, and are often more thoughtful than something store-bought.