With the Christmas season officially rolling in, the stress of shopping for presents is heavy, and prices are high. This brings up the debate of which is the superior gift: handmade or store-bought.
Personally, I would say homemade gifts are better, but I also fall under the crafty category. Usually, homemade gifts are kinder to your wallet, and the worry of your financial state is put at bay, but your perfectionist side definitely will come to haunt you. Luckily for me, I’m only gifted an unnecessary amount of art supplies, and I end up not spending a dime on any gift because all my homemade gifts are made out of gifted supplies.
People have differing opinions about receiving homemade gifts, and if you happen to be on the store-bought side you risk sounding like a real Grinch. Some people despise the idea of receiving homemade gifts because it’s poor quality.
Is this what the meaning of the holiday has come to?
Depending on how high quality or expensive a gift isn’t a reflection of how much a person cares for you. This is one of the reasons I push for homemade gifts, and encourage my little sister to do so. You put genuine time, effort, and thought into making this gift, which should mean more, even if it’s not window-worthy.
While homemade gifts aren’t everyone’s strong suit, it’s still a fun way to give for the holidays. People underestimate how easily craft stores can make jewelry making, and a majority of people wear jewelry. All you need is a chain, a charm, and a clamp, and hopefully, you have wire cutters because those are very helpful. And as an FYI, Pinterest is full of craft ideas for any age group and skill range.
However, homemade gifts don’t take away the stressful aspect of gift-giving. If you’re like me and you want this gift to be perfect. However, it’s also time-consuming, especially if you’re learning a new skill.
We should all remember that the holidays are a time to be with family and friends and show that we care, and that can simply be shown by giving them your time. Homemade gifts can be seen as giving a little part of you. If you think you can do that with a store-bought gift go for it, but I think it’s better represented in homemade.
