The ‘dead weight' of bad gifts

However, despite all this mass buying of things, the huge surge in sales at Christmas time actually leads to what economists call a ‘deadweight loss'. What this means is that the overall difference between what present givers spent on Christmas gifts, and what the gift receivers would have paid for the same things, is a negative number (economists calculate that in 2001 Christmas resulted in a $4 billion deadweight loss in the U.S. alone). To put it more simply, most Christmas gifts are not as welcome as they should be!

Clutter & mess

Along with the fact that a person might not really want the carefully chosen Christmas gift being given to them, there tends to be a cost for upkeep and storage of the item – and its contribution to clutter around the household ends up being a further nuisance to the receiver.

Excess wastage

If presents end up in the dustbin then this contributes to damage to the environment. Due to the sheer scale of gift-giving at Christmas, the environmental impact is significant. Bad Christmas gifts are a burden to society.

The art of gift-giving

But it doesn't have to be this way! While none of us needs more bland cellophaned baskets of synthetic bath bombs and bodywashes, bags of tat destined for the landfill, there really is an art to gift-giving.

It is possible to give presents which will truly be valued by your loved ones. Once you have the knack of giving the right Christmas gifts to your friends and family, you can start making a positive contribution to the spirit of giving at Christmas!

Take your time

A mad rush around the shops on December 24 may suit your hectic lifestyle, but the likelihood of finding truly ideal Christmas gifts that way is slim. Instead, in the months leading up to Christmas, take a note of the interests and hobbies your friends and family are indulging in, and consider activities they might enjoy but which they haven't yet discovered for themselves.

Join forces

What gifts would help them achieve their goals, appreciate their hobbies or simply enhance their lives from day to day? Perhaps there is a Christmas gift which would benefit them, but which is too expensive for you to pay for. Could you join up with other members of their family or friends and pay for the item together?

Be original

If you are absolutely certain that giving the same present to a particular loved one every year will make them happy, go ahead. But most people like to be surprised once in a while! If you can find an original Christmas gift that suits a person's character in some way then it will be a more exciting present to receive.

Useful or beautiful

Finally, take inspiration from 19th century British craftsman, designer and poet William Morris, who said: ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful'. Ask this question of each Christmas gift purchase you are about to make. If it is neither useful nor beautiful, go and put it back on the shelf!