Alyssa Elmore, Campus Carrier photo editor
In the spirit of spring cleaning, let’s talk about what is likely buried in the depths of your closet: piles of brand-new blankets, never-opened fluffy socks, random gadgets, a candle that has never been lit. These items were gifts bought with good intentions by people who care about you. The problem isn’t the intention, though, it’s the habit of buying several things when one better thing would have done more.
The social pressure around buying gifts has pushed people to buy out of anxiety rather than genuine thoughtfulness. We often gravitate toward small things that loosely whisper someone’s name, like a candle in your favorite color. But more often than not, these extra gifts go unused. They take up space as the recipient feels too guilty to throw it away.
When did gift giving start revolving around guilt? Following World War II, economic growth ushered in a change in the standards of gift giving. In the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s, gift giving meant handmade items that were largely personal. As the ‘60s rolled around, the growth of commercial stores and media advertisements catalyzed a shift to the more materialistic style, with commercial, less personalized items becoming the most common gift.
Environmentally, overconsumption is an obvious issue. Unnecessary purchases mean unnecessary manufacturing, shipping and packaging. So many gifts are returned, donated, thrown away or left to sit with no use. Buying less is one of the most direct ways you as an individual can reduce this waste.
This doesn’t just go for gift giving, but also for personal spending. Spring is the season when people realize just how much they’ve accumulated. They swear they’ll be more intentional about their buying habits, but the patterns keep repeating.
If we really want less clutter, the answer is simple: buy less stuff. I’ll pull the “it’s capitalism’s fault” card here, because it is. Our society has been convinced that we need the newest item to live a happier, more convenient lifestyle. News flash: corporations tell us that so they can take our money and sell us the next useless product.
The better approach is straightforward: choose one gift that reflects your actual knowledge of the person. Something specific they’ve mentioned wanting or tickets to an experience that they love. Or, better yet, reframe your way of thinking about gifts. Think about a hobby of yours, whether it’s knitting, woodworking, planting, sewing or photography. If you aren’t so crafty, try gifting an experience or offering your help with something they may not enjoy, like washing their car, cleaning their windows or doing their laundry. These gifts don’t collect dust, and you’ll certainly get invited back. I challenge you to join me in taking it back to the 1930s with quality over quantity this year, and every year after that.