So, you’ve recently entered into a relationship and it’s almost Christmas, you are delighted to know you’ll have a date for New Year’s, but it’s the week before that has you wracked with insecurity. Christmas! It’s unavoidable, everywhere you look there are reminders; Santa Clause abounds, houses and trees are strung up with lights, tons of movie re-runs, and the commercials, those damn commercials…
Black Friday ads were unrelenting, and they were just the beginning. Everything is screaming at you to ‘get that special someone something special’ and then they list a bunch of expensive items designed to make you feel like a cheapskate if you find them too pricey. But your relationship is still still in trainers and you don’t want to blow it.
Forget everything you see on TV, everything you hear on the radio, everything that pops-up on your screen…..Forget it all! You are exempt, it does not apply! The very last thing you want to do in a new relationship, is spend a lot of money on a Christmas gift.
How much is too much? If you have to ask, it’s too much. Too much is ‘stalker-y’ and can very well creep the recipient out enough to end the relationship. And, as if that weren’t bad enough, you spent a lot of money on the weapon that killed it. Not to mention the fact that it will be a new Christmas memory.
Is there such a thing as too little? Only if you try to avoid it. You have to acknowledge it, it’s the elephant in the room. Bring it up with your new partner in a light, humorous way Tell him/her that you’re sure they have a long list of gifts to buy, as do you, and that you’d rather he/she save for a really nice birthday present, (unless your birthday is around the corner.) Maybe suggest a ‘Christmas Decompression Date’ instead.
This can be a fun way to address this elephant while still showing that you care about this person by adding a personal touch.
These are just a few fun and unique ideas that are sure to bring you together while taking the pressure off ‘the gift.’ You’ll learn more about each other and who knows, it may become your Christmas tradition, it will definitely make a memory. Whatever the case, a new relationship at Christmas can be awkward when it comes to gift giving but don’t let it stop you from being in one.
