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Every year — whether it be for a birthday, anniversary, or other celebration — we all struggle with choosing perfect gifts for the people on our shopping lists. The holiday season is the hardest when it comes to gift-giving, since there are multiple people to shop for: The significant other, your family, your boss & coworkers, friends, neighbors, etc. But what about the most important person; what about yourself? It’s a great thing to practice generosity and give presents to those you care for, but take it from me: There’s nothing like self-care during the holiday season.
Only YOU can know exactly what’s on your Christmas list! (Did you read that in a Smokey Bear voice? I’m hoping you did.) So what are you waiting for? Get. Yourself. Some. Quality. Presents. You. Well-Deserving. Bitch.
Alright, before we even get started: I know this doesn’t apply to ALL Christmas gifts. Even though I’d selfishly love to hear a ridiculous story about someone buying their own engagement ring for the holidays, I totally understand that some gifts are meant to be received by someone else for a specific reason. Those are forgivable.
But the other things? Sweaters. Scarves. Wine charms. Coffee mugs. Candles. Perfume. Let’s all do ourselves the favor this year and forego having to give those polite auto-pilot responses of, “Thank you, I love it!” when, in actuality, we’ll all be rushing to the customer service aisle on December 26th to get store credit for the unwanted item.
Some of y’all will think that my way of thinking is “ungrateful” and that “it’s the thought that counts.” But if you’re being realistic, shameless self-gifting is just a sensible & economically friendly way to make sure you get something that you’ll actually use. My brother and I decided to just get ourselves our own presents this year, and I couldn’t be happier. Don’t get me wrong: My love language is gift-giving. I LOVE getting things for other people. But I feel incredibly guilty and uncomfortable when I receive something I know will be put to little use.
What do you REALLY want? That leather jacket? A new laptop? Those concert tickets? An unnecessary amount of face masks? A jumbo margarita? Yoga classes? A bag of salt and vinegar potato chips? That new eyeshadow palette that you’ll only use two shades from? Get it!
Bonus: There’s no hard and fast boundary for when self-gifting season begins and ends. If you want to wait until a holiday bonus check comes in from the office, make January your treat-yo-self month. Between extended office hours, family emergencies, nights out with friends, taking the dog to the dog park, eating healthily, and sleeping an adequate amount, we don’t have a ton of free time — and then what tiny amount of freedom we do have seems to get swallowed by the other bullet points on our to-do lists that we didn’t have time for the first go-around. So, trust me: You deserve to treat yourself from time to time (especially during the holidays).
This holiday season, don’t forget to give to the person you know best: yourself. Even if it means your own bottle of wine to ease the family tension at Christmas dinner..
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KatieCallaway
Katie is 27 and is from Nashville, TN but lives in Los Angeles, CA as an actress, comedian, writer, and marketing manager. Although some might disagree, she likely peaked when she had dinner with Randy Jackson and he called her “dude” a lot. You can see her active on the Twitterverse at @KECallaway or you can also follow her new Insta at @KatieCallaway even though she hates Instagram.
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@katiecallaway
In the true Spirit Of Christmas you should buy yourself something that is completely useless, open it Christmas morning, thank yourself in an obviously insincere manner, then put it in the back of your closet and forget about it until the next time you move then haul it down to Goodwill lol
Took this Monday off to do my Christmas shopping in peace. One for you, one for me will be in full MF effect, along with happy hour halftime at the hotel bar next door to the galleria.
The past few years my brother and I have been buying ourselves the gift we want, and then wrapping it and putting it under the tree from the other. It works.
My favorite Christmas gift is usually the one I bought myself. Amen.