Every year, the legend has it, jolly old Saint Nick comes to each deserving child’s home, leaving toys, tinsel and treasures for all children on his “nice list” to enjoy. In other words, Santa Claus does not leave E-gift cards under our chimneys. Instead, he leaves warm, heartfelt gifts possessing meaning, not superficial barcodes — which are arguably more spirited than a mere gift card.   

For me, the holiday season never fails to bring about memories sweeter than a batch of my favorite, homemade Christmas cookies — three of which I would always leave for the jolly man in red underneath my red brick chimney. On Christmas morning, nothing would brighten little Aashna’s smile like seeing the red and green frosted Christmas cookies fully eaten, a glass of milk half empty and a chimney overflowing with gifts, which I, at the time, believed to be from none other than Santa Claus himself. But one thing was for sure, never did I ever see an E-gift card in my stocking — thankfully. 

With honesty being one of the core qualities in successfully sleighing my way onto Santa Claus’ good list this year, let me be completely transparent. I am a big believer in the holiday spirit, and a total romantic for the winter season, which led me to believe in Saint Nick until seventh grade, when I was finally brought to reality with a spoiler alert — harder to digest than a glass of eggnog. 

Sometimes I embrace the holiday season with an extra dash of cinnamon in a cup of my favorite Winter Bliss drink from Philz Coffee. Other times, I completely indulge in the scent of a fresh Christmas tree standing serenely in my living room, lit up with colorful fluorescent lights. But the idea that tops all else is the gift of giving real, thoughtful presents, which is undoubtedly my love language. 

To be honest, as a teenager living in the notorious “digital age,” the solution to almost everything is available on our phones at the touch of a button, or more fittingly at the scroll of our thumbs. Tangible gifts serve as a sliver of hope and humanity in an otherwise robotically digitized world. Call me old-fashioned, but I stick by it — bright red gift bags with the beautiful crinkling noises of green tissue paper, and brown boxes covered with gingerbread-patterned wrapping are the true essence of the holiday spirit. 

Although some may argue that these beautifully personalized gifts come with more heads aching than hearts warming, with the allegedly cumbersome process of picking out the right-sized sweater, these tangible gifts still show care and compassion. At least the other person will still think, Hey, it’s nice that she thought of me. Plus, even if the sizing doesn’t work out or the holiday treat isn’t their cup of tea, gift receipts exist for a reason. 

At the end of the day, nothing beats decking the halls — not with boughs of holly — but with real, thoughtful and heartwarming gifts.

Every holiday season, many of us face the same question: What gift should I give?

As I skim through the aisles of Target, I see the rows of colorful red sweaters, knitted scarves and scented candles, waiting to be wrapped in glossy wrapping paper and placed under a twinkling Christmas tree. But in a society that values convenience and individuality, perhaps the best gift isn’t one that is fancily wrapped, but something that is practical — a gift card.

Sure, when I was younger, I lived for the thrill of clawing through glitter-dusted wrapping paper and getting bombarded by shreds of confetti. I’d unravel the box and spot a bright pink, soft, sparkly sweater from Justice, one my mother picked out of love. 

But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown out of the taste for gifts that others picked for me. I can’t even remember where the white sweater my mom gifted me last year ended up, probably swallowed under a mountain of dirty laundry deep in my closet. 

However, a $25 gift card to Chipotle never lets me down. What could go wrong with the taste of a warm tortilla, freshly cooked steak and the heap of guac I always tell myself I wouldn’t dare spend three dollars on but do anyway? That small rectangle of plastic has never disappointed me, promising me a meal I’ll actually enjoy without the guessing, clutter or guilt.

According to a 2023 study by Blackhawk Network Rewards, 85% of consumers prefer receiving a gift card over any other type of gift. The same report found gift cards have been the most preferred holiday gift for 16 consecutive years. In other words, they’re not heartless; they hold value.

Although some argue that tangible gifts carry more “heart” and symbolize thoughtfulness and the spirit of giving, consideration isn’t measured by a guessing game, but by understanding what the other person would want. 

A gift card to a favorite restaurant can be translated to, I remembered how much you love pasta. Meanwhile, a gift card to a bookstore can show that you pay attention to the recipient’s literary interests. Traditional presents miss flexibility and intention.

Also, gift cards can have a personal and sentimental value when paired with a handwritten note. The emotion comes from the giver, not from the packaging.

Moreover, gift cards reduce one of the biggest issues in today’s society: waste and overconsumption. According to a January 17, 2025 article from the Environmental Protection Agency, there is a 25% increase in waste from the Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day period than at any other time of year, much of it stemming from packaging and unwanted gifts. 

Gift cards reduce the clutter that comes from gift-giving. I unfortunately had to learn this the hard way last Christmas, after unwrapping a pile of presents — each one lined with scotch tape and filled with confetti glitter — from friends and relatives.

Meanwhile, the one gift that required no cleaning? A $20 gift card to Starbucks. My cousin texted me a barcode as my present and it changed my view of what gift-giving should be: useful and convenient. I got to avoid the tape sticking onto my fuzzy socks, quick trips to the dumpster outside and trash cans filled to the brim.  

Truly, the “real gift” sentiment derives mostly from nostalgia — the image of Santa sleighing on his reindeer to leave toys for children, or the excitement of tearing wrapping paper. But the modern world has changed how we view the “gift of giving,” turning it into a matter of respecting others’ personal choices. 

So maybe Santa should start sliding e-gift cards down the chimney and save his reindeer some time and energy. Because sometimes, the warmest and most considerate gift isn’t wrapped in a huge box and placed with a red ribbon; it’s the freedom to choose what makes us happiest.