Horin cited statistics from a survey by the Australia Institute that revealed that last Christmas, six million Australians received one or more presents they never used or later gave away.
These unwanted gifts represent $798 million waste of money, time and resources. The growing culture of 'obligatory giving' only brings joy to the big retailers and the big banks whose credit cards are largely funding the annual splurge.
Yet, Horin notes that on a more positive note, nearly four in five respondents would be happy for a donation to be made to a charity on their behalf instead of getting a present.
www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/shopping/christmas-a-waste-of-time-money-and-presents-20101213-18via.html
In my view, most people would happily agree that the waste of money purchasing gifts is a heavy weight upon their hearts, let alone their wallets.
This is in line with a quote by The Australia Institute's executive director, Richard Denniss, that about one quarter of Australians expect to give presents to people they would prefer not to. Moreover they are spending money they do not have, building their credit card debt.
Our family has come to grips to this issue and our children were taught this from when they were very young. When they were in primary school, we restricted our giving to several small gifts; then we as a family sent a cheque representing the estimated savings to a Christian mission.
On one other occasion, I had won a lovely travel bag as a prize in a table tennis competition. I already had sufficient luggage, but I noticed that the (then) head of the Australian Baptist Missionary Society didn't travel with a bag, so I sent it to him.
Now that our children are adults and we are grandparents, we have the opportunity to deal with the issue of gifts in an entirely different manner. We now ask them what specifically they need. If it is an expensive item a number of family members might put in; for example, two of the children clubbed together to buy my wife, Delma a special desk lamp to help with her craft work, which is part of her ministry.
Over our 34 years of marriage, many times we celebrated with a gift of a dinner out and or going to the cinema rather than a more tangible item that we really didn't need.
A relative of mine once hired someone from a well-respected housekeeping agency to 'live in' over an Easter long weekend, specifically to cook the lunches and dinners for their family of five (and do the washing up). This included one BBQ when they had invited guests. His wife still tells people, many years later, that it was the best holiday she has ever had, and the most appreciated gift!
Having said all that, I realise that the retail economy (that means all of us) would be devastated without people buying gifts for this or that celebration; be it anniversary, birthday, wedding, Christmas, friendship, Mothers' and Fathers' days and the other commercial 'giving' opportunities that seem to be more and more evident.
And on the other side of the coin, gifts are recognised as being an important way we express our sincere love and care for someone. Biblically, gifts are mentioned as being important. For example, when Jesus was born he received gold, and frankincense and myrrh from wise men. (Matthew 2 verse 11).
The word 'gift' in the Scriptures has a particular meaning that has nothing at all to do with Earthly values. The Salvation story itself is couched in the language of gift-giving; that Jesus' death on the Cross is a precious gift for mankind to receive for themselves, that is 'priceless'.