Ken Nelson

Those of you who know me personally know that Halloween is my least favorite holiday.  Followed by the secular side of Christmas. I ignore all others except Thanksgiving which I really like.

But I’m an active Christmas gift giver. Why?  Culture forces me to be. So over the years I’ve spent a lot of effort trying to sort out how to enjoy Christmas, and have gradually eked out a compromise gift giving strategy that turns Christmas into Thanksgiving with some well thought out gifts.

So since the “holiday season” starts Sunday (way too early, but hey – there is a recession on!), please consider the “deadweight value” of your Christmas gifts. What is “deadweight value”?  It is how much less the gift is worth to the recipient than what was spent on it.

This book explains it:

Let’s use a little logic to consider this.

If your target is relatively affluent (as most of my gift recipients are) then pretty much anything they need, they buy. They also  buy a high percentage of things that they just want, not need.

So when my friends and family say “What do you get the man who has everything” they really mean it.  Pretty much what I want that I can afford, I buy.  And if I can’t afford it, they probably can’t either.

Each year, as the boss of the company, I play “Santa Ken” at the office Christmas party. Each year I spent a fair amount of time figuring out what each person wants but can’t afford, but that I can. Sometimes this can be difficult, but I enjoy the duty.

At home it is more difficult. And within families and friends you have to consider the relationship cost of not giving a gift. But, again, a reasonable strategy is to figure out what the person wants but can’t afford (and you can), or something they would want but weren’t AWARE of.  Eclectic, well thought out gifts, rule. 

My favorite family gift of the last couple years was the bread cutting box my kids gave my wife’s mom. My son built the box in my woodshop (with Grandpa’s help). I base painted it. My daughter toll painted a scripture on it they had both picked out.  It cost well below what Nana could afford to pay for a bread cutting box, but as the Visa commercial goes… the true value to Nana was “priceless”.

I’ll still bah humbug and DVR past silly jewelry for Christmas ads, but each year I enjoy Christmas a bit more. And maybe the strategy I’ve formed to enjoy Christmas more will be of use to you.

BTW: my FAVORITE Christmas ad.