Ancient gifting wisdom suggests it’s the thought that counts. But there’s a lot to overthink: how to find the perfect gift that says exactly what you want it to say, how to afford it, and how to live up to the receiver’s expectations—or deal with their disappointment if you don’t.

This season in particular is wrapped in anxiety. According to a poll from the American Psychiatric Association, people are more stressed over the upcoming holidays than they were last year, and nearly half are worried about finding or affording gifts. “Somewhere along the way, gifting became less optional and more obligatory,” says Ken Martz, a psychology professor at Purdue Global and author of Manage My Emotions . “The holidays stopped being about generosity and became about performance.” He often hears pe

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