It’s time to break the shackles of generosity etiquette and tell people what you actually want.
A Vinnies survey of 1000 Australians found that 76 per cent of us find Christmas shopping stressful. To make matters worse, about 67 per cent receive at least one unwanted or unused gift every year. iStock
There are few sentences in the English language so sure to trigger a fight-or-flight response in someone on a tight budget as: “Are we doing gifts this year?”
I have a budget. In fact, as a fun and thrillingly organised wealth reporter, I even have an automated transfer that – every fortnight – flicks $60 into a designated account I set up to cover the $1500 I spend between Christmas, birthday, wedding, baby shower, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts every year.
Lucy DeanWealth reporterLucy Dean writes about wealth management, personal finance, lifestyle and leisure, based in The Australian Financial Review's Sydney newsroom. Connect with Lucy on Twitter. Email Lucy at l.dean@afr.com
