Enough has been said of crass commercialization. It ain't new and it ain't goin' anywhere. One thing's for certain. If the notion of filing for bankruptcy is put off till the sales are over, exchanges are done and gift cards turn to gifts, that is just fine. But the spending should be cash-based and it should be within one's means. There's no charging to be done in anticipation of bankruptcy. There's no 10% one-time saving to be done for opening new accounts you have no intention of paying off. If you're in a hole, you shouldn't dig it deeper.

And what to buy? Without knowing the recipient's needs or desires, you may waste on white elephants. Gift cards have been in. For consumers they mean some freedom. For vendors they mean unascertainable balances never redeemed. But think this way: would you give cash as a gift, or would it be in poor taste? Are gift cards really less tacky than greenbacks?

So what to do? Sincerity rules. Thoughtfulness and homemade efforts are appreciated. I'd much rather receive homemade cookies than Godiva bonbons. Well, maybe it depends on the cookies. But seriously, there's truth in this corniness of mine.

And who are the gifts for anyway? Do grown men and women really need wrapping and bows? Or should gift-giving be limited to a means of positive reinforcement for the kids? A privilege, not a given. Rewards for good behavior, good grades, chores done without reminding. If they're spoiled, it's because they haven't worked for the presents and without a reward-system, the gifts have no true value. And the price tag doesn't matter. Remember when they were really small and the box was of more interest than the toy?

What's my favorite kind of gift? Last week, I received a thank-you card from a client with a personal note inside. Made my day. E-mail is too easy. The handwritten note, the tactile card. That's true gift-giving in this virtual world. Just don't feel obliged to enclose a check.

So get out those adjustable-waist trousers and have a good, safe holiday season.

Best regards,

Asaph