As the holidays approach, the question of the ideal gift torments us all. What if the easy solution was to slip a few bills into an envelope? Stop! This easy solution actually hides a trap that could well spoil the magic of Christmas.
In the 1990s, a young economist from Yale looked into the question. His conclusion? Offering money would be more “rational” since the recipient could buy exactly what they want. His study even showed a “dead loss” of 20% between the value of a gift and what the recipient would have been willing to pay to obtain it.
A theory that inspires today’s economists. Questioned on the subject, the greatest experts, including seven Nobel Prize winners in economics, unanimously rejected this purely mathematical view of gifts.
And for good reason! Imagine the scene: you hand an envelope containing 50 euros to your spouse while he or she hands you another containing… 50 euros. Romantic, isn’t it? This absurd situation perfectly illustrates why money cannot replace a real gift.
Sentimental value, this inestimable wealth
Gifts are much more than a simple material exchange: they represent a real emotional language that strengthens our social bonds. Choosing a present requires time, reflection, and knowledge of others. It is this special attention that gives its value to the gift, well beyond its price in store.
The psychologist Vincent Joly also emphasizes that giving money causes you to lose “the symbolic dimension of the gift and the idea that we thought of the other”. This dimension is particularly important for children, for whom money remains an abstract concept before the age of 9-10.
In a tense economic context, where more than half of French people plan to reduce their spending for the holidays (in 2024, the average French budget for Christmas gifts is 426 euros)the temptation of the stuffed envelope can be strong. However, studies show that only one in seven French people are disappointed by the gifts they receive. Donors are therefore quite right in their choices!
For those worried about making a mistake, there are more elegant alternatives than tickets. Gift cards, for example, combine convenience with personal attention. They give the recipient the freedom to choose while showing that thought has been given to their interests.
- Money as a Christmas gift destroys the symbolic and emotional dimension of the exchange
- Studies show that 86% of French people are satisfied with the gifts they receive
- Gift cards represent an acceptable compromise between convenience and personal attention
