The holiday season brings about the age-old question: what is the true meaning of Christmas? In our society, it can be easy for an individual to feel pressure to provide their loved ones with expensive gifts, despite if they can afford it. Some may spend all of their free time during the holidays stressing over which necklace seems nicer, the one from Tiffany & Co or Pandora Jewelry?

It can be easy to fall into this holiday trap. According to ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions, 30 percent of American shoppers spent over $1000 on holiday shopping during November 4 through 8. All for this crazy idea to satisfy their loved ones with gifts that will provide “the true meaning of Christmas.”

The true meaning of Christmas cannot be expressed through the tall stack of presents under the tree. It can only be expressed as a family of loved ones who are spending their time together.

Christmas time is made special when everyone is together baking cookies, watching movies, drinking hot chocolate by the fire and singing along to classic Christmas songs. It may sound cheesy, but spending time with the ones you love is what makes the holiday season as magical as it can be.

It all boils down to the time a family spends together during the Christmas season, and what they choose to do with that time. Making memories that will last for the next Christmas is what it’s all about.

Experience the magic of Christmas by  spending quality time with loved ones, not assessing the quality of store-bought presents.