Hey Hip2Saver,

I just felt like I needed to share this today. The holidays can bring so much joy, but let's be real—they can also feel overwhelming. We get caught up in gift-giving, spending too much, or stressing over what we should be doing, and it's easy to lose sight of what really matters.

Here's the thing: the best present of all is being present. Looking back, the gifts that meant the most to me weren't expensive. They were handwritten notes, a little craft my kids made, or even just a heartfelt hug. That's the stuff that stays with you forever.

Even though we're a deal site and just spent weeks posting the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, I want to say this—if your budget doesn't allow for gifts this year, don't feel bad about it. A deal is NOT a deal if you don't have the money to pay for it. Some of the best Christmases I can remember were when we didn't have a ton of gifts under the tree. We were living paycheck to paycheck, but instead of stressing about that, we played in the snow, made cookies, and laughed together. It was about the moments, not the stuff.

If you're looking to simplify this year, check out Sara's post on the five-gift rule or our post on gifting experiences instead of things—they're such great reminders that less can truly be more.

And if you need to hear this today: you're doing the best you can, and your people know that. Give yourself grace, soak in the moment, and let the rest wait. Trust me, gifts will never matter as much as YOUR presence. 🫶

So let's all take a deep breath, enjoy the NOW, and remember:

"At Christmas, all roads lead home." – Marjorie Holmes

With love,

Collin ❤️