I like the holidays. Seriously.

But the gift-giving drives me nuts. I enjoy buying gifts, but make it incredibly hard for anyone to buy gifts for me with my steadfast denial of wanting anything. Time is the most precious thing in my life at the moment, and unfortunately there are not many things people can give me for Christmas that would give me more time.

(Unless someone wanted to sign up as my benefactor and removing my need to sell my time to eat. But I digress.)

In simple and relevant terms to this discussion, a deadweight loss is created when someone pays more money for a gift for you than would have spent on the same gift for yourself. It happens all the time.

What is the solution?

We might actually be happier—and we’d certainly be wealthier—if we exchanged small, well-considered gifts rather than haunting the malls.

Harder, but better for all. Happy Holidays!