As the holiday season approaches, the search for the perfect gift for everyone on the list begins. Whether it’s for a parent or a distant relative, it can be hard to figure out the right gift for them. The question that resurfaces every November and December remains unanswered: Is a store-bought or a handmade gift better?

Many people argue that a homemade gift is more meaningful because it has more sentimental value than anything that could be found at the store, and it usually comes from someone who means a lot to the recipient. Every handmade gift, no matter how much effort was put into it, comes from the heart. A lot of parents appreciate a handmade gift from their children and often cherish it for years, even if it is just a piece of paper with a hand print on it. To them, that hand print represents not only their child who they love, but it also shows everything they’ve worked for, like their family, job, house, etc. The feeling of receiving something that was made specifically for you, is one of a kind, and cannot be found in stores is part of the reason why so many people love the holidays.

On the other hand, a lot of people feel that a handmade gift may have a deeper meaning, but there is not a lot to do with them. While being gifted something handmade has value, so does being given something materialistic. For many people, nothing beats the excitement felt when opening a gift and seeing something they have wanted for a long time. Whether it is an article of clothing, jewelry, or concert tickets, some people prefer to receive a gift with monetary value. To them, being able to see how much the person cares for them through the price of a gift is more meaningful than any handmade gift.

Although people have differing opinions on which type of gift they’d rather receive, nothing is better than giving someone a gift they will cherish forever. It doesn’t matter if the gift is handmade or store-bought, all that does matter is that the gift has value and meaning to the recipient. In the end, the only thing that is important is that both the recipient and the giver are happy with their gifts, and it has value for both to cherish.