Call me a Charlie Brown, but my biggest gripe about holiday shopping is people who turn the season into a soulless gift-giving machine that produces a lot of gifts to fill slots on an impersonal, faceless list, but doesn’t create enough thoughtful, cheerful giving, which is really what the spirit of the coming season is all about. 

When I choose a gift for someone, I tailor it to the person. Maybe it serves their hobby or fills some wish they expressed over the past year. My favorite gifts are those that link me with that other person. Whether they’re the recipient or giver, the gift links us through a private joke, shared interest, or common experience as friends or family. I don’t like receiving gifts that seem like they came from a grab bag, bear no relationship to anything about me or my interests, or rouse suspicions of regifting. I refuse to treat my friends and family that way when I give gifts.

One thing I LOVE about the season is hearing Tightwad Tod Marks’ sometimes cranky, but always consumer-helpful, voice rattling around the halls of Consumer Reports. Here, he talks about some of the small but nonetheless irritating aspects of the holiday shopping experience that drive shoppers batty, according a recent poll by Consumer Reports and its sister Web site, The Consumerist. Tod is the perfect gift for anyone, so pass this link on to all your friends and relatives. Happy holidays!—Jeff Blyskal