Now that Valentine’s Day with its overpriced gifts is finally behind us, we may take a few weeks before another commercialised occasion or holiday hits us.

And while many people do see the benefits of celebrating special days with their loved ones and family, there is a strong argument for looking into how much you actually spend simply because every radio or television commercial and every advertisement tell you that purchasing presents — that are often over overpriced and unnecessary — is the best way to express your appreciation and love to your special ones.

What’s the alternative? Let’s start with looking into the actual value of any particular holiday to you personally. Some holidays that are religious or social may mean a lot to you, and celebrating them is part of your identity. Others may be just events that fall in the categories of “everyone else celebrates them and I don’t want to feel left out.” The latter category seriously requires a good look into how you handle pressure from peers and the media.

Even for holidays and occasions that matter to you, how you celebrate them shouldn’t be dictated by what’s in vogue. In fact, most of your well-established holidays probably have their own rituals that don’t need retailers to tell you what to buy or travel agents to tell you where to go to make the best out of them. The point is: across the world, holidays — old and new — have been commercialised to a great extent. If you let your guard down and get carried away with every celebrated occasion, you may be spending significant money on gifts you’d not otherwise buy.

It is not black and white; here are a few tips to help you balance your budget — and your lifestyle.

What’s the budget?

For whatever occasion and its associated gifts, have your own budget. If you’re exposed to ads and commercials that tells you that a particular gift — for whatever occasion, costs just Dh999, you may after a while think of Dh999 as a normal and acceptable amount to pay. You may afford it, but the question is: Do you want to spend that amount of money on this gift for this person and why? The answer to this question has nothing to do with this person’s importance and value, but with your perception of what’s acceptable to you financially.

Have a budget based on your own requirements and needs, and try to stick with it. By doing so, you take back control of your own finances and make sure that your spending decisions are not shaped by those who are solely after your money.

What are the alternatives?

Many retailers and advertisers play off the perception that a product makes for the perfect gift, capitalising on you being lost for gift ideas. In a time crunch, the DH999 gift becomes attractive as the only solution. That should not be the case, however, if you allow yourself to explore alternatives with an open mind.

Consider the alternatives not only in terms of price, but also in terms of quality, personalised experience, etc. Many gifts can be valuable and memorable even if they don’t cost a small fortune. From home-made goodies to sharing a movie or even an hour of volunteer time, you can give your special ones a lot more than what money can buy.

To celebrate or not to celebrate

It is an individual question that many people may have a cultural reference for its answer. If the occasion is relatively new to you and you don’t feel strongly about it, why are you celebrating? Is it peer pressure? Is it because others are expecting you to? Regardless to why you do or you don’t, make sure that you’re not just being carried away with retail frenzy.

Big part of the decision to take part or not is financial. It is not a matter of whether or not, it is also about how much you’re willing to channel into every particular event.

Rania Oteify, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is a Seattle-based editor.