Capitalism: the beating heart of America. And that fact becomes more apparent every holiday season as it appears Americans celebrate capitalism. Black Friday sales are starting earlier and earlier every year, and Cyber Monday sales overwhelm shipping companies each season. 

For some, holiday shopping brings to mind the images of crammed stores, slashed prices, and an overwhelming amount of wrapping paper. And for others, it means sitting on a couch clicking through websites and adding items to their cart. 

If last year’s holiday season was any example of what this year will look like, then shipping companies can prepare to be overburdened. And they have. The U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx are bringing in around 230,000 temporary workers in order to combat the expected 3.4 billion packages that will be shipped cross-country. The pandemic is still impacting how people buy; more people are buying online now, and more products are having to be shipped across the country. However, due to last year’s struggles, the shipping industry is better prepared for this year’s holiday season. 

Many households have started a tradition of putting out water and snacks during the holiday season for their frequent visitors of mailmen delivering packages. Some keep the tradition going throughout the year, especially at the beginning of the year when mail carrying services were overwhelmed with the packages. Pinterest and mommy blogs have a multitude of ideas on how to give back to your mailman. 

A popular staple for online shopping is Amazon. One of the main appeals is the wide range of options from toys to clothes to electronics and the shipping efficiency. Amazon seems to be only a reasonable choice. 

No one will blame you for an increase in buying during the “season of giving.” However, an alternative to holiday shopping on Amazon is shopping at small and local businesses. Most small businesses have Instagram and TikTok pages that make finding what you are looking for easy. And a number of Perry high school students run a small business. A perk to buying from a small business run by a teenager is that they know what teenagers like and how to market towards you. And you are able to support a peer’s dream just by giving gifts to friends and families. 

This holiday season, try to be creative with the way you give. You can always find a gift in a department store, but you can also find gifts in thrift stores, small businesses, or D.I.Y. gifts from the heart. At the end of the day, do not let the ritual of the gift overwhelm you.