We've all been there - suddenly waking up with the realisation that it's someone's birthday or a special occasion right around the corner, and that feeling of dread as you have no idea what to buy them.    But why do we have this social anxiety when it comes to present buying? Since the time of cave dwellers, gifts have been exchanged as a sign of appreciation and to strengthen relationships (although it was a bit easier back then in the shape of an unusual rock or an animal tooth). However, as time progressed, the number of reasons to give gifts increased with cultural celebrations such as Bat or Bar Mitzvahs, Eidi and Christmas, and gifts became more elaborate. Still, the fundamental reasons why we give gifts remains the same. To show our love and appreciation To build and strengthen relationships To help others. However, this is where the gift-giving anxiety kicks in, as giving a gift isn't always as straightforward as buying a pair of socks or picking up some petrol station flowers to convey the message I care about you. Every gift is tied with emotional, psychological and social connections - your gift speaks volumes to the person receiving it. In 1999, a study of 129 people described a situation in which they received a gift; ten people spoke about gifts that damaged their relationship, while two ended their relationships after the gift - talk about make or break!  Now fast-forward to today and throw in the pressures of social media, and the gift-giving anxiety goes through the roof, as everyone and their dog can see what type of gift buyer you are and what it says about your relationship with that person. With the pressure we and society put on ourselves when it comes to our gift buying antics, we often feel that more is better or the more cash we splash, the better received the gift is; however, this isn't the case.  With UK households spending an average of £500 on gifts during the Christmas season, it's sad to learn that as much as £700 million worth