Say No to Seasonal Excess and Yes to Charitable Giving

Martin Booe’s article “Giving Until It Hurts” (Dec. 21) perfectly captures the insanity of holiday shopping, an activity my husband and I opted out of some years ago. After reviewing our family members’ relative prosperity, and reliving memories of inappropriate (or silly) gifts we’d given and received, we informed them that we would contribute to charity in their names in lieu of gifts. Exceptions have been made for our grandchildren, but except for their gifts and cash bonuses to our house cleaner and gardener, we have managed to avoid the excesses of the season.

Linda Martin

Mike Cornforth

Del Mar