Single Girls Don't Get Christmas Presents
For anyone a little lonely at the holidays.
Welcome to Cheaper Than Therapy, a newsletter by Shani Silver.
I wrote this entire newsletter and deleted it. Intentionally. I didn’t like how sad I allowed myself to sound, and I had trouble finding a way to make myself sound happier to you. There’s a responsibility I tend to feel when writing to single women, as if I can somehow lift your spirits if I hide enough of my own. Whether it’s aging into a new era of my life or the relentless emotional battery of 2025, I’m feeling a bit sad this holiday season, and I guess I’d rather just admit that then try to write a mediocre newsletter about how not to be.
Every year I set up my Christmas tree knowing full well there will never be any presents underneath it. I live alone, Santa isn’t real, where would presents come from? Single girls don’t get Christmas presents, not in the way people who live with loved ones do. At first it was a hard sight to see, but over time I’ve grown accustomed to the void. I bought some sparkly silver fabric and draped it around like a tree skirt, where it will stay until I decide to repurpose it for a Mardi Gras costume I’m sure. But no presents, not one—not ever. I know what you’re thinking: the holidays are not about presents. And you’re right. Otherwise this would be really fucking sad.