No Gift is Free

No gift is 100% free, which is why gifts should be less obligated at events common in our society (birthdays, weddings, graduations, etc). Whether someone has gone out and purchased a tangible gift, or given their time and companionship to a dear friend, nothing can be given without some sort of sacrifice. One must put forth effort, currency, skill, or time in order to give a gift.
A toaster cannot just be given out of nothing, just like friendship cannot just be given out of nothing. Someone had to work for the money and then spend it on the toaster, or someone had to spend lots of time and effort on building the friendship. This money or this time could have been used on anything, but choosing to spend it on another makes it special. That isn't to say that giving a loved one a gift on an important day for them, such as their graduation or confirmation, is not kind. I just do not think that gift-giving should be so expected and forced.
How special is one gift to a child on Christmas if they have 20 others? Giving them the one gift that they truly want would be more appreciative and less spoiling. I think that maturing and understanding the amount of time we have in life, and the value of a dollar makes a gift more special. We can learn to appreciate the price that person has paid to somehow celebrate another.