Christmas Day - Adam Ruins Gift Giving

This kind of makes the whole thing redundant and awkward because you basically give money to one another. If you give the same amount as you receive, basically nothing changes.

I agree. Simply giving cash is in my opinion, the best way to give gifts. You give them liquid assets with which to buy whatever they want. If they aren't interested in getting any material gifts from their Christmas money, then they can save it and you gift becomes infinitely more valuable as it acquires interest in the bank.