So this year I think we are cancelling Christmas.
Sounds harsh, I know. But it's something I've been thinking about for awhile now. And with a few recent turn of events, I think it's going to work out better for our whole family this way.
Over the past two years, we've lost a significant amount of our side-income. Like $6,000. That's huge since we live on one income. And then you factor in pay cuts and unpaid furlough days, and you start to see life getting harder. And of course just about everything costs more these days.
It's been tough and it's getting tougher. Just a few months ago my brother got a long-awaited job as a local city cop. Then recently they decided, hey we hired all these cops, but we can't afford to actually
pay them. They're planning a HUGE layoff extravaganza. Wonderful.
Then there's my Dad, who's been working a temp job ever since the company he worked for went out of business last year. Well actually he was unemployed for awhile before he even found the temp job. Damn economy. Anyway, he just found out that his temporary position is over. Great.
So... I've decided to cancel Christmas. Well, not
all of Christmas. We'll still get together, have a great dinner and enjoy each other's company. But we won't be exchanging gifts.
Of course Santa will still visit our house and leave gifts for our kids. We're certainly not so bad off that we'd ruin the special day for our kiddos. But they won't be receiving as much as they did last year. With the goal of spending less, the gifts that we do buy will be more well thought out, hopefully more special, and cherished by our kids.
And you know what? I'm actually really excited about all this. Who would have thought? It's very freeing to know that I won't be spending the next four months hunting down the perfect gifts.
Don't get me wrong, I love to shop and I love to shop for just the right gift for each person. Throughout the year, I normally take notes on gifts that I think each person would like or find useful. I love trying to find all those gifts for a fraction of their regular costs, using sales and coupons. I'm gonna miss all of that.
But instead, I get to focus on the beauty of fall, the fun of Halloween, the yumminess of Thanksgiving, all the deocrating, the baking, and the family get-togethers. And we'll have lots of extra time to dance around singing Christmas carols with the kids... love that!
Cancelling Christmas
by Lisa Turner
by Henry Perez
