Christmas Gifting This Year

 

As the Christmas holiday approaches I find myself entering yet another phase of life.  Many, many individual conversations have taken place in recent months, some as far back as last year, and I know within my circle of friends and family that we are all entering a new phase in our lives.

 

Right now, there are no little children to consider, we are all adults with our own homes and fortunately we’ve all been blessed to have what we need.  Most of us are finding ourselves in various degrees of downsizing or decluttering what we have in order to move into a smaller space or just to live more simply.  Some are deeply committed to Swedish Death Cleaning right now, while others just don’t need or want any more stuff in their lives.  Things are changing, we are all evolving and adapting to our current state.

 

Most of my friends and relatives are retired or working their way in that direction so they are focused on living with smaller budgets while saving and investing their money for the future.  I am right there myself.  Others are trying to live within their means so as not to incur debt while working on an education or establishing a career.  I’ve been there as well.

 

We all agree the current recession and skyrocketing prices has impacted us in one form or another and it just seems ridiculous to try to keep up the same old practices for no other reason than to just keep it up.  It isn’t the same anymore.  It isn’t fun to go out and Christmas shop when you’re emotionally or financially stressed out about it.  No one really wants to spend their hard earned cash on over inflated prices for stuff that isn’t all that important anyway.

 

Instead of giving gifts this year we just want to use what we have in our pockets to get together for a meal and enjoy each other’s company and I am thrilled with that idea.  More time spent with friends and family, playing games, watching a movie or just sitting around and visiting.  It just sounds absolutely perfect to me and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

 

I have a few people on my Christmas list that I know would benefit from a gift card to help them with their expenses and I’ll be tucking those into a few greeting cards this year.  I know someone who could use a gift card to fuel their vehicle, another one to get some groceries and one that needs a few things from Home Depot to make life a little easier.  A little something to brighten their holidays and I know they won’t feel obligated to try to return the favor because I’ve made it clear that I don’t want anything from them with the preface “I don’t need another declutter project”.  That is the truth too.

 

Every holiday season I give to the food bank as well as the high school food pantry and I do plan to continue to do that as well as adding some items to the local humane society food drive.  They have a huge need for cat food this year so I want to help out with a contribution.  Other than that I’ll be cooking a little bit, baking some things and spending time with those that are nearest and dearest.  My tree may look a little funny without anything under it (other than some gifts for my kitties), but I do think this is going to be a truly great Christmas season nonetheless.  Best of all, everyone can just breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the holiday.