Nearly every Christmas, I experience a form of the holiday blues. It generally hits on Christmas night, after all the wrapping is cleaned up and the kids are in bed, and it’s just me and the Christmas tree. I start to feel a little sad that the miracle I’d hoped for didn’t happen that year or I didn’t get the gift I’d really wanted, or I wish I’d been able to see a certain relative – the cause varies from year to year, but its arrival is pretty predictable. I generally salve it by purchasing the item I wished I’d received, which isn’t usually an expensive item, but after spending money on Christmas, it does seem a little wasteful to buy something else after it’s all over.
This time around, I didn’t experience those blues. I realized that last night, and it was quite a nice discovery. Let me share what I did differently this year.
1. I communicated with my husband on what I’d like for my gift, which accomplished two things—it took some stress off him, and I got what I wanted.
2. I purchased our gifts with cash, rather than credit, which eliminated some guilt.
3. I made a point to seek out the relatives I wanted to visit, taking matters into my own hands rather than letting fate decide.
4. I had some extra cash sitting here so that if I did feel the need for that one thing, I could purchase it without the guilt of extra spending. In fact, I think it’s a great idea to wait until after the holidays are over to finish up the shopping – that way, you can see what everyone got and what they might still need.
In analyzing my feelings, I think it’s interesting how much my emotions are tied up in the spending. I believe in avoiding the commercialism of Christmas and concentrating on the miracle of the Savior’s birth, and yet, because I grew up on the poor-ish side of things, I have issues tied up in Christmas shopping and making sure that everyone feels like they got “enough.” Maybe this year, I found the right balance. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that’s the case.
Related Blogs:
Celebrate the Holidays without the Financial Blues
Coaching Teens Through the Christmas Blues