Battling Stuffitis and the Holiday Machine
So I'm very, very happy that the holidays are finally over. I know we've got New Year's eve coming up but given it's primarily a holiday of excessive drinking, my ringing in of the new year is likely going to involve hanging out with Miss Rennie and perhaps dropping by a work friend's little shindig.
(Actually, hanging out in a beach cabin watching the sun set over the ocean sounds like a lovely way to spend the night, but given that overnight vacations and trips really aren't going to be an option until I get my all my debts paid off, I think I'm pretty much done with my the holidays for the year. And, perhaps, for all time.)
I was chatting w/ a gal I work with today about the excesses of the holiday season and the rabid consumerism in our culture today and I realized how very, very tired it all makes me. Obviously, I'm not immune from stuff-itis, but as I've become more thoughtful about my finances I've found that giving and receiving random stuff just doesn't do anything for me anymore. Of course I love my family, and I enjoy the time that I spend with them. But this year Christmas felt rather empty to me, as if nearly everything I gave was given because of a feeling of obligation.
I don't know how much this empty feeling has to do with the depression issues I had earlier in the month but I can't help but remember that old saying, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." And right now I feel like I'm more a part of the stuff-centric, overspending, buried-in-debt, excess problem than the solution. I complain about the sorry state of affairs in this country and around the world and yet I do so little to improve things. So at this point, I am planning to do the following during next year's gift-giving holidays:
1) Volunteering my time somewhere on Christmas day, helping serve food to the needy (or something similar),
2) Donating all the money I would spend on gifts to a charity that will help make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than myself, and
3) Directing people to my favorite charities when they ask what I'd like as a gift.
Who's with me?
Comments
I have been where you are. I remember once spending over $800 on Christmas for presents to my ex husbands huge family. It was at a time when we really didn't have the money to spend but he insisted. It may sound sad but I no longer spend Christmas with my Aunt and her five kids due to the fact that I only see them once a year during that time and the stress I felt in having to buy a gift for them and take from the people I really wanted to give to was too much. I know it may sound selfish, but wouldn't it be nice if families could get together without the pressure of a gift.
You have mentioned debt. I have been where you are and a few years ago I found a radio host by the name of Dave Ramsey. He talked about financial freedom and being debt free. I was hooked, I worked his plan and still to this day live by it. If you are interested he has a website you can google.
Best of luck in the new year!!
Posted by: Laura | December 27, 2007 08:01 AM
Hi!
I so agree. Although I spent more than I would have like this year, it was nice to for once spend the year getting gifts for people because I wanted too, things that I wanted to get them, not feeling obligated what so ever, and most of all it was nice to spend time with the family in a relaxed way rather than the usual pressure of everything has to be just so.
Sorry it has been forever since I stopped in on you. Things have been a bit crazy this past year. I'm not sure about you but I am glad to see 2007 go.
I wish you the best in 2008!
Take care of yourself,
Jaime
Posted by: Jaime | December 27, 2007 09:18 PM
Can I hear an Amen?!? Wonderful goals to aspire toward...
How you be otherwise? I'm just nosey that way...LOL
Linda D. in Seattle
Posted by: Linda D. | December 28, 2007 10:16 PM