I have to admit that Christmas is getting on my nerves. I know it should be all about the joy of sharing, giving, spending time with family, remembering the birth of Christ and everything that makes this occasion special. Blah-blah. I spent 3 hours past midnight trying to find last-minute gifts to send to relatives. I spent my last paycheck getting fancy stuff for family which I hope they would appreciate. I spent the last couple nights writing Christmas cards and sorting them out for everybody. And yes, I’m a little torn and broke this time.
I know it must hurt even more for those who have to spend more than $300. Lol!
To avoid this serious exhaustion, I suggest we must all be ready for an occasion like this. Here are a few Christmas tips we can all use:
*Hoard up the entire year. It’s smart to simply put Christmas and gift-giving occasions in the hidden cranny of our brain and broach it every time we see stuff that are on sale. It’s not easy, especially for people with very short memory. But if we buy them early and then set them aside then we wouldn’t have to worry about them when it’s time to give them away. Caveat: Don’t buy things that get out of fashion within 3 or 6 months. Chances are it will just be thrown away.
*Set aside a Christmas piggy bank. If you don’t feel like thinking about Christmas every time you go shopping, think about a Christmas coin jar that you can fill throughout the year. Your pennies will count when you need them the most. All you have to do is bring them to the bank where they can change them to bills. Based on experience, a full coin jar can make up to $500 if you don’t ever touch it. Avoid temptations.
*Mark the calendar for organizing gifts. It’s not always fun when you run out of time getting gifts and wrapping or sending them. The best time to start doing it is the first week of December. Finish shopping, wrapping, and sending at least 2 or 3 weeks before Christmas. It’s not too early to get rid of holiday stress. And make your list simple!
At the end of my ordeal, I am now able to breathe easier. Merry Christmas to everybody!
If you’re caught up between a commitment and the holidays, what do you do? Excuses are nice, but they don’t do the trick. I talked with Internet Brands right before Thanksgiving. I planned to send them the samples the day before or after Thanksgiving. But preparing for the holidays (I spent 3 hours making egg rolls), driving down to Galveston (8 hours), meeting family, getting reacquainted, spending time together— no room left at all for writing.