Christmas thoughts

So it’s been an interesting year. For me it sure has had its up and downs. Thankfully as far as finances and trips, this year was quite the better year. Car problems although heavy at the beginning of the year have not been bad (knock on wood) I haven’t had a car in my garage since May and I’d like to keep it that way.

My main point in writing this is to combine my two yearly Christmas messages into one. I’m a bit late doing this but here it goes.

For years I have been writing on how it’s ok to have a poor Christmas. My main message that even a Great Christmas can be obtained through the cheapest of all places,the dollar store. Having feelings of optimism that things will get better can increase your holiday spirit. 

Then I thought to myself, what was the reasons my wife and I experienced, not necessarily a bad Christmas but a Christmas we would not like to re live. Was it really lack of funds or was it something else?

Going back to what I consider my worst Christmas ever, Christmas of 2012, there were events that were not of our control and there were some we could. Unfortunately I got really sick Christmas Eve and my wife was 2 months post partum. I retired to bed early hoping my wife would understand that I wasn’t feeling well, she didn’t. Her exact words to me were “sometimes you have to be a parent when your not feeling well.” I got up and on the verge of throwing up and having a bad head ache I helped wrap gifts. I don’t think my wife grasped how sick I was till I threw up all night long.

Christmas Day was good for the kids but not for us. My wife later told me she hadn’t had a good Christmas in a while. 

Was it money though? 

After many successful christmas’s since then I can say it’s not.

I’m going to focus on the 3 things I’ve noticed make Christmas so much better.

1.Remove disappointment and replace it with optimism. Stop over expecting. Sometimes things don’t go as planned sometimes even weather can throw a wrench in your plans. 2 years ago a snow storm and a bad alternator prevented us from going to my parents for a Christmas Eve get together. We made the best of it by ourselves. Yeah we were disappointed but we replaced that with Joy and our own Christmas Eve activities.

Have a Christmas plan and budget. I recommend starting this in September. Yep I said it, September! Why? Because we are always running out of time come Christmas. Having a plan before the holidays start gives you more freedom and more time. You may be low on funds and having more time can plan ways to save for Christmas or get extra income for Christmas. Having a budget gives you the freedom to spend and it forces you to find better deals. My budget this year is 250. Had I bought my wife an expensive ear buds she would only get 2 gifts. I was able to get her 8 gifts some of which were heavily discounted.

Last, lower your expectations and create and share your Christmas wish list with your partner.

Ladies, men are not mind readers. You cannot expect them to give you the perfect gift. Give them a list. One particular Christmas my wife went into a clothing store with me, pointed to each item she wanted, and went into the car. I went back in, bought all those items, and those were her gifts. Now I have gotten better as the years go on and I do challenge myself to surprise her but that list is so helpful.

Men, buy your wife’s stocking stuffers and stuff her stocking. Wrap her presents too! Not knowing how is a crappy excuse. I didn’t know until this year that apparently that is a thing. Woman are wrapping their own gifts and preparing their own stockings. That’s just sad. 

Lastly let me leave you with this and I’ll say it again. 

Replace disappointment with Optimism and wondering awe. Life will get better.

Have a merry Christmas.