People ask that question occasionally, and it always makes me think that since I can’t name the five things I want straight off the top of my head, there must be something.
Ask yourself that question right now, and write down five things you think you need this Christmas. Do it. This is an exercise. Are you ready? Let’s move forward, then.
Of these five things, how many do you need so badly that any of the following might happen:
- A loved one will leave you.
- You will lose your house or job
- You will die a painful death
- You’ll remember this gift next Christmas
- You’ll be using it for six months
Yes (1), (2), and (3) are WAY too dramatic, but are any of the things you want in that category? If so, I hope you get them!
How many gifts did you get last year? Do you remember? Do you remember who you got them from? How about why someone bought you this gift? I know I got socks last year because I didn’t have enough socks (I never have enough socks), I got a cloth bracelet that says “F.R.O.G.”, and I got other wonderful gifts like that (when my wife reads this, I know I will be in trouble, since she will then quiz me about what she got me, as well).
I think this is why people say you should think about the gifts you give for the Holidays (be it Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, Ramadan, or the Shortest Day of the Year). My problem is I am so thick that I can’t figure out what people need. I tried a couple of times, but the reaction suggested I missed what I thought that person wanted.
Oh, and another piece of advice is you can never spend too much on a gift at Christmas. However, no matter what the price of the gift there is no guarantee the recipient will remember it a week later either. I know my son won’t, he might eat the ribbon, but it’s doubtful he’ll remember this Christmas much (but we’ll have it on video for him to enjoy later).
Put some thought into your gifts, or better still, put your ideas down on paper and give them, or tell the person you are giving a gift to why you are giving this gift. It might help the gift last a little longer (in their hearts).
Christmas Wishes from the Past
I seem to do this a lot, so here are my Christmas wishes from years gone by:
- Joyeux noël 2023 Enjoy your Family, Friends and Festivities. If you are working today, thank you. If you are alone, it will get better.
- Christmas 2022 was after a rough year for many folks including me. Inflation, COVID, and dealing with losing family members was a bit much really.
- Merry Christmas 2021 was another COVID crisis time. Omicron hit and Christmas became much more closed up. Maybe the last one of these, but we thought that last year.
- Merry Christmas 2020 ! Do you see the pussy cat in the tree? An odd year with a Pandemic and all. Make sure you pop those Christmas Crackers.
- Christmas All Year Round ? Yes, it does feel like that these days doesn’t it? The 12 Days of Christmas Debt ? What the heck ? That isn’t Christmasy at all!
- Merry Christmas 2017 ! That was a year of fun videos that I found to help celebrate the holiday. Love that old CFCF fill.
- Merry Christmas, Highspeed Internet a right, Inflation at 1.2 and #MoneyTalk 2016 ! Sheesh, I couldn’t even be bothered to send a message that year, how Grinchy.
- Merry Christmas 2014 ! A lovely quote from the King James bible for that year. Seem to have done nothing for 2015. This year I even had a Christmas Eve post.
- Happy Christmas 2013 ! I loved the photos of every years Christmas Tree, very festive. Another Christmas Eve post too.
- Merry Christmas 2012 ! You see the hideous curtains we had in the den back then. That year we had the $150 Christmas challenge too.
- Merry Christmas 2011 ! The tree moved back to the front room and I used Google Translate to create a festive message. Think I was on French training that year. Also At Christmas Why Not Just Give Cash ?
- Merry Christmas 2010 has some very deep philosophical commentary in it. Must have been hitting the Christmas cheer early. Christmas Eve that year must have been a Friday.
- Merry Christmas 2009 and all you got was an NFB short? Not that bad really. There was also Christmas Eve thoughts too.
- Merry Christmas 2008 ! That was the year of the infamous Financial Advent Calendar too.
- A few last Yuletide Thoughts was what I had in 2007.
- Merry Christmas 2006 ! A quieter year I suppose.
- Whatever little money you have, make sure you spend it was my first year writing here. Quite gruff and grinchy.
- Advent, it begins again, is when the Christmas season begins
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