Panda Ramblings, Holiday Stress

[windwalker]

Holiday Stress
At the risk of being called Scrooge I'm going to go on record saying that to many people put themselves under way to much stress over the Christmas season. To start with the Christmas season shouldn't be 3 months long as the retail stores would have us believe. It should be at the most the week before the day.

The first year I was married, in the early 70s, I maxed out my credit card buying gifts for my new wife. The credit card bills still weren't completely paid off when the 8-track player and cassettes I bought her that Christmas had become obsolete. I learned something from that, don't spend money you don't have for gifts. The person your buying for will feel guilty because they didn't spend so much and you will have the ummm JOY of the bills after the holidays are over.

It's much better to give within your means, the people you are buying for have an idea how much money you have so they would feel much better with a nominal gift that says I was thinking of you without being a burden on your checkbook.

A good gift for a family is a vacation. That has worked well for me with the January Disney race adventure. Then everyone in the family can buy something while on vacation, for me that's usually new shoes or some new exercise clothes. People who love Disney like I do can usually find a nice t-shirt that's Disney related and sometimes even one that is race and Disney related.

This year think before you buy and have a plan that saves you the stress and your credit card the big hit. A small gift card makes a wonderful gift and allows the person you give it to the opportunity to get something they want. Don't forget a gift card to a restaurant is a wonderful gift and gives the receivers a excuse to get out for the evening, something they probably don't do enough of anyway.

Let's all make the Christmas season the special time of joy it's meant to be and not a season of stress and worry over gift giving.

Thanks for reading.

Rambling Panda

 

[Steffwalks]

Holiday stress is fueled by a desire for perfection. Who doesn't want to have a Rockwell painting moment at the THanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas tables? How many people actually achieve that?

And which holidays do we remember the most? The ones that go all wrong! If you have a perfect holiday (or any other memorable event) what can you say? It was perfect. Story over. Have a catastrophe, a premier mess up, or a good old family brawl...now you got something to talk about!!

The people trapped on the Carnival Cruise with no electricity, bad food, etc for three days...will they spend more time reliving the perfect cruise that they take later or...the one that came all apart!

Relax and enjoy the experience. When the brawl breaks out, grab the first aid kit, and the pen and paper and let the wagering begin!

 

[rubato]

Great advice. We really try to live by these rules. Our favorite Thanksgiving was last year. We had no one over, had dinner ready by 11 am, and just ate leftovers all day. There was no stress. No need to look or act a certain way. We didn't need the china and crystal, since it was just our family. I have never had a more enjoyable holiday.

We made rules about spending limits long ago with our families. I have more money than some and less than others. There is no need to try to outdo anyone, or make anyone feel bad. That old saying "It's the thought that counts" really is true.

And, I was seriously disappointed that on November 1st, every store in my area was completely decorated for Christmas. Please, can we just have one holiday at a time? Thank you!

 

[bunnyfoo]

There's this quote from Will Smith that I've liked for a long time:

"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like.”

I overhead a conversation in my office today about someone who had three kids and didn't know what to get them for Christmas. The eldest needed a laptop so he "had" to go and get two more laptops because the other two would feel "left out". Never mind that one of them is only six-years-old!!

I think the holidays should be more about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the moments together. Everyone's so busy these days that I always appreciate the times we can just relax and have fun! Presents are nice but I always liked the ones that are homemade or even a card with a nice note inside.

And I agree with Connie that there's a lot of pressure and stress to have the perfect Christmas, Thanksgiving etc. What's a holiday without a little drama (not too much though)

 

[windwalker]

Vicky I like my holidays without drama. I spent last Christmas single after 24 years of marraige and went with my girlfriend to her sisters house. Had a good time and didn't feel stressed at all.

Dave

 

[Saylan]

Vicky I like my holidays without drama. I spent last Christmas single after 24 years of marraige and went with my girlfriend to her sisters house. Had a good time and didn't feel stressed at all.

Dave

Oh I wish I could say the same. Last year was year 2 with the b/f's family and ended with one of his sisters ripping the hair out of the youngest sister's head and 'gifting' it to her mother...

I agree that it's too early, as much as I love Christmas. I know I'm guilty of giving more than is needed but part of it is I see things that instantly make me think of someone close to me. I always give gifts of thought, I just tend to give TOO many gifts of thought.

My parents have the right of it though: they give trips to each other instead of gifts now that they're retired. For my dad's birthday they went to Atlantic City, for my mom's their going on a Mexican cruise, and Christmas will be a trip to Arizona.

 

[Steffwalks]

Saylan said:

Oh I wish I could say the same. Last year was year 2 with the b/f's family and ended with one of his sisters ripping the hair out of the youngest sister's head and 'gifting' it to her mother...

Now that's some serious brawling and "gifting"! I would recommend that the family organize a pool at Thanksgiving. The one who most closely predicts: 1) the time the fight starts, 2) the winner, 3) the reason for the fight, and 4) which body part will be gifted, will win the pot. I am thinking $100 buy-in would be appropriate. This way, the drama is removed and it just becomes sport!!!

 

[Saylan]

Saylan said:


Now that's some serious brawling and "gifting"! I would recommend that the family organize a pool at Thanksgiving. The one who most closely predicts: 1) the time the fight starts, 2) the winner, 3) the reason for the fight, and 4) which body part will be gifted, will win the pot. I am thinking $100 buy-in would be appropriate. This way, the drama is removed and it just becomes sport!!!

Yeah, somehow the older one would rig it so she ended up with all the money.

That night was just chaotic from the start but I've never seen something like that before. Gotta love family gatherings.

 

[Steffwalks]

In most pools, the participants can neither vote for or against themselves. Because they are kept out of the loop! Think of the fun when everyone sits back and cheers on their favorite!!!


How about Christmas presents of wet blankets for them both???

 

[bunnyfoo]

Geez! We could make a new reality/game show out of this!

Dave - My family is pretty low key but occasionally there are quibbles about who's bringing what food for dinners. (Gosh we're boring!) No hair ripping or anything like though!

 

[windwalker]

Geez! We could make a new reality/game show out of this!

Dave - My family is pretty low key but occasionally there are quibbles about who's bringing what food for dinners. (Gosh we're boring!) No hair ripping or anything like though!

Full contact Christmas does sound kinda fun doesn't.

Dave

 

[bunnyfoo]

Full contact Christmas does sound kinda fun doesn't.

Dave

I was thinking of Thanksgiving Throw Down! But I like your title better!

 

[Steffwalks]

Sounds dreadful doesn't it? I think if it were me, I wouldn't have either one of them to my house. Damages can be so costly...I wonder ...does homeowners insurance cover a Thanksgiving Throwdown or a Full Contact Christmas.....

 

[jmasgat]

We have simplified our holidays over the last few years. Presnts only for the kids DH and I don't do gifts. We adopt a family through a local charitable org. instead--he was never much one for holidays anyway. We used to go to my family for Christmas, but now this will be only our second year of staying home.

Thanksgiving is way more fun as a holiday, IMO. It's all about family, food, football, no gifts. It's also been a less consistent one for us, location-wise. Sometimes Disney, sometimes my in-laws, sometimes home. That said, I am having Thanksgiving for just 5 people this year. And I am making my favorite food. So should be good.

Maura