The Bloggers With The Most To Say
Is the economy really making the holidays hard for people?
I came home again for the holidays and my parents are just totally unmotivated for the season, especially my mom. Apparently everyone cannot seem to get into the holiday spirit. I could care less if I got a single present under the tree, so I don't see why, whether its no money or its having millions in a trust fund, that the holidays still can't be awesome?? I'm not affected, but maybe I'm just neglecting my financial responsibility...or am I crazy?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by JJ on -
My family always kept it pretty mild on the spending when it came to Christmas. We would each get 1 "main" present and a few smaller things, or even clothes. So even thought this year the country is in a tighter pinch, it was never really about the gifts for us, so we don't mind keeping it small scale.
-
Permalink Reply by S.Vincent on -
I don't think it has to do with the presents either, but more the stress of the unknown. Is the money that I am saving by being a little frugal now, going to be enough? Plus, there is a lot more to holiday expenditures than just gifts. If you live far away, the travel fees associated of gas/plane fare. What about food? If you are having a party, thats more money to feed and intoxicate your guests. Decorations for your house cost money. What if you had to take off some time for work to travel to loved ones? That less money coming into the bank and across the board, christmas bonuses are less this year.
Plus, its the end of 2008 which is a time for reflection of the past and reflection of the future. With so much "up in the air" it makes it hard to kick back and spend a boatload of cash.
BUT if you can't be thankful for one or two days for what you have and give your family a big hug for the price of FREE and be joyous, then you're happiness is probably a little too wrapped up in the material world anyway.
I always like to remember the lesson of the Grinch stole Christmas when I hear people getting too wrapped up in the consumerism of christmas.
-
Permalink Reply by Cee on -
I think generally speaking, money issues or just concern over the economy if you aren't affected by it right now are making it harder for people to get into the holiday spirit.
Small things that used to help get people in the spirit before are just too expensive right now.
For example, I read about a city in Texas that normally has a pretty spectacular Christmas light display around the holidays that had to cancel it this year because it would have cost just too much money to put it up and maintain it. The city budget was cut, so that made it harder to justify the expense.
Companies are also nixing holiday parties.
Some people aren't putting up their normal light displays.
And it's kind of a drag to always hear about the doom and gloom going on in the U.S. and the world - which seems to be all we hear about lately.
I also read this on another forum that I visit - this whole recession thing is making people depressed. Depressed that they can't find a job... depressed that they lost their job.... depressed that they are stuck in a job they hate because no one else is hiring.... it's pretty nutty right now.
-
Permalink Reply by Adam Conrad on -
Yeah I figured could put the woes of the world aside for the holidays, so I figured the cutting spending was a cause. Oddly enough, I read on TechCrunch yesterday that ONLY the WEALTHIEST and the POOREST families CUT spending this year...the rest INCREASED. That's sort of odd...maybe to mask the ill fate of the world.
Anyway, now that the holidays are over, who's looking forward to New Years?
© 2012 Created by Lisa.
