The Money to do it right...the sense to say when

This year I feel like I have the money to do Christmas right. I can get everyone nice presents, not the one from Ross Dress for Less that never let me tear the tag off cleanly, exposing their origins Ross Dress for Less. I didn't bargain shop. I am expressing my love at full price. 

I realize how fucked up this sounds. Handmade gifts are just as nice. It's an idea of the sacrifice of time versus money. It's just nice to, for once, have the choice.

For once, I'm the friend who's doing things right. What's this costing me? I lost count. 

But I'm doing it right...until I got to the UPS store this morning. I had forgotten one gift, for my bf's one-year-old, and I had to find it, wrap it, etc. That stalled more than I realized. At UPS, they said that getting it there in time for Christmas would be $65, as opposed to $20 for the Tuesday after Christmas. 

In other words, doing it right would cost $45. My neurotic side, the side that only relaxes, feels high, when things are perfect, said do it. But perfectionism is expensive, and impossible anyway. What am I trying to buy, after all? Sometimes it's fun when Christmas gets dragged out. Just when you think the fun is over, another package arrives. Christmas dessert: -$45.

Payback Time

Christmas is much more fun with money. Not that it should be about money. It should be about love and friendship, and sacrificing some of your money to show someone that you love them and that you appreciate his or her friendship can be a gratifying experience, especially on a chilly day in downtown Seattle, amid the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers, finally feeling like you can be part of the tradition again. Yes, the tradition can be shallow, but if you keep the right spirit of it, it can feel right. 

What a fun feeling, spoiling your loved ones. And also saying: Thanks for hanging in there, through all the times that I had nothing to give. Both my best friends got boxes of Pocky sticks for their birthdays. My best, best friends, for 19 years, Pocky sticks: $2.99. No big deal, I know they don't care. They are there all the same in the hard times, but it's nice to bring them along during your good times, too. To say, when I can, I will celebrate our friendship and love you by spoiling you, the way we all love to be spoiled. 

Monthly Money Check-In: December '11

Oh my stars I just realized I never did my monthly money check in for December. Ooh, we might have enough for a line chart soon! I can see the debt going down.

Monthly Money Check-in
	Type	Account	10/1/11	11/1/11	12/1/11
Short-term stuff	Cash is money too	Cash	$22	$0	$0
	Bank Accounts	Bank of America Checking	$34	$23	$6
		Achieva Checking	$75	$1,287	$1,275
		Achieva Savings	$0	$295	$0
	Credit Card Debt	Bank of America Credit Card	-$1,163	-$1,205	-$1,280
		Student Credit Card	-$435	-$471	$428
	Embarrassing Debt	Mom	-$1,517	-$1,672	-$1,172
		Boyfriend	-$2,150	-$2,050	-$2,125
		TOTAL Short-term stuff	-$5,134	-$3,793	-$2,868
Long-term stuff	Retirement	New York Life	$5,828	$6,311	$6,265
		Edward Jones	$1,000	$1,000	$1,111
	Student Loan	AES	-$14,434	-$14,434	-$14,434
	Big Crazy Debt	Mortgage	-$147,042	-$147,042	-$147,042

 

The HOLIDAY$

When you're a kid, it never occurs to you that Christmas trees cost money. Oh yeah, and lights, and ornaments and stockings. I'm starting from scratch and I'm in the mood to go all-out. I haven't had a real Christmas in years. I'm in love, in a new apartment, and in a city that calls for mittens. 

These are all good things, but let's talk budget. I was reaching for lights when I thought, ok, this can't all come out of my weekly $150. This needs to be separate. So I decided, decorations, presents and all: $500. It seems like a lot, but not once I started chipping away at it. Not once I picked up the Christmas Story Leg Lamp replica with no price tag. $30 was my limit, and of course it was $29.99. 

So far:

Ornaments: $16.40

Half of Christmas tree and stand: $40

Lights, tree skirt, leg lamp: $54

Other Misc: $30

Yipes, we're already at $140. I'm going to organize my Christmas gift list, which must remain confidential.

I've already decided that I'm not going to let the money or stress get me down. Life is good. The holidays are a time to celebrate. I'm merry.