Photo by Nicolas Raymond
Back in 1996 our Christmas budget for gift-giving shrank. I was in the midst of career change. With my new career training costs, I was bringing home debt instead of a salary for awhile.
My husband and I decided to spend what was available in our budget on our children, who were younger at the time. We cut back in other areas - mainly in what my hubbie and I spent on one another - $25.00 was the limit!
What do I remember about that Christmas? How much fun we had! My husband and I each found 5 gifts for the other, all within the $25.00 limit. We wrapped them with flourish and placed funny name tags on them.
I can still recall some of those gifts he gave me - purple ink pens (which were hard to find at the time but which I love); a scented candle; beautiful note cards etc. I felt like a kid again, excited to see what Santa brought me.
As we move into Christmas in 2007, my husband and I are blessed with financial prosperity. Money is not an issue this time around. Yet I am finding little desire to receive a lot of gifts. Yesterday I mentioned to my husband how much I had enjoyed our Christmas gift giving in 1996 with our $25.00 budget. I asked him if he wanted to do it again. He readily agreed, saying that he did not want any big gifts either.
Now instead of trying to find that perfect big gift for hubbie, I feel instead a sense of adventure. My creativity is kicking into gear. I’ve always liked shopping for the little stuff. Now I can leave my credit/debit cards at home and take my wad of $25 cash. I never felt richer.
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