I was up at 2 am this morning doing the dreaded wrapping of Christmas gifts. As you can see - I had a helper! It didn't make the task any more enjoyable, however. Every year I know it has to be done, but I put it off as long as I can. This year I had the excuse of studying for finals - but it was still there waiting for me. Most of my gift shopping has been done since November, but I conveniently stuck everything in my bedroom closet - hoping the "gift wrapping fairy" would manage to find my closet and surprise me. Didn't happen! Sasha's contribution of chewing on paper, tags, etc. also didn't help. I love Christmas: the carols being sung; putting up my nativity set and decorations; making cookies; TV specials; etc. I don't even mind 2-3 hours of writing out the Christmas cards,as I get to exchange greetings with many people I haven't seen or heard from in a year. However, I have never been able to overcome my dislike of wrapping gifts.I guess one reason is the senseless expense of the paper, bows, tags, ribbon, and all that other stuff. It's also such a waste of time. The value of the gift is inside the package...not on the wrappings. Brian always used to say he'd wrap his gifts in newspaper comics before he'd lay out money for fancy paper that just ends up in the trash 5 minutes after you open a package. Christmas is not about fancy bows and ribbons or expensive wrapping paper...it's about the birth of the Christ child. I would rather take the money that is spent on fancy frills to make the tree look "pretty" and donate it to a missionary my church is supporting...many missionaries have no Christmas, yet they are doing God's work in the field . One member of my family once said how come I can't send Christmas presents to ALL my children, grand children, and great grandchildren. My reply to that person was and still is...because I don't have that "little plastic card" that allowed me to foolishly buy unlimited gifts and then go through bankruptcy to pay off all that debt. A friend of mine back East always said..."if you don't have the cash in your pocket to pay for something, you don't need it!" That is the motto I have been living by for the past 2-3 years. Consequently, I'm not able to buy the biggest and best for the multitude. Christmas is expensive for everybody in today's economy, but Brian might just have the right idea - one way to cut the cost is to just wrap the gifts in newspaper. Who actually bothers to examine the package and comment on the way it is wrapped or how pretty it is? I prefer to spend my money on the inside and buy the cheapest wrapping paper I can find and a roll of scotch tape. I'm sure Siena would be happy with Uncle Brian's newspaper but I'm sure the adults would expect a little more from me. Anyway - the dreaded task is completed for another year, so Sasha and I are going to go watch the Army-Navy football game and not worry about it for another year.
3 comments:
That the way to spend Good Quality time with your Kitty! Job well done. Thanks for the help, Sasha. ;)
Sasha looks very pretty but you forgot to put the bow on top of her head to complete the Christmas package. They have a thing called a gift bag - no tape, paper, or bows are needed. You just stick some tissue paper in the bag with the gift and you're all set. Would be just the ticket for someone who has such a dislike for wrapping gifts. And you can get gift bags at the dollar store, so they are cheaper than the wrapping paper, tape, bows, and ribbons. What would be the point to just hand someone an unwrapped gift at Christmas? Kinda takes all the fun and surprise out of it. Part of the fun of Christmas is opening that special gift and being "surprised" by what's inside. Newspaper is kinda tacky, plus you get newsprint all over your hands. A credit card is only as good as the person using it. If they are used only when necessary and paid off every month to avoid the high interest rates, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using them. It is easy for people to be tempted to use them too much for expensive items that gets them into trouble. If you are financially responsible and don't abuse the credit card, there should be nothing to worry about.
The attitude of the American people is "buy now - pay later '. This is why our national debt is so high. I agree that just because you have a credit card,you don't have to spend unwisely; but that's not how it works for most people. It's too tempting to put things in your carriage you really can "live without" because you can pay for it later. You are in the minority when it comes to paying off your credit card balance EVERY month. I don't believe if you put something big like a new garage roof or windows for your home on your credit card,that you pay that entirely off in one month. I,personally, have no intentions of ever having a credit card again that is connected with a bank. There finance charges are astronomical and they keep changing them every month in some cases. I still agree with Reggie Pinkham - if you don't have the cash to pay for something then you don't need it.
I'd be perfectly happy opening a gift wrapped in newspaper...it
s just a wrapper - who cares? I don't get "wrapped" up in material things to that degree. I'd rather have a new pair of warm slacks tossed in a brown paper bag then a $2 book wrapped in expensive paper and bows. I don't even buy bows anymore as they look so tacky to me.
FYI: I didn't "put" Sasha on that piece of wrapping paper....she deposited herself there against my will. I threatened to wrap her up and send her to Alaska,but she didn't budge. Most gift bags...even at the dollar store....are over $1.00 each and only can be used for one gift. I buy the cheap $1 a roll wrapping paper at WalMart and can wrap ALL my gifts usually with one roll.
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