CHRISTmas is Cancelled. Part Four.

Many Years ago, I cancelled Christmas gift giving. I wished I had done it sooner. It was one of the best thing I ever did. We still have a lovely Christmas dinner and give Birthday gifts. The only one person that I buy a gift for is my grandson Darius.  I buy him a jumper or a coat from TKMaxx for £20 or less. His coat still fits him from last year, so it will be a nice warm jumper this year.

In the past, while I was still forking our lots for money for gifts, one year it was a tough skint time, most had soap from TKMaxx with a small card, that was like three inches tall and wide, and the picture was nothing to do with Christmas! Those little cards, grieved me, for it was the one time of the year I could show what I beleived in and why.  Those little cards, maybe had 16 cards in the pack and cost about £1 did the job, it got me by. I think that was the only time in my life that I had stooped that low, to buy non proper Christmas cards. 

So what is a proper Christmas card? They should have some of these on, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the manger, Angels, the Star,  3 Wise Men, Stables, Donkeys, Shepherds, and Joy to The World, Hark The Herald Aangels Sing, Away in A Manger and Gold Frankincense and Myrrh. 

With Social Media, now a big thing, with that and Whatsapp, that has helped to cut down on a lot of Christmas card giving.  A lot of money was saved with cards and stamps.

I sent as usual three identical cards to the three sites that I have worked at, only one needed a stamp, I was horrified to find out last week that a 2nd class stamp cost 85p. The other two sites I still work at, so I took them by hand, addressing each card to "All, Happy Christ mas from Maxine 25.12.24A.D." This includes all the things that I am not allowed to do at work, but it is my card with Mary and Jesus on the front. 

This year however, is the first year, that I have not seen boxed Christmas cards with Mary and Jesus, in any of the shops that I have been to. So, I have had to look high and low, to even find proper Christmas cards, as indidivual ones, but they are out there.

With special people in mind, those who will appreciate the card and the picture and words inside, I have bought cards for them.

Three I have already sent and I have eleven more to write up, five of those will need to be posted, second class, the rest will be given to them by hand.

The total I have spent on these precious cards to date is £18 that is a lot of money! In my life,  I have Never spent that much on Christmas cards!!!! 

There is a point to be made, and a statement, that is Very important to me, to get across the message of the True meaning of Christmas. Jesus came as a baby a free Gift to the World.

While I am spending £18, millions will be getting themselves into to serious debt, spending hundreds and thousands of pounds, only for half of it to then be on eBay the next day, or reduced in the sales in January.            

It is easy to get caught up with the hype of it all and stressed out, with buying something expensive in a box that the Companies have put in a pretty box, and added £30 to the gift when without the £30 box the actual item may have only cost £8. I saw an advert on the telly from a famous store and it said, it was, "Only £79," I thought if someone got me that, I would never have guessed that it would be that much, as it didn't seem a lot. They might not even like it, most people get gifts that they don't like, that is what I think.

I am looking forward to not spending my hard earn cash on someone else, spending Christmas morning at Church for one hour singing Carols, then going home, relaxing watching telly with my family, Paul always cooks, I will eat mince pies, sleep relax and be happy, that I won't be ending the year in debt! 

Happy Christ mas all, 25.12.24A.D.