Vermont's Independent Voice
Browse News
Browse Arts + Life
Browse Food + Drink
Browse Cannabis
Browse Music
Browse On Screen
Browse Events
Browse Classifieds
Browse Personals
Published November 24, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. | Updated November 24, 2021 at 2:34 p.m.
Dear Reverend,
This year has been tough for me financially. My family tends to go a little overboard with holiday gifts, but I really can't swing much this time around. How can I bow out without seeming like a Scrooge?
Frosty Wallet (male, 31)
Dear Frosty Wallet,
Lots of people are in the same sleigh this holiday season, and I'm sure your family will understand. Let them know (the sooner, the better) that you're taking a break from buying presents this year, and tell them not to get you anything. They may ignore your request, but that's their call.
Is there a chance your crew would be willing to switch up its gift-giving traditions this year? You could suggest doing a Yankee Swap or drawing names so that everybody brings only one present to the party. Who knows? Your family members might appreciate the chance to lighten their holiday shopping load.
There are also plenty of gifts that don't cost much, if anything. You just might need to get a little crafty. Bust out some glitter and glue and make everybody a handmade ornament. Bake a bunch of cookies and put them in festive tins that you can get for next to nothing. Take a tour of the thrift stores in your town; you may find all sorts of little treasures for cheap.
Or don't do any of those things, and just relax. Giving and receiving presents can be fun, but spending time with people you love is the best gift of all.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
Fill out my online form.
More By This Author
About The Author
The Reverend
Bio:
What's your problem? Need some irreverent counsel on life's conundrums? You can always just "Ask the Rev."
What's your problem? Need some irreverent counsel on life's conundrums? You can always just "Ask the Rev."
Speaking of...
-
My Partner Always Defers to His Family When Planning Holidays
Nov 16, 2022 -
Soundbites: Marcie Hernandez's Video Trilogy and Things Get Weird at the Community of Sound
Jul 6, 2022 -
Video: Goodbye 2021
Dec 30, 2021 -
COVID-19 Tests Are the Hot Holiday Item This Year in Vermont
Dec 21, 2021 -
My Elderly Mother Wants Our Family to Gather for Christmas, but We Don't Get Along
Dec 1, 2021 - More »
Comments
Comments are closed.
From 2014-2020, Seven Days allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. While we've appreciated the suggestions and insights, right now Seven Days is prioritizing our core mission — producing high-quality, responsible local journalism — over moderating online debates between readers.
To criticize, correct or praise our reporting, please send us a letter to the editor or send us a tip. We’ll check it out and report the results.
Online comments may return when we have better tech tools for managing them. Thanks for reading.
