Financial pressures at Christmas
The message about Christmas from those in the know financially is loud and clear; do not put yourself in debt for Christmas! A dog may be for life and not just for Christmas and conversely Christmas is not for life; it’s just for Christmas.
We are all feeling the burden of the current recession but one of the positives that have come out of it is the opportunity to come down from the heights of excess of the now absurd sounding, Celtic Tiger, and get back to basics.
But what are the basics? Christmas is a time for family and friends, a time for gathering together, a time for reflecting on the year that has passed: the good the bad and the not so good. Coming back to basics helps us to focus on what we have instead of what we don’t. When couples come to us in financial crises we try to help them see that a strong relationship can be one of their greatest assets. If they can face their difficulties together, as a team, instead of allowing the financial burden to further tear them apart, their burden will be lightened.
So some basics for couples facing Christmas:
· Sit down together and do an inventory of you relationship and family
· Focus on what you have
· Define what is important about Christmas for you and your family
· Create your own traditions
Much of what makes Christmas special costs nothing; walks in the park or the countryside to gather twigs and berries to make decorations (don’t get into trouble with the park warden!), walking through Town to see the Christmas lights (when the shops are shut) cooking and baking together, watching the Christmas movies on the TV together, availing of free events such as carol singing, helping to raise money for those who are less well off by going carol singing.
Get creative with gift giving. Do we really need all these things?? Have a serious think about what you got last year? What you gave? Where is it now? Time is the most precious gift we can give. Spend time together as a couple, as a family, as an extended family. I know it all sounds very simple, and it is, but it ain’t easy!
And remember….Children need your presence more than your presents.
Have a very happy Christmas and a wonderful new year from all of us here at Relationships Ireland!
Tags: Children, Christmas, relationships