Come the Revolution

Archive for December, 2008

Over the past couple of weeks, there have been some changes in the revolutionary household. My second job, the one that allows me to sock away a little bit per week, dissolved. In the process of tightening our belts a little and the consumer version of Christmas breathing heavily down our necks, we forgot to post!

A tip to counter spending big bucks on holiday cards and candy- it’s already half-price at a lot of stores. Last weekend we picked up a box of 50 greeting cards for $5. It’s a good thing we only paid 10 cents per card because I think (post-mailing this morning, sorry USPS!) we have 3 left. I think we may have to cap the number of people who get cards because sending out 100 a year seems a little stress-inducing, not to mention wasteful.

Tips to counter spending too much on presents- regift and giving food. My brother asked for some books that I happen to have (and have read, and love). I know he will give them a good home, so that will be a big part of his gifts this year. Cousins and close friends also often end up with books, some from my own collection, and they’ve only ever been happier to know that I loved the book first. I found out about my brother’s new book list out only during our conversation on cookies and baking- we have baked for the entire extended family for the past few years. They don’t have the time for baking, and we don’t have the money for presents. Cookies are a good default for everyone since they don’t clutter up the house for more than 3 days and flour/sugar/butter combinations are a lot less expensive than most video games and chachkies.

For the sakes of your local businesses and communities, try to buy local whenever you can. Mall-Wart may seem cheaper, the internet may provide a lower price and low cost shipping, but there’s no one more scared by the current low-grossing holiday season than the local business owners that are worried about paying their rent. Even just a few stocking stuffers from your local bike shop, kitchen store, hardware store, toy store, grocery, and book store can make a huge difference to those businesses.

Lastly, a quotation from my most recently finished book, Ten Acres Enough by Edmund Morris:

“Do not put on a long face because money is not so plentiful as usual —it will not add a single dollar to the circulating medium. Preserve your good-humor, for there is more health in a single hearty laugh than in a dozen glasses of rum. Be happy, and impart happiness on others.”