Been There, Done That: Giving is the magic of the season

Are you ready for Christmas? That's been the hot question this whole month. And my answer has been "yes." We had a few gifts yet to get but for the most part, we are ready. Santa has been very good to us this year.

We had a major hit to our budget in August when our campground of the past 21 years closed. Our camper was too old to go to many of the area campgrounds, so we worked super hard to secure funding for a newer camper. We got a great deal but had to pony up with money down, plus money to have our deck moved to our new campground. And three weeks after all that was accomplished, our new payments started.

That meant our Christmas shopping ended in August. No more sales for us this year.

Dave and I shop all year long for gifts for those near and dear to us. We hit the local thrift shops in January and February until the first rummage sales start in March. We shop those until the yard sales start in May. Estate sales can happen any time. Sadly, it means that someone (usually the last one in the household) has passed away. Though not always. As I pay for the things we've picked up, I always say, "sorry for your loss" to those left to sell everything in grandma and grandpa or mom and dad's house. The last one we were at caught me off guard.

I said, "So sorry" and she said, "Oh no, grandma's not dead. She's selling out and moving to Tennessee." Well, good for grandma. Good for us, too. She had lots of nice things. They had that sale every weekend for a month and we got more good stuff every time we went.

As we shop, Dave and I just put our holiday purchases behind the bed with the Christmas tree and decorations— and forget about it. When it's time to get all that out, it's kind of like Christmas right then. I forgot what we picked up over the past however many months this year. Our shopping time was cut short but, to my happy surprise, we had plenty for each of us. For the most part, we just buy for us and our son and his wife, along with a few others.

Our gifts came out about even. I need that. I couldn't handle still opening gifts while others have nothing left. My OCD says it has to be even. Even, plus one big gift for our son. And no guessing games. We can't afford to pay a bigger price for something he doesn't really want or need. He's not seven anymore; it doesn't need to be a surprise. I ask what he wants, he texts me a picture of something kind of big in our price range with all the details. I can literally take that to the store, show it to the clerk and walk out with a gift that he'll appreciate.

Dave and I managed to pick up quite a few unique items for our stockings this year. Stockings have always been big in our family. We had some pretty lean times in our 40 years together, but we always have our stockings.

The years right after Dave got sick were our leanest, but also rather freeing. No worries about affording or having time to shop for gifts or wrap them. No money, no gifts. We couldn't afford stamps, so no cards to write or envelopes to address.

We were just happy to still be together— our small, but very tight little family. Regardless of the cash flow, we always believe in Santa. If you stop believing, you lose the magic of the season. Don't ever do that.