Yes I know, I know. Bah! Humbug! was Ebenezer Scrooge’s Christmas greeting, but it’s what my new year feels like: I am tired and broke! And though I know I am not the only one that does not make me feel any better.
I love Christmas. I am not going to lie. After all it is the time of the year when most people are happy and in a giving spirit. I love all of the festive activities that come with the period when Christ was born.
But what I don’t like is after Christmas, you know, like now, when you feel tired all the time and there is that constant headache reminding you that your pockets are empty and your bank account is below the minimum even though you are in desperate need of funds.
So here I am attempting to calculate in my head what I did with all my money during the Christmas period.
Okay I bought the new curtains. I bought a few other small things for the house. I bought gifts for family members and friends. I bought a few things. But I know that did not take all my money.
So what happened to the rest of it? And why I am so tired?
Unfortunately those are questions I can’t answer and the funny thing is, they have been recurring questions for the last few years and always just after the holidays.
I have not made any New Year resolutions but I want to publicly do so now. Maybe this will help me save some money and energy at the end of this year.
So here goes:
I am not buying anything new for my house at Christmas this year. If I need anything, I will endeavour to get it before Christmas.
I am saving my year-end bonus — if I get any that is — for 2011.
For Christmas this year I am only buying essential items when I go grocery shopping – that will cut down on wastage.
I will not be ‘killing myself’ to make my house look ‘nice’ for Christmas – that will take care of the tired feeling after the holidays.
I will not be jostling the entire rest of Guyana on Regent and Water streets during the Christmas period in an attempt to buy unnecessary things.
I am only purchasing gifts for those who really deserve it. (So if you’re naughty don’t expect anything from me.)
No salon hairstyle for me on Christmas Eve this year.
On Christmas Day I will cook one dish only and very early in the morning so that I can spend the rest of the day catching up on much needed rest – if my two year-old allows me to.
Okay, that’s it, those are my resolutions for 2010 – and they are not very difficult ones to keep either. I know that by sticking to them this time next year life would be much, much better.
Wait, wait, one more resolution: I am staying far from ‘Pinky’ during the Christmas holidays – too much energy required.
Now, don’t get me wrong I do plan on enjoying this year’s Christmas. I am just going to do things differently.
Oh, and next year, once I am still afforded the opportunity to write in these pages, I will definitely let you know how I feel having stuck to my resolutions.
Happy New Year all! Don’t return the greeting. As I already told you, right now I am broke and tired so there is nothing to be happy about.
