Christmas: A Season of Giving or Paying?
Along with a joy in my heart for the birth and resurrection of my Savior celebrated by many during this holiday season, my mind always returns to years past when Husband was self-employed and how often clients would stop paying on their bills from November through February. Why, I would wonder? Do holidays superceed being faithful to commitments? Is this really what the season of giving should be all about?
Have you ever been on the other side of a bankruptcy? I have. Hours of husband's work and care now "donated" to the life problems of another. I do not mean to be simplistic. I know there are many extenuating situations that may not "fit" into what I am saying. I have, however, seen people who were unwilling to give up their perks in life such as cable, cellphone plans or even their restaurant dining, in order to be faithful to pay bills and honor the contracts for services rendered to them by another. From my experience the longer one gets away from a bill owed, the more that bill seems to become a burden and something easily considered no longer a priority.
Have you ever had to do collection work? Calling customers or clients who owe you big time? I have. I am not talking about those collector callers who harass and take advantage of the privacy of another. I am just speaking of the calls that remind the person who has received your service or product and for some reason chooses to renege on paying for the help or service they have received. Again, I am not referring to those who have had unknown hardships smack into their lives and may need mercy or consideration, but the many who still think they deserve every treat available while ignoring a bill incurred when receiving a service/product from another.
You may think me harsh. I certainly do not mean to be. I am only sharing some realities. And I do so because I think it can be easy for all of us to lose sight of the importance of being faithful to commitments, even financial ones.
So my frugal advice for this holiday season will not necessarily be popular. To me the best deals in the world are not as important as being sure to pay those bills already in hand. Memories and celebrations can be just as wonderful living within the integrity of what you make (and what you owe.) Be honest with your children if holiday funds are light due to previous expenditures. Building integrity and faithfulness into the lives of your children and teaching them to be responsible, will do more long term than any toy or gift. Do not feel guilty if your holiday celebrations do not match those of friends and neighbors. Find real satisfaction in only purchasing what you can pay for now. The warm fuzzies of gift giving can easily be later ruined when the bills start to come in.
Choose to celebrate this Christmas season with integrity. As you consider giving this holiday be sure to remember the importance of paying as well. Such a legacy will do much for our country and your home!
4 Responses to “Christmas: A Season of Giving or Paying?”
December 18th, 2012 at 8:43 am
You speak (write) wisely. I own (operate)a very small business. A home day care business. I do infant only care; I have just 4 clients at a time. (as allowed by Texas law) I have had clients give me worthless checks. Then when I try to collect on the worthless check the client will leave me and go else where and I am out the money, bank fees, and income. Hard hard hard on a small business.
I hope people will pay attention, will pay what they owe, when they owe it. I know life can happen. It happened to us in 2008, my husband lost a job he had held for more than 30 years. But we still paid our bills. We cut to the bone all expenses and we lived on little income (mine) for months before he got another job at about half the pay.
December 18th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
I hear what you are saying. I agree…some may think it harsh; that is because it is harsh. No one wants to hear ‘pay your bills’ and simplify your Christmas, your budget, or your luxuries (ie: cable, data packages, etc)
The reason no one wants to hear it …is selfishness. We as people, like to give gifts–but how many times have we stopped to think about our gift giving. Are we giving sacrificially or selfishly?
That sounds like a trick question–but what I mean to say is— by running up the credit card debt or skipping payments someplace else; we are being selfish in our motives behind our gift giving.(keeping up with the Poor Jones’) We think we are ‘saving face’ among family and friends–but really, we are letting our integrity and reputation be tarnished. It leaves a bad taste in our mouth and can even make us bitter.
By ‘sacrificially’ …I mean, limiting our gifts to one or two per person, homemade, less costly; in order that we may keep our financial obligations elsewhere–and making Christmas more meaningful.
Sometimes keeping the JOY in the holiday or gift giving, no matter the season; comes from giving within our means. Simply put. Most people may be so taken aback that you even remembered them on the special day, they are most grateful for the thought of a card, plate of cookies, hand knit cap,etc.
Enjoyed this post– I’ve never been on the otherside of the coin, being owed and not being paid…but guiltily I have neglected obligations in the past to pay on time. It doesn’t make you feel good at Christmas…or anytime. It’s no fun.
Glad you shared. Pat
December 19th, 2012 at 12:36 am
Yes, I was here, and i can appreciate the article on Christmas: A season of giving or paying. And i am glad you shared. It realy reminds me of why i should not be spending money i don’t have, now or anyother time. I think for many Christmas giving is everyday or every payday.
December 19th, 2012 at 10:32 am
I did babysitting and in December the payments were a lot slower. The coup le grass was the person didn’t pay at all for the last two or three weeks so I couldn’t afford any toys for my kids if I hadn’t already bought them, and their child coming in to be babysat with the toys that my sons had drooled over, and rightfully should have been my sons, if mommy had payed her bill. It was pretty infuriating.
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