Tis The Season

It is weird to be living in the financial times that are suddenly upon us. Well maybe not suddenly. It has been creeping up for years, let's face it, but I don't think most of us really knew..I don't know, I can only speak for myself. Things seemed pretty good, and then wham over the last 6 months or so, it was like a free fall out of a plane, and we are still falling and I wonder "when I will hit the bottom" to quote a line out of a monologue my daughter recently recited from Alice in Wonderland, at an audition. I loved that line.

When I read, "this only happens once or twice in 100 years" it feels so unreal, really, I am living in a time that seems like something a grandparent would tell me about...now when I am a grandparent I can look back on these times? Odd!!

I was a realtor for a couple of years, in the height of great times (it was still very hard to make a living, because there are way TOO many realtors--another story!) but one thing I remember so clearly, is every mortgage broker drilling in our minds, "we can get ANYONE a loan!" And it was true. And like evangelists, we would tell any prospective client that, because there were so many people skidish to sit down with a mortgage broker out of fear, but we would allay their fears and tell them they would get a loan, and they would! I had no idea this was the precursor of bad things to follow. I thought people would be so over the moon about getting a loan, they would do whatever it takes to keep it, within reason..I can see when your mortgage is thousands per month, and now you don't have a job, or a much less one, and there is no way to make that payment..or your house has sunk so far in value that you are paying on a worthless investment--I can understand these foreclosures..but when people's mortgages are under $200k, I just don't get being foreclosed on--that is not that big of a monthly payment..rent out a room, get another job, whatever, "Make it work people!" to quote Tim Gunn. Maybe I just don't get it, what other realities people live in.

But that was not what I was going to write about, but I guess it all encompasses us, as we move into the holidays full force, now that Christmas music fills the radio waves, and every store has blinking lights and singing toys, and wrapping paper, and trinkets and toys, lawn ornaments, fake Christmas trees, and wrapped up gift sets..In polls I have read, 50% of those polled said they will not be shopping this year, that is pretty astounding. I wonder what the season will be like, and I think it will be dismal, as far as spending. But maybe it will be rich in other elements. Potluck parties, and old movies, and walks around the neighborhood, and community events, and reconnecting with family members and good friends. Maybe it will be okay to re gift this year (not that I ever saw anything wrong with bringing a bottle of wine to a party that may have been given to you--I felt like my hand had been slapped!) I even joked with my friend that we could wrap up our kid's stuff and re gift it to them! I have always believed in the gift under $10--there is so much out there. Charity should be top of the list--give to something. I read in Suze Orman's book recently how giving to charity seems to bring more money in your own door. Give what you can afford.

I am kind of tired of email threads telling me not to complain as an American and to be happy with what I have. I already feel like that (not that it is not easy to complain..Americans are born and bred on buying things!) but yet, this year might just be about spending very little and appreciating what we have, and loving the free times and moments out there that are there for the taking, and hey, if you have to do some re gifting I see nothing wrong with it :) tis the season for so many things, these 5 weeks will be over before we know it, so I am going to try to be like the scene in the Grinch, and let my heart grow 10 times this season, filled with glee for what I already have.