Tis The Season For Giving : Merry Christmas Wishes To All

SPREAD CHEER EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR

 

It’s Christmas Eve as I write this and apart from variety stores and a couple of gas stations everyone else is closed as loved ones gather to begin the Christmas festivities.

Laid out on the dining room table are all sorts of Christmas treats, vegetables and dips, cheese balls and lots of fruits for the evening affair of spending time with the family.

After some eating it was time to get out of the house to spread some Christmas cheer. No, I don’t mean by caroling although my wife is that woman who loves to sing and isn’t shy to go door to door. I on the other hand am not a singer, at all.

The city was a ghost town as we went looking for Tim Horton’s coffee only to realize of course they are closed. I guess the only thing giving to us would be the kettle so back home we went after a quick drive around to see some Christmas lights.

Although almost all shops are closed there are people out there that have to work, police, hospital and healthcare staff, paramedics, fire fighters and so on. Big thanks to all of you for looking after us and Merry Christmas.

 

Merry Christmas messages all have meaning

 

As the “Merry Christmas wishes” text messages came pouring in I can’t help but wonder what makes people so loving this time of year. It could be the Christmas lights, snow, decorated trees, Christmas displays, memories or just being around family- but we ought to do it more often.

This week has been a mad house for us as we’ve been in and out of the hospital for my father-in-law and our son but thankfully they are both home for Christmas now. If there is one thing I’ve learned about the Christmas season is that many people go out of their way to give. There have been many times this holiday season that we have witnessed “giving” or “giving-back” from many people in our community.

It may have been through volunteering or helping families or individuals in need. Some parents I read on Facebook needed a ride to pick up their Christmas Hamper so they could make a Christmas dinner. Other people needed gifts for their kids due to financial strain on their budget and reached out to the community. No matter the case “family” is most important, especially the kids.

Thankfully there are many community organizations that help families in need.

A family may need help fixing something like a vehicle that gets them back and forth to work because they can’t afford a mechanic or the parts and a mechanic steps up to help. You may be standing in line to pay for groceries and the customer in front of you is short money and you pitch in if you can.

A senior on your street may need their snow shoveled because they can no longer push a shovel or snowblower. We tend to hear more about these random acts of kindness over the holiday season but I know that help is needed all year-long. There is always someone who may benefit from a hug, smile or an ear to talk to because they have no one to turn to or they are lonely.

Next time you see or hear that someone needs a helping hand or could even use support, be that person to jump in and help. The rewards are amazing. I did just that earlier this week and when I get home from holidays I will continue to help this family who were desperate for help and took to social media for any assistance.

I’m not telling you this for praise by any means as I normally don’t talk about causes we donate money or time to help out or volunteer. I’m mentioning it in hopes that it inspires you do challenge yourself to take a step back from life and see where you can help someone out. Sometimes we focus on building up our own pots that we forget that money doesn’t bring happiness, we must create it from with-in.

 

Witnessing the Christmas spirit of giving

 

My wife and I were witness to a giving situation the other day while enjoying a coffee at McDonald’s. A woman and her 3 kids came in and realized that she didn’t have enough money to pay for the food she ordered to feed her kids. All she had in her purse was $10. The kids were upset that they had to walk all the way home and not get their kids meals. The mother was upset too but there was nothing that could be done so she told her kids to put their winter coats and hats back on as they were leaving.

Just as I said to my wife that I was going to give her $20 the woman next to us jumped up and handed her money. At first she did not want to take the money because she said she would not eat and just feed the kids so they could stay as she promised it to them but she was told to take it and treat her family.

The smiles, the laughter and the relief from the family was all you could hear. When the good Samaritan sat down again she said that it’s nice to give when you see someone needs it and you can help out. She also mentioned that karma will always come around. She’s right, it did when that family was smiling and thanking her. That’s all you really need.

Although some people would tell this mother to take the money and buy groceries so she could cook for her kids we don’t know her financial or living situation. By the sounds of it she didn’t have much money because of what she had said to her kids that we overheard but either way I believe she was just trying to make her kids happy after a visit to the mall to see Santa Clause.

Best of all they both said Merry Christmas with a smile on their faces.

There has been so much commotion over the years about what to say at Christmas time and honestly I’ve not once had someone say anything but “Merry Christmas” or “Have a nice Christmas” to me while I’ve been out and about.

If someone says Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings that’s fine too because this time of year is all about -Peace, Love and Prosperity. No matter how you view Christmas or choose to celebrate “Family and Love” take over the month of December.

From my family to yours we wish all the Canadian Budget Binder readers a Merry Christmas!

-Mr.CBB and Family

On the off-chance you are stuffed from eating too much and want to chill out and relax, maybe read a few blog posts you’ve missed over the year here’s a few popular posts you might want to dive into.

Have a fantastic day!

1. Close to Starbucks Lemon Loaf..but better
2. How to handle when your spouse spends too much money
3. Single millionaire paid the price to get where he is today
4. Buy the least expensive house in the most expensive neighbourhood
5. How I plan to retire at 28 using dividend income

Plus don’t forget if you want to get the ball rolling with a budget you can download our budget absolutely free of charge. It doesn’t get any better than that.

– I best get to bed now…. Santa is on the way!

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Photo Credit: Freedigitalphotos.net/Areeya

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