Dear J:
I usually love the holidays, but not this year. I’m the main breadwinner, and I lost my job recently. I know many others who’ve also lost their jobs, or homes, and/or are trying to get by on less money in a world where everything costs more. Is there a tactful way to let family and friends know that we can’t afford to spend money on gifts, without feeling like a cheapskate?
Signed, Scrooge
This is painful. What comes to mind, though, is that what seems to matter most to us is being remembered by someone you care about.
How can you turn this circumstance into an opportunity to reach out to the ones who mean the most to you?
Perhaps you can spring for a box of exquisite holiday cards, or create a handmade ornament that will fit in an envelope and send it to each person who comes to mind, letting them know that, even though times are tough, that they mean the world to you and you wanted them to know that you are thinking of them, during the holiday and throughout the year.
“Dear J” is a north state advice column that offers insight about every aspect of life. We invite readers to weigh in with suggestions, feedback and answers to the questions, below. Send your “Dear J” questions in care of anewscafe@gmail.com. (We will maintain strict confidentiality.)
