TROUBLE

THIS COULD SO GET A PERSON IN TROUBLE:  How much money do you spend at Christmas time?  No, don't answer that. At least on this post. Just think about it. And what is the reason you spend that much? Do you spend a lot on personal gifts for yourself? for family members? for friends? Or do you keep the spending down. on spite of the cry's of the merchants who claim to need the Christmas sales in order to make a profit for the year?  Now, before I continue on with this post, I want to clarify here that we do some of our shopping online at a well known shopping channel. And for the most part we are satisfied with the purchases we make. Having said that, I will continue.
Watching said shopping channel, they often put items on "easy Pay" for just two, or three or even up to six payments of just $18.00 a month, or $9.00 a month or $20.00 a month or, well, you get the picture.  And they say you buy for the mailman, the dog walker and the garbage man and the UPS driver and a variety of neighbors. Then there is friends and family and on and on. 
Don't get the wrong idea. I like Christmas. I like the idea of gift giving, where possible. But to purchase all these gifts for all these people probably isn't necessary, unless you have a relationship with them that is more than just that they come by once or twice a week and pick up your garbage. 
And while $14.00 a month for a few months is not a large amount, if you purchased all these items on Easy Pay, these small amounts will add up to a large amount, quickly, and the next thing you know you are in trouble. Probably serious trouble.
So, I know a lot of people, maybe most people, are responsible enough not to do that, but so many are not, and as a result find themselves in trouble.
I suggest that we all try to bring back the main purpose of Christmas and the celebration for what it is. MERRY CHRISTMAS should not be a financial drain on families, but a true feeling of the Spirit of Christ. Happy Holidays may be politically correct, but they will not be happy if you spend the next year trying to pay off the Christmas gifts from last year,only to repeat it.
So, say Merry Christmas. The holiday would not even be in existence if not for the birth of Christ. Have a happy holiday, but wish people a Merry Christmas and stay out of financial trouble.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK