We are in a season of celebrations, or perhaps I should call it a period of festivities. It seems everyone has a reason to celebrate in one way or another. Whether you are a Christian or Muslim, the New Year is a universal celebration. For many, this time of year is an opportunity to glorify their Creator. While some groups, like Jehovah's Witnesses, do not celebrate Christmas because they believe the "Mas" in Christmas has origins in idol worship, everyone has the right to their beliefs.
Regardless of these differences, the New Year is widely celebrated by all. As for me, I had already planned to travel with my family to visit our in-laws during this festive period. The kind of family I have values seeing you in person more than receiving gifts. They prefer that you bring yourself along with your gift. However, given the current economic situation, including the high prices of goods and the steep cost of fuel, we have been reconsidering our plans.
We did some calculations and realized how expensive it would be to fuel our vehicle and cover other holiday expenses if we travelled. Considering that January also comes with significant financial obligations, we felt it would be wise to cut our coat according to our clothes. After much discussion, my husband and I agreed that it might be better to send money to our in-laws instead of travelling.
Just as we were finalizing this decision, we received information from our district office about an upcoming staff audit. Interestingly, the audit falls on the day before Christmas, December 24th, and the day after New Year's Day, January 2nd. Whether this is a coincidence or not, it has provided a valid reason for us to stay back and skip the trip. In a way, I see it as a blessing in disguise.
However, I couldn’t help but think about how our in-laws and parents would feel if we told them we wouldn’t be visiting this year due to financial constraints. Parents naturally love to celebrate with their children; it brings them immense joy. Yet, with this audit scheduled, we now have a concrete reason for not travelling.
Since it has been confirmed that we will stay back, the next step is planning our holiday budget. We need to decide how much money to send to our parents and loved ones, as well as how much to allocate for our own Christmas and New Year celebrations. This includes food, clothing, and, most importantly, planning for our survival in January.
The reality of this decision weighs on us. While staying back means we save on travel expenses, we still want to ensure that our loved ones feel valued and appreciated during this festive season. It’s important to strike a balance between managing our finances responsibly and showing our family that they remain in our thoughts. With careful planning and budgeting, we hope to make this holiday season memorable, even without the usual travel.