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A Manger Not a Mansion

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I think old Andy Williams had it right when he sang “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” People seem to be more neighborly. Good moods abound. The children get all excited with the anticipation of a visit from jolly old Saint Nick. And who could forget the classic we all learned as children, The 12 Days of Christmas? Interestingly enough there is actually a Christmas Price index. So every year PNC Wealth Management calculates the cost to buy every gift repeated in the verses of the song. This year’s total? A whopping $96,824.00! The basket of goods is up overall by 9.2%. The run up in the price of gold contributed to an increase of 30% in the cost of 5 gold rings. Almost everything is higher this year than last year. The only things that didn’t go up in price were the pear tree, calling birds, geese and maids-a-milking.

I’ve been thinking about the season a lot lately. As early as Halloween, my youngest daughter asked why she was seeing Christmas stuff in the stores and she hadn’t even been Trick or Treating yet. We’ve bought presents for family, friends and classmates at school. And as soon as I finish typing this I’ll be headed out to buy a Christmas tree for our house. But I’ve seen more than a few things that have made me wonder whether or not we’ve lost sight of what really makes this the most wonderful time of the year.

Are we happy and cheery because of the prospects of spending time with loved ones, singing carols and sharing tales of Christmases long ago? Or have we become absorbed by the seemingly never-ending commercialization of the season? Now don’t get me wrong, I’m no Grinch nor am I Lucy snatching the football away from Charlie Brown. The look in the eyes of girls when they open presents on Christmas morning gives me a feeling that’s hard to explain. And for what it’s worth, I don’t mind receiving a gift or two myself.

On the other hand, I’ve witnessed the madness that occurs in shopping malls as Christmas draws nearer. Heck, I still have nightmares about my adventure into a Wal-Mart the Friday after Thanksgiving some years ago. No offense to Wal-Mart but I’ll go any other day than Black Friday. A not so little (or nice) old lady almost destroyed my surgically repaired Achilles tendon as she raced in search of a discounted flat screen television. I’ve also talked to many people in the New Year when the bills for all of the shopping done on credit come due. That can be a bit of a downer.

Have a glass of eggnog. Sit by the fireplace. Call a relative on the phone. Consider making a gift instead of buying one. Spend time doing the things that really make this the most wonderful time of the year. After all, the story of Christmas begins in a manger not a mansion.

leeBaker

Lee Baker, CFP®
President
Apex Financial Services
Tucker, GA



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