Tag Archives: christmas

My Christmas Wish

Money Reflections, , , , , , ,

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. – Job 42: 9-11

The year 2012 has been very eventful, and in some respects, it has been the worst of times. We have experienced many low points and challenges hitherto unseen in our young nation – frightening criminal atrocities, worrying economic signals and disturbing social trends, among other concerns.

In many other areas, however, we have had the best of times. We celebrated 50 years of Independence with successes in the cultural and sporting fields; and once again, we proved how much influence our little island has on the rest of the world. Jamaica is indeed a nation of confusing contradictions and intriguing inconsistencies!

A welcome holiday break

In a few days, we will commemorate another Christmas Day. This holiday period gives us a brief respite from our personal and national troubles; when we can eat, drink, be merry and pretend that all is right in our world. After all, who can be too concerned about the future when we can enjoy family, food and fellowship right now? Continue reading My Christmas Wish →

The True Currency of Christmas

Money Reflections, , , , ,

Christmas is traditionally celebrated as a time to show appreciation to our family, friends and colleagues by exchanging gifts. Stores are usually overrun with frantic shoppers searching for perfect presents that are designed to impress, or inexpensive items that express ‘It’s the thought that counts.”

With the increasing commercialization of Christmas, it’s easy to put a lot of emphasis on money at this time of year. One regular feature that appears in December is the Bank of Jamaica report detailing the amount of currency in circulation; when more money exchanges hands, it’s a sign that the shopping season is in full swing.

With money being promoted as essential to the successful enjoyment of the holidays, it’s not hard to see why so many people get stressed out about it at Christmastime. Employees wait impatiently for their end-of-year bonuses; contractors work harder to finish jobs before Christmas; people descend on remittance agencies in anticipation of receiving money transfers from foreign sources. Continue reading The True Currency of Christmas →

Celebrating the Holidays When You’re Broke

Spending, , , , , ,

As one of my favourite Yuletide songs proclaims, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” It’s hard to escape the commercial manifestations of the holidays – aggressive advertisements, sparkling shops and tempting trinkets – all screaming at us to “Buy, Buy, Buy!”

Many people who would normally jump wholeheartedly into the seasonal spending spree can only look on from the sidelines as spectators, as their bank accounts reflect the current economic crunch. Other persons have decided to throw caution to the wind by declaring that it’s business as usual this year.

Armed with partner draws, overseas remittances, or credit cards dangerously close to their limits, some shoppers are living on the edge by spending more than they can really afford.

How can you balance your desire to participate in the holiday festivities, if you’re strapped for cash and your financial reality dictates frugality at this time? Continue reading Celebrating the Holidays When You’re Broke →

An Attitude of Gratitude

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“When I’m worried and I can’t sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings.”
– “Count your Blessings,” Bing Crosby

Over the last three months, we have covered many of your concerns – escalating energy costs, the international financial crisis, increasing mortgage rates and foreclosures, and fear of the financial future – and presented practical solutions to help you deal with these realities.

With the global economy apparently deteriorating before it gets any better, threats of recession and redundancy, and the shrinking net worth positions of the rich and not-so-rich alike, it might be easy to feel a sense of despair as the year draws to a close. For most people, 2008 will definitely not be remembered for bringing financial blessings. Continue reading An Attitude of Gratitude →