The Broke Man’s Holiday
Tis the season to be broke for many Americans. Not because they anticipate overspending on gifts for aunts, uncles and distant cousins, but rather because many people will not have a dime to spend on anything superfluous. For them, tis the season to be broke because they were recently laid-off work or still unemployed or underemployed as a result of last year’s lay-off! Once accustomed to purchasing the latest overpriced video console for their child, they are now trying to figure out a way to pay the mortgage and utilities on a shoestring budget. They try to accept this reality by telling themselves the money just isn’t there this time. Plain and simple; they just have to deal with reality. But that fact only makes the outlook seem more dismal, especially when Christmas carols are playing in every store and the next door neighbor is decorating for a holiday light show so spectacular that airplanes might confuse it for a landing strip!
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However, there is no need for the broke man’s holiday to consist of a can of Spam and a glass of water. All is not lost. Fortunately, the holiday season is the time of year where more people are in the giving mood. According to causes.com, donations increase by 42% during November and December more than any other period. We are barely halfway through November when we hear bells ringing for spare change to be placed into that little red tin bucket in front of every store. That is good for the broke man because those donations are being collected on their behalf. Social Service agencies are handing out holiday baskets complete with a turkey or ham with all the trimming. There are also toy drives to make sure your child has a gift under the tree.
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Each year the social service agency for which I work help many individuals who have experienced lost income for the first time. It’s difficult for them to ask us for help when they have been the one who has been “the giver” not the receiver. I try to encourage them by offering that the situation is only temporary. Though in this economy, how long is “temporary?” In the meantime, here is a simple plan of attack to help the broke man through the holiday season:
- Contact local social service agencies in your area to see if they are offering food baskets. (This is available in the form of groceries or gift certificates.)
- You might not be able to spent hundreds of dollars on the latest gadget for your child, but they deserve to have a few gifts under the tree. Toys for Tots teams up with partners like Toys r us, Hasbro, Walt Disney and FAO Schwartz to bring quality toys to kids. Contact toys for tots http://www.toysfortots.org/ to find a location near you.
- Some local churches sponsor Christmas Angels programs where anonymous donors purchase gifts for needy families. These programs are usually by referral only, but if you state your need early enough, your chances of selection are good.
- If you need a little expendable cash, consider shopping at your local Salvation Army http://www.salvationarmyusa.org or Goodwill http://www.goodwill.org. You can often find brand new, never opened toys for pennies on the dollar and you can often find those popular electronic gadgets at flea markets and pawn shops.
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According to CNN Money, 76% of Americans are living from paycheck-to-paycheck. If your next paycheck was your last, wouldn’t you like to know help is available? Therefore, if you are in a position to help, then consider buying an extra toy to donate to a child in need or giving to a charitable organization. Not just because it’s the holiday season, but we have to lift up our fellow man during the rough times.
A.M. Harris is the author of The Broke Man’s Survival Guide: 50 Clever Strategies to Use When You Are Unemployed, Underpaid or Just Dead Broke and Trying to Survive http://www.thebrokemansurvivalguide.com
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