A Lesson from The Grinch

It isn’t all about the packages, boxes or bags

My brother Dan and stepfather have bonded over the years over a shared love of fishing. Each summer, my brother returns home to the Wisconsin lakes from California for a week of fishing, with a goal of hooking that prized musky. While our family has caught some nice size fish, including muskies, there’s always that one ‘that got away’ swimming in the depths, albeit taunting them.

Our large, blended family gets together each holiday season. Normally, our parents focus their gifting on their 17 grandchildren and we adult kids receive a one size fits all gift like socks, dishtowels with goofy sayings and some sort of food gift (yes, cheese and sausage. It is a Wisconsin thing). However, last year, Dan received something unique from our stepdad. It was an old musky lure which had belonged to our stepdad’s father, along with a handwritten note detailing the significance of that lure. The look on my brother’s face will forever hold a place in my heart of holiday memories. He treasures that gift, that gesture of love. In fact, he was so afraid of losing it in the lake this past summer, he bought a similar model to practice with.

The point is, we are living during a time of inflation. Our holidays may require some creativity with how we adjust the flow of our cash to create some extra spending money. It may mean a shorter gift list or fewer gifts purchased. Perhaps, fewer new decorations or a simpler meal.

Instead of looking at what you may need to spend on decorations, evaluate what you can do with what you already have. Maybe mix it up a bit and place the snowman collection in a different spot this year. Cherish the time spent with loved ones, perhaps making new decorations.  And as you unpack the tried and true, also unpack the memories of their holidays past.

And as you think about this year’s gift list, consider what you’d most like to share with each special person on your list. You may find it isn’t something brand new that might cause you to buy now-pay later. Rather, it could be the gift of your time. Or your talent as a baker, or a woodworker, a writer or musician or you get the point. You know where your talents lie. Or it could be something of great meaning to you, like that musky lure which, for my brother, simply represented the ultimate gift of love and friendship.

Employers – it’s likely the financial stress of the holiday season will only ratchet up the stress your employees are already feeling from inflation. Give your employees the gift of a financial wellness program. Give them FinFit. Request a demo to learn more.