Holiday Balance

What is it about the Holidays that makes me want to spend my savings on shiny, sparkly thingamabobs?

It's as if the simple, frugal living practices I strive to keep during the year go out the door as soon as that first red feathered wreath hits the shelf the day after Halloween. The sight of a frosted miniature tree gets me giddy as I picture how urban chic a set of three would look in front of my fireplace. And those replica vintage turquoise ornaments? Oh. My. God.

My Martha factor goes into overdrive at this time of year. It's usually in direct conflict with my voluntary simplicity principles and financial goals and it creates quite the internal conundrum that leaves me temporarily perturbed.

But then I find that balance. The one that keeps me grounded in a financial and material reality that leaves me happy and on track, but allows me to splurge on a special holiday something or two for the sheer pleasure of it.

So my strategy this year? To enjoy the Holiday giddiness but leave those thingamabobs on the shelf until the Holiday balance sets in.