I’m a big fan of Christmas and all that, but my current financial condition has forced me to make some compromises this year. Not that that’s a bad thing. I’ve let myself get totally out of control for so many years that I don’t know how not to spend too much money. It’s my favorite time of year because I get to give things to people that they probably wouldn’t let me give them the rest of the time.

This year, though? It’s going to be a little sparse under the nonexistent tree in my undecorated house. For one thing, my credit cards are too close to their limits already. Besides, I feel a little dirty when I buy into the idea that commerce is more important than sentiment. There are things I would love to be able to give people. I just can’t do it, so I’ll try to be more creative and thoughtful.

Failing that, I’ll just go ultra-low tech and hope nobody notices.

The adults on my list probably might not get exactly what I’d really like to give them, but they will be remembered in some way. (And they’ll like it!) The children already get so much at one time that it overwhelms them (and us), so I’ll back off a bit and tone it down a level or two. One way to look at it: less to open on December 25, less to break (or lose) on December 26. They’ll have to believe I love them without as much debris as usual to prove it.

That said, I have to admit that I did some serious shopping today. You know I wasn’t about to go out amongst the Black Friday hordes. Those early-bird sales are for people who like to shop (and who like to get up in the morning). What I did, I did on line, and you know what? Because I could shop around, I’ll bet I got at least as good a deal as I would have at one of the door-buster specials. And with a lot fewer bruises, too.