It’s the holidays. The worst possible time to be unemployed. Wait, are there any good times really? Regardless, it can be difficult watching the whirling tornado of consumerism that is the holidays, when you can’t take part. Well, it’s time to get clever so you can still participate in the holiday joy without spending much money. Below are the ways I’ve brainstormed to keep my own, unemployed self sane this holiday season.
Get Crafty: Remember how craft projects were so much fun when you were a kid? Well, they still are. And I bet they’re even more fun if you have kids of your own to share the experience with.
Get some colorful construction paper, glue sticks, markers and stickers and make holiday cards for everyone you know.
Make Christmas ornament/air-fresheners with some tangerines and whole cloves. Take the tangerines and push the cloves in like thumb-tacks, making all sorts of cool designs as you place them. The citrus and spice make a great fragrance, and you can hang them on the tree during the season, then keep them freshening your house for a few months afterwards.
Create a display of luminaries. Get some white paper bags, then cut some festive shapes out of them (for kids, have them draw shapes on the bags, then you can cut them out with an Exacto knife). Line your walkway with them, place a tea light candle in each and you’ll have a festive display of light.
Watch the classics: ABC Family Channel runs holiday specials every night during prime time in the month of December. They play everything from the old (slightly creepy) claymation, Mickey Mouse and Garfield Christmas specials. Plus live action classics like, “Jingle all the Way”, “Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and more. If you have kids, they’ll find it fun to stay up (maybe even a bit past their bedtime) to watch these fun specials, many of which are fun to sing along to. If you don’t have kids, settle in with a nice hot buttered rum and relive childhood memories of these specials you’ve probably long forgotten.
Bake, bake, bake! Everyone you know is probably aware that you’re unemployed and doesn’t expect a gift from you. A simple solution is to bake your holiday gifts. Whip up a few kinds of cookies and some loaf-style cakes that can be sliced up and mixed in with the cookies. Be sure to select recipes that don’t require a lot of expensive ingredients you don’t usually have on hand. When every thing’s ready to go, pack your goods in holiday tins from dollar store, Big Lots, or Wal-Mart. Voila! Cheap, thoughtful holiday gifts for all.
Do good. Since you’re unemployed, a good way to eat up a good deal of time, help others, and make you feel better about yourself, is to volunteer for a charitable cause. Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army need all the help they can get this time of year. Another way to help others this holiday is to visit nursing homes. For the elderly with no family, having someone stop by for a chat and cup of coffee can make their holiday bright.
People always say that the holidays are too commercial, and this is your year to rebel against that. Try not to get bogged down by what you can’t do (go shopping, drop a mint on holiday decor) and make the season merry in fun and creative ways. And make your New Year’s resolution to find that prefect new job!
