Christmas is in two weeks. The weather is cold and wet where I’m at. And while I was all snuggled up on my HUGE Love Sac bean bag watching the news, the news anchor announced a homeless woman in the area died last night from exposure. I felt a little pinch in my heart.

To think that the entire day I was stressing over what to buy who and where the sales are. Then my husband reminded me of one more thing when a McDonald’s commercial came on. That there are people out there in the US that hasn’t even been to a McDonald’s because they can’t afford it, and that there are also a lot of lonely people out there that would spend the Holiday’s alone. How SAD!!

With recent economic downturn, many out there will be having a pretty crappy Christmas. To save, our family opted out of a Christmas tree and no lights.

For us Christmas is not about the trees or decorations, it’s about people. So instead we put that money towards feeding a homeless family and buying their kids a gift. So how can you survive the Holiday when you are down on your luck? Here’s the solutions:

1. Alone for the Holiday – If none of your friends of acquaintances invited you to join their Christmas dinner, go have your own. Throw a party of your own, and if money is an issue, have a pot luck. If you have no friends, then go down to the local food shelter or church and help out a hungry family that is in worst luck than yours.

2. No money for presents – If money is an issue then, give a present of a kind deed. Yes, go out there and do something nice for someone. Gift giving does not always have to be BOUGHT. It can be a kind gesture. Not only will that make you feel good, it will make the recipient feel special too. Hell, and there will be no bitterness of you gave a better gift than you received.

No matter what the situation, you can overcome it. To survive and not think of yourself as a victim, but rather a survivor. Be creative and think of other ways to celebrate this Season of Giving. This is not a Season of Entitlement. Forget the past and go for the future . . seize it. Forgive yourself, forgive others, and live your life.