editorial
james e. cossey • editor in chief
RED, The Color of Christmas
Y FRIEND, Paul Henson, is a master at parody. Start saving early. It may be too late for this year, but
M
My favorite is his Christmas ditty “I’m in the putting a little aside ahead is better than putting it aside for
Red This Christmas,” to the tune of “Blue the credit card company.
Christmas.” It laments the fact that the entire Develop a budget and (number three on the list) stay
family wants a roomful of expensive presents, but the budget with it. List those to whom you are giving gifts, determine
is stretched further than Santa’s worn-out belt. With cash the amount you will spend, then stick with it.
spent and credit cards maxed, the chorus croons, “I’m in the Shop online. Many brick-and-mortar stores cannot com-
red this Christmas, don’t doubt it. I’m turning green just pete with online discounters, many of whom will not charge
thinking about it. You’ll be doing all right with your Christ- shipping or tax.
mas of white, but I’m in the red this Christmas.” Get creative. Myrlene and I cherish a decoupage of the
Experts say that he isn’t alone. One-fourth of Americans Declaration of Faith lovingly placed on a homemade wooden
will spend their January through March income on Christ- plaque at Christmas 1977 and given to us by Virgil and Pat
mas. Since many loaded their credit cards last year, and have Allen. Times were hard, and money was scarce. This creative
paid only minimum payments, they are likely still making gift is on the wall of my study, cherished even more now that
payments on last year’s gifts, and perhaps those of the year our daughter is married to their son.
ONE-FOURTH OF AMERICANS WILL SPEND THEIR
JANUARY THROUGH MARCH INCOME ON CHRISTMAS.
SINCE MANY LOADED THEIR CREDIT CARDS LAST YEAR,
AND HAVE PAID ONLY MINIMUM PAYMENTS, THEY ARE
LIKELY STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON LAST YEAR’S
GIFTS, AND PERHAPS THOSE OF THE YEAR BEFORE.
before. With compounded interest, those “after Thanksgiving” Shop early. Most of what is “hot” will be gone quickly,
bargains have become pretty expensive. and last-minute bargains will likely be for things you really
Don’t get me wrong; I love Christmas and everything don’t want.
about it. Well, almost everything. I love the sights, sounds, and Let’s add a seventh thing to this list: Don’t buy on credit
smells of Christmas. I love to go to the mall on Christmas Eve what you cannot pay for when the statement comes. If you
and watch the shoppers rush home with their treasures must extend payments, don’t extend for more than two
(although Myrlene would rather sit by the fire with a cup of months, or interest will compound against you.
hot cocoa). But I don’t like the materialism. I don’t enjoy see- Have I always done what I am suggesting? I’m afraid not.
ing people buy things they don’t want to buy to give to peo- I guess you could say I learned some things the expensive
ple who don’t want to get them. I don’t like “exchanging” way. Daddy used to say, “Bought lessons are the best lessons.”
gifts. Exchange gifts? If you are exchanging for something, is it Christmas is here; let’s enjoy it. Celebrate Christ’s birth!
really a gift? Didn’t Jesus talk about that? I also don’t enjoy But as the streetlights and stoplights blink their colors this
seeing people who cannot afford it going into debt to cele- year, let’s have a Christmas that is bright, or even white—
brate the birth of One who was born in a stable and laid in a but not red.
manger because He had no place to lay His head.
The Christian Personal Finance Web site (www.christianpf
.com) offers six suggestions for a debt-free Christmas. Be sure to visit the online Evangel at www.onlineevangel.org
30 EVANGEL • DEC 2008
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