Taking It Easy This Holiday Season
My sister-in-law, Grace, and I have been talking about hiring someone to help us both run some errands since it could save us time and money. The holiday traditions that make this time of the year so special also add stress to our already-overloaded schedules. But here's the problem—I'm worried about losing some of the "special something" that makes Thanksgiving and Christmas so memorable. Plus, with the economy the way it is, we have to stick to the budget.
This trend of outsourcing the holidays—hiring help for seasonal errands—has been building the past couple years. It's gotten so big now that you can pay for others to shop for presents, wrap gifts and decorate. As technology improved, we sent holiday cards en masse via e-card sites with just the click of a mouse. But if sending a cookie-cutter, cartoon feels too distant, it's still possible to maintain that personal touch (and keep the convenience) by sending customizable, hand-written holiday cards that you can order online already stamped! (Incidentally, my personal favorite is JackCards.com—run by two amazing ladies.)
Other than concerns of losing touch with tradition, one drawback to outsourcing is the expense—especially with what's going on with the economy. Everyone's a little more cost conscious nowadays. Some argue, though, that it's cost-effective to hire help. If holiday stress is taking you away from your job, you actually save money by hiring help that costs less than you make.
Am I really ready to outsource or use Care Gigs this year? I’m not sure yet. The thing is, I love being able to pick out the perfect gift for Ron or one of the boys! So what if it took me hours of hunting through stores, battling crowds for the last gift box and parking space? What about mealtimes? Does coming together, as a family, for dinner and holiday cheer mean less if I choose not to slave over the stove myself? And with this current economic crisis, we do have to be careful of our bottom line, making sure that every aspect of the holidays—whether that includes hiring help or not—fits into the family budget.
Then again, perhaps hiring a little help would free up more time to spend with the family. After all, that's what the holiday season is about. I sure could use a hand with all of the errands and housecleaning that need to get done before the relatives arrive.
How about you? What areas could you use extra help this holiday season, around the house and out on errands?
P.S. By the way, Natalie, our former nanny, just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Abigail. We all were very excited for her family!









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