I consider myself to be a conservative when it comes to Christmas. I really love everything about the holiday: celebrating the birth of Christ, the music, the lights, the devotionals, the excitement, the traditions, the goodies, the cards, and yes, even Santa. I love the looks on my kids faces as they tear into their presents. Their excitement is my favorite gift. But every year I struggle with balance. How much is too much commercialism? How much do I focus on the Savior? How do I inspire the love of giving and not receiving? How can we help those in need? At the end of it all, did we all feel the "true" meaning of Christmas? Did it inspire us to carry us through the next year and make us better people?
In an effort to create this feeling, I try not to go overboard on the toys and the gifts. At the same time, my kids rarely get things if it isn't Christmas or their birthday. In fact, when we go to the store, and the kids see stuff they want, I optimistically tell them to "Put it on your Christmas List" or "Put it on your Birthday List." This approach always...always...distracts them away from the whining and pleading that could possibly follow. As a result, I once again struggle with balance. I want them to have a nice Christmas and get some special gifts that they don't get the rest of the year, but I try hard not to go overboard.
I was doing quite well this year and really feeling like I was doing a good job with balance. I was even feeling very little anxiety about the money I had spent this year. I was coming in well under my "Mental Budget" for gifts. And then, I turned to a certain source for the last item on Macy's list, and as a result, I have temporarily lost my mind.
One word: Ebay
I've bought a few things on Ebay over the years. I got a great dinosaur Halloween costume for Austin a few years back, an out-of-print cooking magazine, and a few other small items here and there. But, I have always done the "Buy-It-Now" option. No patience for an auction. However, when I went in search of a few handmade Barbie clothes to finish up Macy's Christmas list, I was forced into the auction process. I became obsessed. It started out innocently enough. I bid on a few dresses. Then, I lost. I received a few emails that said I had been outbid and sadly did not win the item, but did I want to go to the seller's store to view other items. Why yes, I did want to go to the seller's store. I did want to find something bigger, better (just to stick it to that stranger that "stole" my last item). I found even more grand, glamorous Barbie dresses from Beijing and Australia. I started placing bids willy nilly. I saw more and more dresses (and the Euro makes them appear so cheap). I won a few only to realize that there were more out there that I fell in love with.
I must have them.
I started checking my auction status every couple of minutes. Feed one baby, then quickly log-on and increase my bid on an item. Then, feed the other baby. Quickly run Macy to school, only to hurry and check on my items before taking everyone out of the car seats. No time for eating or sleeping. I had my bids to check. One time, I was down to the last 10 seconds - the pressure of that red number blinking on my screen - I was forced to increase my bid to a ridiculously high price (for a Barbie dress - hello!?!). My heart was pounding. Must...Win...Dress!
I lost.
Thank heavens.
When I realized what I was willing to pay to cover up a 12-inch plastic doll, I recognized that I had a problem. Seriously, I rarely spend that much on a dress for myself. Unfortunately, I already had quite a few bids out there. But, I decided to walk away. I already had enough Barbie dresses to cover this Christmas, Macy's birthday, next Christmas, and still have a few left over. No more new bids. If someone out-bid me, I would not bid again.
Do not visit Seller's Store.
Do not view similar items.
Do not be tempted to save dollars...dollars...on shipping by combining items.
Do not pass Go. Do not throw away two hundred dollars.
I won a few more dresses. I lost quite a few. In the end, I purchased 19 items. NINETEEN!!! FOR BARBIE!!! (I even bought the same dress twice. Oops!) I have also changed my Ebay password to something that I will never remember.
Please don't judge me. But more importantly, please don't join me. Don't let the evil traps of the Ebay auction ensnare you this Christmas. And please don't be surprised if you invite one of my daughter's to a Birthday Party over the next couple of years only to receive a handmade dress - for Barbie.
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Has anyone else suffered from a similar bout of insanity this year? Please share - I don't like to feel stupid alone. How do you balance at Christmas?
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On a totally unrelated note, go here to see my adorable boys and read a funny (but typical) story about my crazy life with five kids! I love them! (I spent $7.00 on them - combined - for Christmas. Perhaps that balances out the money spent on Barbie clothes.)
7 comments:
ha! I love the story... just wait until you discover auctionsniper.com and you will wish you never changed your ebay password!!
One of your gifts is a similar thing in that i spent too much money on an item i wasn't planning on buying. but, then again perhaps you'll forgive me...since it's for you and all. (it was NOT Ebay)
I didn't know that you were an ebay addict! I am a craigslist junkie. We can go to therapy someday.
Those pics of you and the little boys are so AWESOME!! They are beautiful, blue eyed boys...and you look beautiful Em.
My mother has a whole room of quilting material thanks to Ebay. Ebay is evil!.
Love the pics of the boys. So cute!
Mwah Hahah! This was hilarious. While it wasn't Ebay that did it to me this year, it was Black Friday. I had my items CIRCLED with RED pen of what I wanted and not one more thing would jump into my cart before Checkout. Right. We got there and OOOOH, WE Had to have a new camera, we HAD to have a fireproof/waterproof safe, right? I mean come on, we have to keep our documents safe. . . . and we HAD to have that GPS and the shop vac, not to mention the Wii and all of the accessories that come with it, and how can you have a wii and Guitar Hero and not a giant screen too for viewing pleasure, so yes, we bought a flat screen while we were at it too. I will admit right now to the world, why yes, yes indeed, I am buying my happiness for Christmas this year, because boy, nothing else has worked, so I thought I would give this a whirl. Spendy Frenzy. My excuse is that we have put off all of these things FOR SO LONG, because we really did need that fireproof/waterproof safe, just in case, oh and that flat screen:)
LOVES,
Michelle
I love ebay by the way.
Mwah Hahah! This was hilarious. While it wasn't Ebay that did it to me this year, it was Black Friday. I had my items CIRCLED with RED pen of what I wanted and not one more thing would jump into my cart before Checkout. Right. We got there and OOOOH, WE Had to have a new camera, we HAD to have a fireproof/waterproof safe, right? I mean come on, we have to keep our documents safe. . . . and we HAD to have that GPS and the shop vac, not to mention the Wii and all of the accessories that come with it, and how can you have a wii and Guitar Hero and not a giant screen too for viewing pleasure, so yes, we bought a flat screen while we were at it too. I will admit right now to the world, why yes, yes indeed, I am buying my happiness for Christmas this year, because boy, nothing else has worked, so I thought I would give this a whirl. Spendy Frenzy. My excuse is that we have put off all of these things FOR SO LONG, because we really did need that fireproof/waterproof safe, just in case, oh and that flat screen:)
LOVES,
Michelle
I love ebay by the way.
So, just out of curiosity I looked up barbie clothes on ebay...and ended up buying two. I have done ebay now and again but those darn dresses were so cute. I kept thinking...Wow, Heather would love this...This one is so cute. It is sooo easy to get carried away. I just may need to join the therapy group too!
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