Will you be Lonely or Loved this Christmas? Stressed or Serene? Tell me about it

It'll definitely be different. But every christmas is, for my family. Though we're never doing awesomely, financially, this year it's extra tough, with food and gas prices skyrocketing. We've animals to feed as well as ourselves. We always try to have a family christmas, and then a christmas with our relatives...but I'm not sure whether or not we'll only be able to manage a christmas for mom, dad, me, and my little brother. It's not even certain that all of us'll have presents this year. Or that Mom'll get paid soon. Things are no where near perfect...but I'm feeling optimistic. I don't expect presents, or being able to go to see my grandparents...though I would love these things. I'll just be happy to spend christmas day with a small ham, the beautiful tree, and maybe some holiday music. I don't know. Maybe it's just how I grew up. When I was very young, things were fine. No financial worries...but when I began thinking more, we lost our house. Spent a few christmases in a drafty trailer, snowed in, on a farm. Having to trudge out in below freezing weather to feed the farm animals. With a very small tree, a few presents from families who'd heard about our situation and cared enough..and a ham. Not even tv, 'cause we didn't have cable and when you're snowed in the antenna doesn't work lol. I've had a christmas where we traveled to the grandparents just to be warm or bathe before, lol. So...though I have things I'd really like to do this christmas...I'll take a ham and the tree if I have to pick a mimamum. We're now living in the city, so..we can walk somewhere warm if our heat goes out. We might even be able to buy a bit of ham for whatever bit of dollars we might scrap up after walking in the cold. I'm just thankful for whatever I get. I'm optimistic, because Mom might indeed get paid soon, I'm getting a eight dollar check my online earnings, coming soon (though perhaps too late, I'll be hopeful anyways), a giftcard...yet again, from my online earnings lol. And hopefully, I'll get that job ringing bells for the salvation army, knowing that they're short on people this year...and being available every night of the week this December. I mean no...the job's not cake. I have to stand out in Ohio weather, which is INSANE in the winter, while it snows, and sleets, and is 20's or lower. Singing cheerily in hoping people will donate and help families who need it this christmas. But it's something. And the money will go to a few presents and maybe our christmas meal..depending what happens. I dunno. I know it's weird, for me a teenager to be looking after my family like this, but I've a younger brother I raised after the first housefire, and my parents are always working...I know I take of the house and animals, and have for years already...but still. Some semblance of a christmas..I'm trying for it, at least. Right? I'm not stressed about it, though. A bit anxious...but I've already accepted the outcome, whatever it is. Just know, you're not the only one experiencing financial troubles for christmas, hun. You're not alone. I think everyone's feeling the strain this christmas.

well, for the first time this year i won't be lonely. i never was completely lonely - always had my family. but i never had anyone special to be with on the holiday. now i do. i'm so happy and looking forward to it too - but it's going to be quite stressful. we don't have much money at all. we both want to shower the other with gifts - even though all we both ask for is to be with the other - but we won't be able to. plus we have his parents we want to buy for, my parents and my sister.

Christmas will be lonely without my father here with me and my mom. i will be going through the motions, dad passed two years ago. i will try to make mom's day well but inside i feel alone hurt just going through the motions

I am always excited about Christmas but it comes with its own share of anxietys as well. Finances are always at the top, we travel plus we have a pretty big family to buy for. We have to drive 18 hours a few day before Christmas to get to my family's house. Once we are there I will relax but not until then. My younger brother just left 2 days ago for 18 months in Iraq. He will be there for this Christmas and next. Last Christmas he was in Afghanistan. He is married with a 6 year old and a 2 year old. This of course makes all of us sad.

I think I'm going to be stressed because getting presents for people is hard for me because I want to get them what they want. And I'm kind of dreading it because of that and the fact that i dont feel like christmas is comeing soon.