Want to be a Scrooge this Christmas? (By: Lara Valles)

Around the holidays we begin to hear stories about the importance of family, giving and love. Yet you don’t hear people ask each other after Christmas has gone and past, ‘What did you give this Christmas?” So why not join in on the well-known phenomenon of getting. For those whose role models aren’t a jolly fat man who gives away presents to all the good children in the world, read on!

First to perfect the art of getting one must develop their skill to create a comprehensive list brimming with all the things that they want. Always start with the biggest things first (which is code for most expensive) and then slowly downsize. Remember not to add too much so people don’t feel daunted and give up once they get to the mall. Even though Christmas is supposed to be a season of cheer, the shoppers at the mall are not an accurate representation of that.

Next is the technique of looking away once you see those charities asking for money. Now some believe the best method is too subtly look away but come on, how can you miss the bright red donation box especially with a person dressed up right next to it. If you want to really to be a scrooge, look straight at them, frown and shake your head like Christmas generosity is a shameful disease. Or if you thinks that’s too harsh then just give them a smile with the universal hand gesture of raising your hands like you’re saying, ‘Sorry no change today”!

Lastly, look up to the Christmas scrooge role models. Follow their techniques, study their ways. I would recommend watching “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” or “Scrooge,” and don’t worry; we don’t need to be green or an ugly old man to be a true scrooge.

But most important of all realize how boring and meaningless getting can get. Because when you’re finished watching the movies and you get to the end you realize that gifts don’t matter. That after year and year of getting gifts the novelty of receiving presents becomes more like an expectation. That by next year the gifts we received last year are nothing but a hazy fog, but the memory of making someone else’s Christmas a happy one; priceless. After all if not one gives, how can anyone else get.