by Hope
With all my recent posts about food, I saw this and was just like YES! Someone else gets my struggle!
But I wanted to jump in and share the final answer to our Christmas Tree debacle for this year. This is our $15 $10 Dollar General, 4′ pre lit Christmas Tree. It was listed as $15 which I was fine with. But much to my pleasant surprise, when rung up, it was only $10. Win for me!
I believe this is a good compromise for us. Princess is happy to have a traditional tree to decorate. And I am ecstatic at the size and price. If we decide to store it, it’s a very reasonable size in the box. And if I don’t want to store it, well, donating or trashing it…it was only $10. Just a win-win, all the way around!
We decorated the house before we left for my parents and I am looking forward to getting back from Texas to a clean, holiday decorated home. Yeah! This is definitely my favorite time of the year.
And to be honest, this year will be the best, in some senses, in a number of years. We have a true living room for the first time in, what 4 or so years. I’ve been budgeting and shopping for Christmas for months now, so no financial crunch. And work is steady and enjoyable.
A couple of personal updates:
- My grandmother has recently been diagnosed with cancer. She now has daily doctor appointments as we find out more details of the prognosis. And are not sure how she will decide to proceed, but either way, I imagine my time with her will increase. I’m grateful that my work life is so flexible as to when and where I work so I can be available to her when and where needed.
- As a result of this diagnosis, it looks like Gymnast will be coming to visit over the holidays. He is VERY close to her. And I think his dad has agreed to foot the bill for this trip (I have not as I will be bringing him down for Spring Break.) It’s not a done deal yet, but this is what Gymnast has said.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
Beautiful tree!
I’m so sorry about your grandmother. I’m glad you can be there to help.