I don't know about most of you, but for me, second to my birthday, Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. Aside from getting gifts, I just love being able to spend time with my loved ones and eat until I pass out. But as I've gotten older my Christmas spirit has started to fade away. I've tried thinking about why Christmas just doesn't feel the same as it did when I was I kid. I asked friends if they felt the same way, and ultimately I came to the conclusion that the cause is two specific things. First, once you've graduated high school and entered into the world of adulthood, responsibilities, and worst of all bills, become a thing. Second, every business seems to go into overdrive during the holidays, especially retail businesses, and days off aren't even a thing. Christmas time as a college student for these two reasons can cause way more trouble than its worth.

Back when I was a kid, I remember saving all of my change from the allowance that my parents gave me and cashing it in and December to use for Christmas present. There wasn't much for me to spend my money on back then so it was just so easy for me to save it. Fast forward about ten years later and I can't save money to save my life. I've got to pay rent, the electricity, buy groceries, get gas, and so much more. So Christmas time just adds on to the list of money that I'm going to have to spend. I have to get my parents a gift of course, then my grandparents, my siblings, and my best friends. There goes at least $100 on top of the bills I have to pay. With that being said, all of that just adds on to the stress and makes me not even like Christmas anymore.

Working during the holidays also adds to the stress. Especially working in retail. Every company just seems so money hungry and customers are so greedy and aggressive during that time of year. And don't even think about asking for any days off because they have to hire forty people the week of Christmas just to schedule them to work three days. Which basically means all the veterans will be working overtime trying to train all new hires two days before Christmas Eve. All for minimum wage.

At the end of the day the holidays and especially Christmas should be a time of excitement, joy, love and happiness. College students shouldn't have to experience their Christmas spirit fading away because of all the new responsibilities we're faced with. Our friends and family should understand that we are working hard to simply just live a consistent lifestyle, and if we so happen to not be able to afford Christmas presents this year then our love should be enough. We also should't stress ourselves, if we have to quit that minimum wage retail job because they're trying to work us to death, then that's exactly what we have to do, because ultimately Christmas is about more than gifts and giving and receiving. Christmas is about spending time with the ones you love and celebrating the birth of Jesus.