This year probably has been the hardest for my family and me. It's been a tough few months. We have been on this journey of financial difficulties since 2008, when the company where my father worked for 12 years closed down. From 2008 to 2012 we had a really rough patch. However, since 2012 we have been recovering and things have been going well. This is contributed to the fact that my father found work in some good companies as an engineer. Also my brother Mark, who is a college graduate and accountant and now has his masters degree has been working with my parents to fix our financial situation.

Things have been really great for the last few years--our bills have been going in on time and we even took a vacation in August 2015 to California. The reason behind this was my father and brothers hard work. I was able to contribute this past year as well, thanks to my full-time summer job. Our home has been joyful and bills have going through our family hasn't had too many issues financially. However, the last few months have been rough. My brother lost his accounting job back in October. He is still looking for a job, unfortunately he hasn't found anything yet. Because of school, I have not been able to contribute much either because I don't work many hours. These past few months have been a horrible, we have been barely making ends meet.

Most of my life has been surrounded by financial difficulties; I have always known these problems. But as a 20 year old man, it affects me now more than ever because I understand these problems better and they make me feel helpless knowing there is not much I can do. I work for my school which currently is not open, so unfortunately at this current point I cannot help much financially, plus the fact that my brother is, sadly, jobless. There definitely has been a hole in our budget and finances. It's affected us all in so many ways.The financial stress has also affected me academically. There were times this semester when I couldn't focus because of things going on in my family and personal life.

(My family Christmas tree last year)

The holiday season has made it even worse, because although the holidays are about family and friends and enjoying togetherness, all those things require money and finances. We usually put up an elaborate Christmas tree and have presents ready, but this year unfortunately we have not put up a Christmas tree or even gotten presents because it's just not financially possible right now. We also simply just don't feel like putting a Christmas tree up because we feel like it's not Christmas; we're not in that Christmas mood or place right now. It's tough seeing everyone else's beautiful trees and presents and seeing people shop and laugh because for my family, it's quite the opposite feeling. In our own way all four of us are sad and depressed. We can't enjoy the holidays the way we would like to, and we can't even enjoy the simplest of things. For us it's more about paying our bills and making sure we can afford groceries and that everything else is handled.

We haven't even thought gifts and Christmas trees and holiday fun because unfortunately, we have a lot of problems financially at the moment. It doesn't feel like Christmas or anything. For us, it feels like any other day or week. I would be lying if I said I wasn't slightly envious of the people around me who have Christmas trees up and presents and are able to enjoy the holidays. It makes me feel sad that we can't have that financial stability and can't enjoy the holidays the same way so many other people are. I'm not super jealous, but I am also not going to deny the way I feel.

But at the same time, I realize that I am so much more fortunate than so many others. I am lucky to have a home and family and all my basic needs are met. I am getting an education and I have a job. In my life I have seen worse, like when my father initially lost his job. When that happened, there were times we didn't have enough money for all our bills and groceries. Thankfully we are not there anymore.

Since I was 12 years old, I have experienced life with financial difficulties, but I have also realized life gets better. From 2008 to 2012 my family suffered at our lowest points financially, but in August 2012 things started getting better. Things may not be great right now, but I know by next Christmas season things will be okay again. The only way to get through everything is to remain positive and hopeful.

The financial difficulties in my life have taught me money can't buy happiness, and I know it isn't everything. But it does bring stability, allows your needs to met, and gives you reassurance that you can get through life. Being a teenager that has to worry about bills being paid and having enough money to buy groceries--when all you want to do is enjoy the Christmas season--is not fun, and it's something I don't wish upon anyone. But it has made wiser, stronger, and has taught me to remain positive...because I know everything will get better eventually.