Hatebreed, loved the stuff you got for me let me know if you got anything else coming up. But with your question in mind I'll tell you a story.
The restaurant I work at closes down right after Thanksgiving and doesn't re-open until the 23rd of December. This happens every year. Last year I worked as a busboy in the buffet (I work in a casino) for pennies in tips but the paychecks were decent. This year my buddy got promoted to supervisor at the brew pub inside the casino so I went to work day shift on his crew. Well, the tips sucked bad and I didn't have any money left after taxes to collect a paycheck. That went on for two weeks. I was at the store getting quarters for my laundry today when I realized I hadn't bought a single gift for anyone and it was my sons first christmas. So I bought him his first sipping cup and some new clothes and I felt like I was going to have a merry christmas.
For me holidays just mean working, because someone has to be there to take your money. My story really isn't a pity party, I didn't buy my g/f anything and since she relies on me for 95% of her money she didn't get me anything. I have to visit two sets of parents before shift tomorrow and I don't have any gifts, but It doesn't bother me(it might bother them,
). I'm working back in the restaurant I like again and I look forward to a whole new year of money, work and watching my kid grow up. Life is great.