You know it’s coming up on December when you find yourself wondering how far downward you can adjust your normal living expenses to get through to the new year. Kids need coats, presents for the holidays need acquiring, thermostats need dialing upward. It’s enough to drive a man to drink, if he can afford such, that is.

(Okay, I don’t drink. But still.)

Not that I’m begrudging anyone anything. The kids really do need all sorts of things on a regular basis, after all. It comes with the territory. I just wish that everything I want and everything everyone else needs didn’t all have to land at the same time…