Mr. Odd Gifter

So I like to think I am thoughtful, or maybe it is just weird, not sure what you want to call it, but I don't always get traditional gifts. They say it is the thought that counts, and I try to put thought and effort into things.

Our Christmas Tree

So this year I got Heather an odd gift for Christmas. No I am not ruining the surprise, she got it this past Tuesday, but not sure she knew it was a Christmas gift yet...

First, maybe you need examples of other potentially perceived as odd gifts I have given Heather... once we had gotten serious, I decided to gift her a duplicate set of everything she needs when coming to visit for a weekend. Yeah a duplicate set of toiletries and blow dryer might not be the coolest gift to some... but it meant, I like you, I like when you come over, and I want it to be easier for you to come and visit (we lived far apart). Did she write all her sorority sisters about it, and post a picture of it on FB... hardly, but I thought it was a important step in our relationship.

Call me Mr. Odd Gifter, but thats the type of stuff I like to think of as presents.

Well this past Tuesday, not really a gift from me to her... but I had to put in mountains of work to make it happen... we signed a new mortgage. Yeah it came with about a point drop in interest rate, we got out of FHA, we now have no PMI on our mortgage, and dropped our monthly payment a couple hundred bucks. Sexy Christmas Gift huh? Did I mention our house appraised for about 40% more than when we bought it? Getting sexier now huh?

Really the gift isn't the mortgage... to me, the gift is signing a document, for us to live in a house together (if either of us leaves the house it is technically a violation of our mortgage agreement) and raise our kids there (technically raise kids is not in the mortgage agreement, but its a four bedroom house, read between the lines) for the next 30 years.

Yeah, 30 years, thats a long time, like a really long time.

So maybe you still don't get how this is a cool Christmas gift huh? Well the couple hundred we save monthly on our mortgage means we can afford to get a snazzy van for the growing family. Yeah, just how I always envisioned spending extra money in my pocket, on a bigger, less fun car, and probably without rims.

Yes we will get Heather some "normal" Christmas gifts, so don't worry. Cruz knows his mama likes flowers, chicken and cheese, so something along those lines will be coming. However, some advice for everyone else, maybe don't spend cash on things that will end up in drawers, or donated to Goodwill in four years... maybe find ways to change your life for others, so they know how much you care.

So call me Mr. Odd Gifter, but I rather do something that shows someone how much I care, not spend a certain amount of money as an example of how much I want them to think I care... especially if you buy things you can't afford.

Admit it, you are jealous about the no PMI for Christmas...
Now how to wrap that and put it under our tree...