I start to feel the dread of Christmas around October, reminding me I need to buy people presents, stock up on food, and prepare for the social calendar to be flooded.

从10月开始，我就已经开始感受到圣诞带来的恐惧了。圣诞节的临近也在提醒我，需要买礼物，置办吃的，然后准备好迎接繁忙的社交生活。

Dread：恐惧、担心
Stock up on：存储、置办
Flood：（动词）淹没、充斥

All of the Christmas festivities are fun, don't get me wrong, but they can definitely leave you with a fiscal hangover.

圣诞节的庆祝活动当然都很好玩，不要误会我的意思，但这些活动可能会让你的钱袋子缩水不少。

Festivity：庆祝活动
Get sb wrong：误会某人
Fiscal：财政的
Hangover：宿醉、不适反应

I asked people how they got through Christmas without totally blowing the budget，here are the main points.

我问了问大家，他们怎么才能过完圣诞，而且还没有严重超支，以下就是主要方法。

Get through sth：通过（考试），度过

1. Be picky about who actually gets a present

1、 对送礼物的对象稍微挑剔一些

Now this might sound a little scrooge-ish, but I think it's a great tip.

虽然可能听起来有点小气，不过我觉得这个方法很棒。

Scrooge：小气鬼

2. Go second hand for presents

2、买一些二手货作为礼物

The local second hand shops can be a treasure trove of high quality toys, and particularly while they're young, kids won't notice or care.

本地的二手店可能是高质量玩具的藏宝库。尤其是孩子们还很小的时候，他们不会注意，注意了也不会在乎。

Treasure trove：丰富的…，…的宝库

3. Get crafty

3、动动小手手

This is for the skilled people amongst us, but there are some great things you can give that are more meaningful than an expensive present.

这种方法比较适合我们中心灵手巧的可人儿，不过其实有时候手工制品，会比一件昂贵的礼物要有意义得多。

Homemade chutneys or preserves were popular gifts for adults.

对大人们来说，手工制作的酸辣酱或果酱，都是非常受欢迎的礼物。

Crafty：灵巧的
Chutney：（用水果、香料、糖、醋等调制，尤指与肉或奶酪一同冷食的）酸辣酱
Preserve：蜜饯；果酱

4. Plan ahead

4、提早计划

While this isn't much help for this year, you can start thinking about next Christmas right now.

这个方法对今年来说可能没什么用了。不过你可以从现在开始，考虑明年的圣诞计划。

5. Spread the load

5、分解任务

Lots of people messaged me with the idea to bring a plate. This not only cuts down on the time and stress of producing a mountain of food, but also makes sure you get lots of different types of food.

很多人都给我发消息，说可以让每个人自带食物，大家共同分享。这不仅能够减少准备大餐的时间和压力，也能让你尝到各种不同种类的食物。

Bring a plate：每人自带食物大家分享

6. Just take the pressure off

6、减少压力

Just chill.

冷静一点。

You don't have to buy the perfect present, create the perfect meal, you don't even have to go to those cringey holiday parties if you don't want to or can't afford to.

你不需要买到完美的圣诞礼物，做出完美的大餐。如果不想去，或者去不起，你甚至不需要参加那些非常尴尬的圣诞聚会。

Cringey：非常尴尬的

Do whatever you want to do so that you can actually enjoy the festive season.

做自己想做的事吧，这样你才能真正享受节日的快乐。

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(责编：Angelababe)

来源 - 新西兰先驱报中文网