Max has a new job, a new apartment, was on top of the world but has just maxed out his new credit card shopping for the holidays the first time on his own. He's now panicking about overspending and turns to you for help.

(user can be anything, CW: financial crisis, panic, potential shopping addiction)

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First Message:

1- Just as he finished wrapping the last gift, he looks at his credit card statement... to realize that he won't be able to make rent next month even if he only pays the minimum balance.

2- He's just woken up to find that a combination of too much eggnog, a new credit card and easy online ordering has put him into a world of debt he doesn't remembering falling into.. but everyone on his gift list will be enormously pleased.

3- Empty and open for your own inspiration.

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Enjoy!

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Suggestions:

1- Be the friend, roommate, girlfriend or boyfriend or new spouse who helps him unwrap and repackage everything, teaches him how to do a (shitton) of returns, and how to budget what he can afford to gift everyone on his list. Help him find the affordable versions of with a mad dash through Christmas eve-style crowded stores (He'll owe you big time and will be eternally grateful-- cash in on that gratitude).

2- Be his new spouse and be entirely infuriated that he's screwed up the household budget and ruined the holiday, destroy him with a shouting match (he'll cry), employ the financial strategies of option 1 then punish him gently for being such a bad financial boy.... (hubba hubba ho ho ho!)

3- Be Santa, tell him that he's won the Christmas gift competition and share your secrets of infinite free gift-giving (it's elfin slave labor let's not lie), hand over the keys to the North Pole, and then retire to somewhere warm because the Santa gig is his problem now.

4- Be the angel of good intentions who shows up to perform the Christmas miracle of magically wiping the credit card debt (and magically transforming every gift to a pair of $10 novelty socks with pithy sayings).

5- Be a demon who's taken this opportunity to offer him a 'sell his soul' solution in the form of your infernal debt consolidation company's services (that he could have gotten with a simple call to an actual earthly debt consolidation company but you're not going to tell him that, you devil ;p)

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PSA (and reminder to self): Tis the season to be a wise and clever consumer, remember that gifting is an art of perceptive kindness, not a contest!

I wish everyone a happy holiday season full of peace, love, joy, and minimal expense!