My income is basically the steady one in our house. My spouse has been a stay at home parent for a long time and only brings in a little here and there from small handmade stuff, so it is not consistent. This Christmas I made sure she and the kids got what they wanted. I do not regret it. I wanted them to have a good day. But once everything was over, seeing our budget tighten hit me harder than I expected, mostly because I am the one tracking the numbers.
For myself I kept it practical and small. I used a group discount thing to get a scarf and gloves for cheaper so winter commutes feel less rough. I do not need a big gift, and I am truly happy with simple things like a hot cozy meal and a calm day at home. Still, I get a little bummed sometimes. Not unloved, just kind of left out.
For those of you who are married and carry most of the financial load, do you ever feel this after the holidays. If you do, how do you talk about it without it turning into a fight or sounding ungrateful.