The Gay UK December 2015 | Page 114

COLUMN party for the community last year. Although for the majority there won’t be an LGBT centre nearby, it may be worth seeing what is happening in your area that you can get involved in. 3. Being alone at Christmas doesn’t have to mean you’re lonely. Sometimes I think it might be quite nice to have a Christmas at home by myself. Then I can eat and drink as much as I want, watch the television shows that I want to watch, and don’t have to deal with the aftermath of a family who has eaten sprouts with their Christmas dinner. Sure it may not be ideal, but you’ll be able to do the day in exactly the way you want to. General Anxieties CREDIT: Public Domain SplitShire.com / Daniel Nanescu So here’s the situation: You have a new boyfriend and have agreed to spend Christmas with him. Then you begin to worry about buying presents for him. How many presents should you buy? How much should you spend on him? Will he end up 114 THEGAYUK | ISSUE 17 | DEC 2015 buying you more than you buy him and make you feel inferior? These are questions that I’m sure have gone through many of our heads. When I was spending the first Christmas with my partner I really panicked about buying him presents. His income was much higher than mine at the time and I worried that my presents for him would be paltry compared to what he bought me. To alleviate those worries, agree a budget. It’s good to be upfront about what’s affordable. For example, if your budget is only £10, explain that and agree to only spend £10 on each other. More important than the presents is the thought behind the gifts and the time you’re spending with each other. If you’ve found yourself a good ‘n’ he will be fine with that. The same goes for the other costs of Christmas such as food, drink and decorations. By having that conversation, your worries and stresses should begin to alleviate. I hope this survival guide helps and wish you a Christmas of happiness, health, festive cheer, and too many mince pies.