Here is our checklist to help you make sure your Purim spending is what you want it to be.
Does this seem familiar? It’s the night after Purim, and you’re left with a counter full of cellophane wrappers, tissue paper, cute mini boxes, individually wrapped cookies and challah rolls, a pickle, a few containers of soup, some hummus and crackers, a box of candy for the donation pile, two of Mrs. Schwartz’s homemade rugelach, the nosh pile for the snack drawer, each kid’s collection of treats that might magically disappear by morning, a lonely apple, and a few cans of seltzer.
And a large bill.
“In my neighborhood, everyone gives elaborate, themed mishloach manos. I’m not really that type, but my girls are mortified by my ‘nebby’ ideas. The standards are rising and rising, and by now I spend more on my shalach manos than I do on my matanos l’evyonim. Something is backward here. What am I teaching my kids? But on the other hand, I don’t want them to feel like we’re nerdy. So I go along with it.”
Or do you resonate more with this?
“I know the real mitzvah of mishloach manos is to give two kinds of food to one person… And I know it’s really not necessary to send fifty to a hundred elaborate packages. But I love it! I love themes, matching costumes, and lavish food, think miniatures, chocolates, hors d’oeuvres, crepes… And don’t get me started on the packaging! To me, it’s art! Purim is the one time I go all out and have a blast.
“My husband used to tell me I’m wasting so much money, but by now he just knows that’s how I am. I feel that Purim is all about relationships and connections, and this is just my love language. It really makes me happy. Everyone is always trying to guess what I’ll dream up each year.”
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