An Cosantóir November / December 2025 www.military.ie/magazine
I
t is hard to believe that we are fast approaching
another Christmas! Signalling the end of
another year and with a bit of luck allowing us
all a bit of time to rest, and to reflect, and to spend
some time with the people in our lives that mean
the most to us. But just like everything else, it is
better to be prepared and to approach the season
with at least a modicum of caution to ensure that
we get to the other side healthier and happier
and maybe just a bit more tired! In the next few
paragraphs, I would like to point to a few issues
and to mention a few supports that are available
to everyone over the course of the Christmas
period.
I suppose the first and most obvious thing to mention
is money and all the pressure that begins to pile
on from as early as OCTOBER to start spending. Of
course, there is nothing wrong with wanting to buy
the best presents we can afford and to provide the
best entertainment and food that we can. But the
constant bombardment of retail messaging can cause
us problems, raising expectations in all of us to an
unrealistic level, in children and also in adults. The
best thing we can do is to establish a realistic budget
for our spending as early as we can and to stick to it as
best we can. Our constant concern should be to avoid
borrowing beyond our abilities, or borrowing from the
wrong people, or allowing ourselves to lose control
of the credit card. You can access the Competition
and Consumer Protection Commission at ccpc.ie
for up-to-date advice on all things related to your
finances, including budgeting, credit cards and loans,
and up to date consumer advice. Your local PSS team
is always available to help you find the best advice and
information in your local area.
Another area for discussion is alcohol. Of course,
Christmas is always associated with celebration and a
few drinks! And why not? A glass of wine or two with
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PSS - PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS:
CARING FOR OURSELVES, EACH OTHER,
AND OUR MILITARY FAMILY
BY LT COL JOHN MARTIN, OIC PERSONNEL SUPPORT SERVICE
