Some gifts require explanation. Their first Christmas together, Daddy got Mommy a large container of coins (mind you, with a necklace box buried in the coins). Mommy was very happy because she is a little OCD about sorting things.

This Christmas, Grandpa Don gave Mommy 4 jars and a small box tightly packed with dimes. The dimes came with a piggy bank. You see, 17 years ago, great-grandma Majorie gave Grandpa Don the piggy bank to collect spare change. Shortly thereafter, Grandpa Don began charging Daddy and Tia Antje a dime for every time they left a light on after leaving a room. Those dimes went into the piggy bank.

Mommy and Daddy have decided to name the ~$420 worth of dimes the “energy efficiency fund”. Their first purchase with it will be some thermal curtains for the drafty apartment bedroom windows. They plan on adding to it by charging you a quarter (inflation) for leaving lights on and other energy wastes, and using the money collected to someday purchase a tankless water heater, solar panels, etc.