Donna,

Are you being deliberately obtuse?  There's a BIG difference between SAD and merely having the "winter blues".  Depression is a serious and major illness, one that I (and millions of others) struggle with on a daily basis, especially now that it's winter, when it gets worse.  It ruins lives.  The only reason I'm as functional as I am--that I am functional in the dead of winter at all is a major step up from last year, but even now the lesser manifestations are present--is thanks to my family, boyfriend, and medication.  

Wanting to stay inside because it's cold and dreary outside and sleeping in because the nights are longer (I do that; in summer I'll get up at 5:00 simply because the sun is up) is not the same as depression.  You'll notice that Brooke never uses SAD in her post--so why the hell would you trivialize a major disorder?

Although in some respects winter does cut out a certain amount of spending, whether in the end it can save you money depends a great deal on where you live.  In our area our energy bills go up every winter by almost as much as the rest of our spending put together, add to that having to buy salt, washer fluid, extra gas when you do use the car, and a horde of other required winter expenses, winter adds up to extra expense, but since you can not change those facts you have to just accept them.

The best way I have found to get over the winter blahs is to get out and enjoy it instead of complaining.  I take my daughter skating and tobogganing the fresh air is great for your health and spirit, and the activities are a lot of fun.  Why not make a snowman, or snowwoman.  Just remember that when you were a kid you loved winter, and if you stop trying to be so grown up all the time you probably still will.

Controlling spending regardless of time of year is just good budgeting and knowing how the time of year effects your budget.

A merry Christmas from us at budgetingsense.com

Jules: I did not use the word "depression" in my post. Seasonal Affective Disorder is not the same as general depression. Some people who are fine most of the year feel lousy during the winter due to low light levels. (I lived in Alaska for 17 years and suffered from SAD until I bought a light box.)

Incidentally, I have battled depression for much of my life, as have some members of my family. I know all too well how disabling the condition can be. But again, I did not refer to clinical depression in this item.

Thanks for reading Smart Spending.

Best regards,

Donna Freedman

I like being home with family when it is cold outside. Thanks for the post

I love the winter, to stay inside the house drinking a nice cup of tea, like i am right now, and your right watching that movie in tranquility, while its raining outside, thanks love the post.

sonia

Donna Freedman, you should admit when you have behaved in poor taste (trying to make a joke out of SAD), rather than splitting hairs about the language you used and further putting down a reader whom you have hurt.  Professionally and personally, when you have hurt someone, you should say that you are sorry, rather than defend yourself arrogantly, as you have.  

I am a PhD science writer, scanning the web to assess writing styles of other authors.

I've never read one of your articles before and will not read any more in future.

Thanks to Jules for pointing out that no one should be joking about any mental conditions, including SAD, which does lead some patients to commit suicide.

Why is it so easy to inadvertantly offend some people with the written word?  I too take medication to deal with clinical depression and feel much better during the summer months (so do I have SAD too??) but, reading a piece about saving money in cold weather, doesn't make me take the SAD comment personally.  

Donna, I enjoy your writings and kinda know that you would never ever knowingly offend anybody

Why is it so easy to inadvertantly offend some people with the written word?  I too take medication to deal with clinical depression and feel much better during the summer months (so do I have SAD too??) but, reading a piece about saving money in cold weather, doesn't make me take the SAD comment personally.  

Donna, I enjoy your writings and kinda know that you would never ever knowingly offend anybody

i think you all need to shut the hell up with all these "disorders".  its getting rediculous.  im getting depressed just thinking about all the problems you all have.   there are tons of people in the world who have it so bad you could never realize.  so your whiny little disorders mean very little. you all have heat, a roof, food, computers to look up conditions you have so you can be the drama queens and say poor me.  get real

I'm not seeing where Donna was making fun of anyone or anything - she's merely relating what another blogger posted elsewhere. I also agree, as someone who has experienced both, that depression and SAD are two wildly different conditions. Some people are just too quick to take things personally.

Keep up the good work, Donna.