CloserToTheMid - It sounds like you did great at the party! Did you enjoy chatting with people? That's great that you got through it so well, being funny and engaging, and without getting elbowed by your wife

ALittleUnsteady - I'm sorry things are so tight for you right now. That's a really difficult position to be in, and you're right, people often don't realize when others are struggling, and just assume that everyone can easily afford to bring something. *Hugs*. Is the party during work hours, or later in the evening? I find the ones that are outside of work are easier to skip if you want to do that, just say that you were feeling sick and not able to make it (or that you didn't want to get everyone else sick).

Yzen, thanks, good advice! I very much agree with you. It doesn't make sense to me when workplaces want employees to contribute to the holiday parties... It's a difficult thing, you want to show that you're a team player, but realistically - a company party often feels like "work", and I'd rather spend my free time on something that's not work, so that I can relax and be ready to tackle more work, at a work-appropriate time (if that makes sense!).