Young And Old Torontonians Bond Over Shared Inability To Afford Anything This Holiday Season

By Andrew Scott

Toronto - Nothing brings together generations faster during this time of year than the shared realization that neither group can afford to buy presents, celebrate with a delicious meal, or take any time off work this holiday season.

“Knowing that I have limited choices when it comes to my gift giving, I have decided to really ‘lean in’ to the challenge of filling my Christmas stockings exclusively with purchases made from Dollarama,” says Harold Hastings, age 76, who, despite working his whole life has seen his savings evaporate in the stock market and his already thin CPP stretched even thinner.

“I can totally relate,” states Ezra Maverik, 31, while on break from his third part-time job as an itinerant barista. “Although I really have nothing in common with my septuagenarian neighbour other than our shared financial marginalization, I too find that nothing gets me in the holiday spirit faster than the realization that I will never own a home in which to host a holiday party, fully pay off my student debt, or afford to cook a lavish holiday meal!”

No word yet as to whether or not these burgeoning “May/September” friendships may combine forces to host a shared holiday dinner party of canned soup and local IPAs. 

Andrew Scott is a musician and writer who lives in Toronto in a house amongst children, antiquated technology of yesteryear and many, many instruments. Instagram, writing, poetry, more poetry.