I couldn’t resist this one. After seeing ads for expensive new cars with big gift bows on top, diamond necklaces and fancy winter vacations, I started wondering what the average American will be getting from Santa this year. With so many unemployed, so many forced out of their homes, so many desperate, and so much of the nation’s wealth going to so few, millions of families won’t be having much of a Christmas.
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I didn’t notice them the last few years (might not have been paying attention), but the Lexus ones are certainly waaay over the top. I like the one where the woman gets a tiny music box, and it starts playing the “Lexus song” (which I had no idea existed, despite seeing the commercials before).
I guess that’s how you know you are rich, when they come to give you the Stuff Rich People Should Know 101 course.
The textbook for that course is the Neimann-Marcus catalog. Stocking stuffers for no more than $200.00 — not that I think a person shouldn’t be able to buy them — but to see how different the rich really are from you and me (heh, heh)
We used to call it “Needless Markup”.
I know it might be a faux pas, but my wife and I have just asked for cash this Christmas. Student loans, car loans, insurance, and rent are not being kind, so we’re asking for money to pay down some of those.
I recently purchased a new car, and will be paying through the nose for the next 9 or 10 years. I can’t believe that the average American will be buying anything terribly expensive for Christmas this year. Besides, there are so many free/cheap gifts that can have much more sentimental value. For example, buying plain ornaments and painting them, or decorating cheap picture frames. The values of materialism and consumption are going rampant, but we can resist the urge to empty our bank accounts.
Love it when I see a talking head or guest preaching the gospel of getting our financial house in order, not buying what we don’t need, not running up the balance on the plastic (or, national debt), returning to the days of “living within our means” — then getting hit with one of the ads mentioned here, or one for the latest digital device (you know, the one that makes the one you haven’t made the first payment on, outdated). Iron Knee, do YOU run the TV advertising?
Stocking stuffers ! After years of looking for something that didn’t end up in the junk pile or as just stuff in the basement – I finally found something that is meaningful – I used it for donations – instead of me donating the money to a charity I let everyone donate some if it to their favorite charity – using this organization called Charity Choice – http://www.charitygiftcertificates.org/ you can have cards printed, e-cards whatever you want & you give them out – person receiving gets to donate to their charity of choice!
Awesome – socially responsible and environmentally friendly!
Have a great Holiday!