A brand new Christmas Idea!
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:30 pm
I've been thinking about it, and would like to propose a brand-new Christmas tradition.
Instead of fighting your way through the massive crowds at malls, spending thousands of dollars for gifts to people you can barely tolerate, and trying to convince people you really like the god-awful gifts they got you...
Go out and buy yourself one really nice present. Something you've always wanted. Only spend around 40% of your normal budget for presents, though. Take 10% more, and buy eco-friendly gifts for others. Tracts of rainforest, 'carbon credits', etc. Let everyone know you don't want to receive anything from them. Either save the remaining 50% of your budget, or use it to pay off the bills.
Some may consider it selfish, but the result would be more money put into the environment, less waste in terms of packaging, wrapping paper, etc, everyone gets something they wanted without needing to stand in line for returns and exchanges, and lets face it, how much more 'stuff' do most really need anyways?
That's not even counting the vastly reduced levels of consumer debt, holiday stress, Christmas psychosis, and everything else that goes with the season. Maybe then we can get back to what the season should be about, namely actually spending time with friends and loved ones. Without all that shopping, you'd have that time.
Instead of fighting your way through the massive crowds at malls, spending thousands of dollars for gifts to people you can barely tolerate, and trying to convince people you really like the god-awful gifts they got you...
Go out and buy yourself one really nice present. Something you've always wanted. Only spend around 40% of your normal budget for presents, though. Take 10% more, and buy eco-friendly gifts for others. Tracts of rainforest, 'carbon credits', etc. Let everyone know you don't want to receive anything from them. Either save the remaining 50% of your budget, or use it to pay off the bills.
Some may consider it selfish, but the result would be more money put into the environment, less waste in terms of packaging, wrapping paper, etc, everyone gets something they wanted without needing to stand in line for returns and exchanges, and lets face it, how much more 'stuff' do most really need anyways?
That's not even counting the vastly reduced levels of consumer debt, holiday stress, Christmas psychosis, and everything else that goes with the season. Maybe then we can get back to what the season should be about, namely actually spending time with friends and loved ones. Without all that shopping, you'd have that time.
