Maybe people just don't feel like buying more stuff.

[devilgrrl]

That's one of my theories of why the Christmas Shopping season isn't up to par. Nobody wants or needs anything in my family. They'll get something anyway but I think there are a lot of people who'd rather just get nothing for Christmas.

[DireStrike]

1. You mean the enormous gluttonous maw of coerced consumerism

has filled up? :wow:

[candy]

2. You've got it!! I cut back this year for no particular reason than--

I'm sick to death of the hype and especially the advertising.

I spent about the same as last year but bought from local shops so I bought fewer actual items.(I have 6 grandchildren and usually overdue it)

The hell with the big department stores.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Kill the HERETICS!!!!!! n/t

[Bouncy Ball]

4. My theory: it goes deeper than that.

Yeah, people do feel kinda swamped by all their stuff.

But I think underneath it there is an unease, a fear, a rumbling. And this HAS to also be coming from bush voters. I don't think they are THAT happy their Commander Fulldiaper stole another election.

[prof_science]

21. Personally...

...I don't think they are that AWARE that "Fulldiaper" stole another election. To believe that, you must also believe that they are paying attention.

[pattyloutwo]

5. conspicuous consumption/cancel cable

I'm sick of being told I need more stuff, none of which is needed. Let's kill Bush's economy. Also, cancel cable - I finally did. No more money for corporate owned and controlled "news." There's no more news on TV, not even on public TV any more!

[zbdent]

6. Weren't we supposed to be rescued from the recession by now

by the people who had all the money that were going to spend all that extra money the Government gave them these past 3.9 years?

Silly me, I thought if the money went to poorer people, they'd spend it on stupid stuff like healthcare and food and shelter.

[Walt Starr]

7. We spent a lot more on the neices and nephews

Kept spending at the same or a bit lower levels than last year.

Overall, we probably spent less this year than last because honestly, toys for little kids are not really that expensive.

[MercutioATC]

8. I'm buying fewer things but they're all more expensive.

Net result...I'm spending more than last year.

[UTUSN]

9. Zombie Consumerism n/t

[yorkiemommie1]

10. have you seen that Mervyn's commercial on tv

goes something like 'you gotta gimme, gimme, gimme'

quite nauseating, actually.

i would be happier to get a supply of things i always run out of... tp, and paper napkins and laundry detergent.

[Piperay]

14. I absolutely HATE

that commericial, I thought Christmas was supposed to be about giving not about getting and making demands for things. :mad:

[journalist3072]

11. Christmas

I understand what you mean. I have not been in the shopping mood at all. I've barel made a dent in the shopping I need to do.

I'm just not feeling it this year. It doesn't 'feel' like Christmas to me. Maybe my spirit is just grieved by the state of our country right now.

I've been trying to remind myself what Christmas is all about---the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It's not about us, it's about Him. I'm trying to remember that and be joyful.

[bhikkhu]

12. Buy one for your mom, one for your dad, and one for your country!

But really, I too am a deliberate non-shopper this year. Even if I had any money, between the election, Guantanamo, and Falluja, all the cheer and fun of Christmas has turned to bile for me. I see a bomb factory behind every corporate store, and a concentration camp behind every mall...

[Piperay]

13. True

I have so much crap that I had to rent a storage unit to put some of it in so that I have room to sort through the stuff so I can give it away. I am not shopping for more junk when I have too much of it already. :mad:

[Maddy McCall]

15. My son's getting a Kawasaki motocross bike.

My parents are getting a TV.

And that's it. I'm not spending one more dime.

[Flammable Materials]

16. I walked into Target last night (Friday)...

... to return something, and I was astounded by the fact that:

A) I was able to park up front.
B) The store seemed no busier than any other weekend.
C) Those pushing shopping carts did not have them loaded up.
D) The registers that were open were no more than one or two customers deep.

[adigal]

17. Won't contribute to the Bush economy

I really, really wanted an Acura - I live in snow country, and the MDX is a great truck. I almost bought one - and then Bush won.

I refuse to add 35K to the bush economy. I bought 4 new tires for my car and will keep it until the '06 or '08 election,whenever America wakes up. I'm sorry for those I hurt with my decision, those who supported Kerry, but I just can't add to the Bush economy.

[Flammable Materials]

20. I have to agree with you.

I spent a total of $10 on my mother's gift. Two boxes of Tastykakes (she grew up in Philadelphia and can't get them in Hellhole, Texas where she lives now) and DVD-Rs of an old television series we used to watch together when I was a kid.

My sister is getting some family heirlooms: The flag that was draped over our father's casket at his military funeral; a coffee cup that I bought him when I was a kid that he drank from daily until he died, and; a DVDR of a 70's Hollywood movie (shot in Arizona) that he appeared in several times as an extra. (I was lucky enough to catch the movie on cable TV - it has never been released on VHS or DVD.)

My wife is getting the Lord of the Rings boxed set and a gift certificate to put toward a decent sturdy winter jacket. Something that will last for at least four years.

My daughter is getting a Homestar Runner hooded sweatshirt and a pair of sports sneakers.

Total cost: $160.

I can't afford anything else, and I refuse to put anything on the credit card this year.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi adigal!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[KlatooBNikto]

18. Except for my grandchildren, I have not bought anything this year.

[SmokingJacket]

19. We've reached a saturation point I think.

Remember how a few years ago all that junk in all those catalogs looked really cool? It looked so nice and special -- now there's SO much "nice" stuff EVERYWHERE, that it's not interesting, not special, not desirable at all. Especially when you have a ton of debt already.

In my town we have about a dozen new big box stores all built in the last five years (thanks to low interest rates, I bet) but... who cares? Yeah... more pretty shiny junk. Big whoop. For that I'll pay 28% interest on my credit card? I think not.

I think we've reached an end of a cycle. It's like looking at the dessert cart at the end of a big meal. Er, no thanks.

This year I'm giving homemade bread.

[knitter4democracy]

22. I sure don't

I read somewhere about families giving their kids just three presents ("if it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for us," kind of thing), and that's what we're doing. Each is getting a nice handmade Raggedy Ann or Andy doll made here locally and the best stitching I've ever seen (and only $20 each!), a locally made chair and table set (they're 4 and 2 and really need their own play and eating space their size), and the third one is a Raggedy Ann and Andy book each. They have three sets of grandparents, so they'll end up with plenty, not to mention stockings (which I tend to fill with practical things, like chapstick and colored pencils), but even the grandparents are trending down on how much they're spending. We already have so many toys and books that it just doesn't make sense to get more.

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. Well I guess it's up to the Richie Rich to spend those tax bonus'

The Greedy Chimp so generously gave them, to make this Christmas holiday season profitable for the retailers, since most of the rest of the Country isn't in the mood to support The Greedy Chimp's Corrupt Corporate Campaign Contributors. Can't wait to see how that plays out. :evilgrin: