Question: How much will you spend?
Published: November 27, 2009
Updated: November 27, 2009
Reader Reactions
Dear EE53,
Well lets see , I guess you could say I’m privileged I have complete autonomy in school. I have a perfect grade point average as well. My parents of course could pay for my car but I work and feel it’s my responsibility. I will be attending a old college in a small town in California. Yes I feel very privileged.
However I created my high standards, my parents just hold me.
Lets put your words into context…….
“”As far as I’m concerned, people who line up in the middle of the night like a bunch of stupid sheep so they can rush into WalMart or BestBuy to purchase a lot of useless junk they can’t afford (and will be forgotten the day after Christmas) are out of their minds“”.
These stupid sheep (as you put it) are people who love Christmas, there families, bargain shopping and watching their children on Christmas morning and seeing the magic in their eyes. If they spend their whole paycheck on Christmas it’s one day they can feel in control of their happiness. They struggle and work all year to pay for the unprivileged lives they have. Christmas is not the reason for their financial problems….. living is. I can assure you that your definition of priorities is not theirs. But…even with their excesses they all probably know the real meaning of Christmas as you say you do. I don’t understand why giving gifts of some monetary value is considered insincere and with no true meaning of the Holiday. A spin off of the politically correct times we live in I guess.
You words….out of their minds…..stupid sheep….common sense….useless junk…uncivilized madness…..uncivilized refugees….Mob out at midnight .. Your posts suggest you are insulated to understanding the plight of the common man. This is the only standard my Mother and Father set for me.
As far as them lining up like uncivilized refugees to get a laptop or TV at a discount price maybe that’s the only way they can own one. You can’t see that?I can, and it will be my honor to help people like this through my studies.
I do know the difference between being spoiled and privileged. I also know spoiled is an adjective than can be used in more than one context inferring to another person..
ee53, your priorities are all in the right place. I admire the fact that you, and now your children, appreciate what you have, and have earned what you have been given.
I am not sure if you have read Chesapeake’s previous posts, but he is a student, a senior in high school I believe. Very intelligent and well disciplined, and still very caught up in the magic of Christmas. I admire his enthusiasm on many different topics.
A tradition in our home is something that people find odd, and some have told me is “cruel”, is that nothing under our tree is touched until we have attended Mass. I want my children to remember the reason we celebrate. Honestly, this is close to noontime, after cinnamon buns and coffee. I am not sure why that is considered “cruel”. Maybe it’s the buns? 
I guess my point is that our traditions and celebrations are very individual things. But….I get caught up in the magic too.
God Bless and Merry Christmas.
Chesapeake:
You obviously misunderstood my comments or you took them out of context.
My sentiments re “buying nothing” pertained strictly to Black Friday and the uncivilized madness that goes with it. I never said that my family doesn’t celebrate Christmas or exchange gifts. In fact, I said that small, simple gifts were more appropriate for the holidays than a lot of the excessive spending that people engage in.
My sister and I were raised in a comfortable household with devoted parents who gave us everything, including paying for our college educations. One of the things that kept us grounded was the fact that our parents always held us to the highest standards, and they never went overboard on lavish gifts. Everything was kept within reasonable limits; and as young adults, we were expected to step up and take responsibility for ourselves. Once we reached a certain age, they stopped giving us presents on Christmas and for our birthdays. Why in the world would I expect my parents to buy me a Christmas gift when they paid to send me to college
You mentioned that you would like to send my daughter your $50 and that I should “surprise her.”. Nice thought, but what for? The same situation to applies to her - she probably has more advantages in life than most people every will. She’s attended private schools all her life; her grandparents gave her a car when she turned 16; and she’s traveled all over the world with us. She is currently a sophomore in college (with a 4.0 GPA); and like me, her college education is paid for.
She’s a great kid, but please don’t tell me that I need to rush out at midnight and stand in line to buy her some useless piece of junk to make her happy. She has more than enough.
There is a very fine line between being privileged and being spoiled - and I know the difference. You apparently do not.
And . . . I STILL see absolutely no reason for people to mob out at midnight; wait in huge lines; and behave like uncivilized refugees so that they can purchase laptops and TVs at a discount price.
None of this stuff has anything to do with the true meaning of the holiday season.
Great points, prancergirl. The poor need us all year, I think sometimes it tends to be out of sight, out of mind. At the holidays there is a focus on this.
Along a slightly different angle on this, I have noticed a record number of Salvation Army bell ringers this year! Several years ago many stores did not allow them at their locations. There was an outcry, and this year they are back and strong in numbers! I do believe (I may be wrong) that Target still does not allow them, correct me if I am mistaken.
Ches, I wrapped a cabbage on year! It was for my spouse, who looked at a cabbage sitting on the counter and asked “what’s that?“. He worked in a produce department for 17 years. He got the cabbage under the tree. Memories like that are the best. 
I think everyone has the right to do as they please. If I want to spend a lot on my family for Christmas, I will. It is my business only. If I don’t/can’t spend a lot on my family that is also my business. No one should be critical of anyone else if they do or do not spend for the holidays. I think of the poor and less fortunate all year long. I give food to the church pantry, donate our used clothes to the needy, and take names off the giving tree at church to provide some presents for those in need. Therefore, when I am at the Black Friday sales and such, I don’t feel one bit guilty about it, just grateful that I am healthy and able to do it. For the record, we have cut way down on our Christmas spending for several years now and no one (including us) is the worse for it.
Alkeryia,
and you put it so eloquently …there has to be balance.
Now that sounds like fun. My mom wrapped a cabbage for me one year. With a little card that said Merry Cabbage! She knew I hated cabbage. My Dad when were little made sleigh tracks in the snow with hoof prints and boots leading to a ladder on the roof and boot tracks to the chimney.for us to marvel at …it was magic.
I think it’s great that all of you on this post have the poor in mind at this time of year. Our economy has been hit hard So of course the poor will have even less this year. I think we all need to understand that we are all in this together each to their monetary station in life.
So in keeping with Weatherman444 advice on wising up and think about what you are doing. I suggest to all of you who want to stay home and write a check to GET PERSONAL!!! My family has done this for years and this year is even more important to do it. FIND SOMEONE!!!! Buy a child a coat, go to a shelter ask them what you can BUY someone. What family can you help and BUY that family shoes or food or something they need. This is a perfect opportunity if you have the money to give to the poor….. give it to the poor through our economy! Your feel good investment will be 100% effective without the 30% administration fees. The charities will survive. And Weatherman444? It was awkward for me at first
“getting personal” but when your home thinking about what you did it feels real good.
If you think these times are bad on you it’s only worse on the poor. We are 70% of our economy. We can do more than 5 stimulus packages . As a Nation we dropped gas prices in four months and restraining our driving habits had a great deal to do with it. Our economy is a physiological roller coaster fragile because it rides on the emotions of inverters yes, but also the consumer who is the most important aspect of it. If the numbers look good this year we will start a progressive movement towards our recovery and the momentum will begin.
We cant help the poor really ……if we don’t help ourselves.
Oh and ee53 I didn’t really mean to call you Mrs. Scrooge, but it “was” the Grinch who made your speech.
I did mean it when I said you should surprise your daughter. There is nothing wrong with a little excess once in a while. The formula to give is to understand what receiving is. By the way I’m a play station guy.
We’re donating to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. I like being together for Christmas, with my friends and family. That’s my gift. I do bake a lot of cookies, and wrap them for my family and friends….but as far as money goes, I would rather give what I can to someone who’s life depended on it.
We are about average. It’s so funny that you talk about memories, Ches. I think there has to be a balance, but I would never be critical of any of the feelings here.
I think you will find this funny, because this Christmas memory needed little or no money at all. When my kids were small, my mom would take silly things..things that already belonged to them, and wrap them up. Keep in mind that they weren’t so little that this would have hurt their feelings. You have never laughed so hard as when a person opens a package that contains something ...odd. It became a tradition, with the adults trying to outdo each other, and laughing hysterically. One year we wrapped her tv remote, it had been missing for several weeks, and my oldest found it on Christmas Eve. I have a picture of her opening it. It is one of my favorites; she died a few months later. Wonderful memories.
I guess my point is, no matter HOW you make your memories, make them special. They are treasures.
I am going spend Double what I spent last year! Considering I spent NOTHING last year….
People, please wise up and think about what you are doing. There are many needy people out there who worry about their next meal while you spend countless dollars to fullfil your desire to out-do everyone else. Why not take some of your money and give to the people who really need it? I stopped giving gifts and donated that money to the homeless and less fortunate. I know I feel a lot better.
MRS.EE53 MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Well my Family goes crazy at Christmas and my mother and Father are as sensible as they come. We separate commercialism from it. They also make me spend $50.00 0f my hard earned money to help someone less fortunate have a good Christmas. That feels good too.
Sounds like a lot of fun up your way. Whew!! Except for your old coats and cleaning out your closets (that’s always fun!) and thinking about those less fortunate…. It’s almost the exact speech the Grinch who stole Christmas gave. That was before he burned the town down.
My Grandfather told me that his memories are one of the best parts of his life now. The unpredictable and crazy things he did to get a laugh or surprise someone .
You have a perfect opportunity to really shock and surprise your daughter this year with something she would never expect. And remember the rest of her life long after your gone…Something to tell her children… a memory to hold when she’s nearing the end of her life. Such things in life may not be sensible but they are valuable. My Mother and Father would feel that is a priority.
Although my parents would never do something like camp out at a store. We think it’s crazy….. funny and like a tailgate party and probably a lot of fun for those who love Christmas. I don’t think there sheep or stupid.
Your right it’s the time of year to think about someone less fortunate and I’m thinking about your daughter if you’ll post your address Ms. Scrooge I send her the fifty I’m supposed to use to help someone less fortunate than myself have a better Christmas.
Gee?I hope your laughing “in spite of Yourself!“
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