Let's go a little off topic for this week's Thursday Poll.
The catalogs are loaded and have been arriving in force for weeks. The stores are decorated. The music is being piped in. The merchandise is on display, the ad campaigns have rolled out, the sales circulars are in your mailboxes, the Black Friday e-mail "special offers" are rocketing through cyberspace, and the giant wish list gift guides are piling up.
The first big shopping day is next Friday. Retailers want us to buy.
Are my Esteemed Readers ready to spend?
Let's hear it.
NOTE: By no means do I assume that every one of my Esteemed Readers observes any or all of the upcoming holidays on the U.S. calendar. I'm just floating this subject as a topic of discussion in the greater context of the so-called "credit crunch." It's sort of unavoidable at this point, and I'm curious to know how it's affecting people. Please feel free to weigh in on any aspect of the subject that interests you.
NOTE #2: Don't forget—voting has been extended to include Mondays.
(Image from me—it's an enc original. Are you jealous of my Illustrator skills? I didn't think so.)
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36 comments:
i love the image. watch out, the wall street journal may pirate it...
Xmas was a really Happy season for me, for some reasons that are private, now it's a period that I want to go quickly.
Here is still early, just after December 1 people start to prepare things, but many people have their gift bought or thought about them.
Me no!!!
The picture is fab, really nice.
xoxo
Why can't I vote???
Well I would vote "Can I hide until it's over?"
xx
LOve your blog!!
Maybe I will be shopping, but just because I have no school, not because its Black Friday! I like Christmas but only after December 1st! I despise the Christmas marketing so early in the year. Its not Christmas I object to, it's the marketing.
Teehee, I like the Festivus acknowledgment.
I love and try to go vacation for Xmas as often as possible. This year, though, we'll be staying home. That means we'll have a tree and presents will need to go under it. When we're away I just buy gifts wherever we are and wrap them on Xmas eve. But, because we'll be here I know exactly where to get what will make the peeps happy. I'm doing more shopping for others (who will be around me) than I usually do, but not being overly spendy on any one gift.
And I've been shopping for a couple of weeks now.
Oh God, christmas is already here and I have no money!!!!
That is such a cool Christmas tree graphic, we love it... it kind of speak volumes, doesn't it?
And we like the poll, that's a good one to ask people about.
Have a splendid weekend!
tp
me + festivus = love. my dad actually put a festivus pole up one year. i'm so totally serious.
in all seriousness, i'm ready for christmas! i've already ordered some items online and am moving right along. the real job is helping me afford a celebratory yet still austere holiday. after all, it's just a teacher's salary. a good one at that, but the definition doesn't extend to include too much.
sorry for my extended absence! the weeks have been getting the best of me.
Obligatory Bah Humbug. :P
I make gifts for my inlaws, which really irritates them, I think (but that's not why I do it--I'm all about the handmade when possible!), and will buy each of my children one special gift. I really like Christmas to be about family, the tree, and the food and, of course, for children, presents, but the enjoyment, not the accumulation of them.
I feel like not enough people are ready to spend, that's for sure.
I am certainly jealous of your Illustrator skills. And I love how you didn't say "skill-set", my newest language irritant.
it's been my tradition for a few years to spend as little as possible during the holiday season- strictly out of spite. I think I'll take even more pleasure in that this year...
ps- how do you like illustrator??
Sure you can barely breathe in the crush of Irish Shopping Women outside Macys at 5am on Black Friday. And they are full of beans because of course on Irish time it is already lunchtime.
As for spending; I am a locovore. I buy whatever gifts I need in the local village shops to ensure they make it through another year. (very chi chi shops though)
xx
Great illustration! But you've neglected to add an R for Rands. If I have to spend in terms of euros, dollars or pounds, I'll be bankrupt. No, worse than that. No more buying stuff from Amazon or Etsy for me, I'm afraid...
Well I'm almost ready to start my Xmas shopping, but I'll probably do most of it online - I try to avoid the shops at this time of year!
I appreciate the international multi currencies.
I had some shopping done before that complete meltdown..We do have a budget for xmas shopping so we will be spending as per normal. Yes, it's hard. Apart from that planned amount I can't spend any on my clothes. :(
I haven't bought a single present yet. My issue this year is time more than money. I'll have to get cracking and soon!
i'm very bah humbug about the holidays this year ...I just want them to be over :( ...I know, poopie attitude!
hmm.. i absolutely love the holiday season... and yeah i'll still definitely be spending.. gifts are always in order. though i may try to spend less...
-issa
I usually try to make at least 3/4 of the stuff I need for my christmas list, and the rest of it is as low cost (without being cheap and nasty) as I can manage it.
I haven't started shopping for christmas yet as I have still got a cousin's wedding, sister-in-law's baby shower and my father in law's 70th birthday to shop for before I even get to christmas stuff. Luckily the government here is giving parents like me $1000 for christmas to try and get us all spending and kickstarting the economy. Mine's going to retire household debt though.
My financial situation this year has vastly improved as compared to last year. That said, I plan on spending less and under tight controls in deference to the current situation. Because we never know when things will go south.
I've voted :D and yes I'm so ready for Christmas spending! I love Christmas and this year it will be very special for me and my family :D
i always look forward coming to your blog dear,you always keep my feeble mind thinking away.gosh dear over here the xmas decorations go up in september/oct,they start their ads on tv from then too!it's like they make sure you cant escape it.funny thing most people have only just finished paying for their prior xmas,only to have to start piling on the debt again!
muah!
xx
marian
darling forgot to say i love your image!;o)
muah!
marian
that is a pretty awesome tree.
i'll just be buying gifts for myself ;) im excited that the prices have been slashed on the stuff ive had my eyes on for months and months...
and 1 little thank you gift for a nice lady who brings me stuff from ghana.
I"m making gifts and having a ball!
i put my good friends on a budget this year with us (and us for them). nothing over $20, not because of financial restrictions so much as the desire to return to the whole idea behind a gift, the whole point: the thought. i wanted to take pressures to impress away entirely.
ugh christmas is going to be so expensive this year, what else is new.
I'm always ready to spend, but I try to control myself and focus, so that I don't sepnd too much!
I'm so not ready for holidays!
is just to sooon !
:/
The boy and I usually do no more than 3 presents for each other. Usually his are tech or camera related and purchased online. I put together a package of goodies for my mom that might entail some brick & mortar shopping but I'm going to do my best to avoid it as much as possible.
Danielle: LOL! Somehow, I doubt the WSJ needs to stoop to image-grabs from my blog!
Seeker: I hope your season goes well this year, Seeker. Maybe it'll be better this time. I'm not sure why the voting wasn't working for you. I hope it's working now.
VANESSA/LEIRE: Thanks!
KD: I think if the marketing was toned down, a lot more people would be a lot more responsive.
cuileann: I always acknowledge Festivus! ;)
K.Line: I've never tried that. I bet vacationing at Xmastime would be great. I know you're ahead on your shopping, something I really admire.
Aretha: You and a lot of others, I think!
preppyprincess: Aw, thanks for the nice words about the tree graphic. I think this subject could get anyone talking.
teach people: WOW! A Festivus pole! That's fantastic. I'm glad to hear you're making a "good" salary. That's a relief, maybe the best thing I've heard all day. It's nice to have you back.
Annie: LOL! Go on, utter as many as you need to.
miss cav: LOL! Tiny cakes for the in-laws! Actually, they should *be* so lucky.
WendyB: You have a very unique and informed perspective on this subject, since you're a creative trying to make a profit.
Sister Wolf: I bet you're glad I didn't spell it "skillz," too. ;)
i/m: I've loved Illustrator since Illustrator88! Get it? I hope you spend the lowest amount ever this year!
Hammie: I love your approach to Xmas shopping.
Anairam: Sorry about the R for Rands, I wasn't sure just how many currencies to represent, as I'm not always sure who my readership are. I hope things go well for you—spending-wise—this year.
sparkleandglitter: Me too. I hope to do most of my shopping online, if at all possible. Or, at 8pm on Tuesday nights.
Songy: Thanks. I know I left some currencies out. :( Maybe you can petition your guy for clothes for gifts this year!
CDP: Neither have I, unless I count the ones I'm giving away on the blog. I hope you find some shopping time. Don't get a baby, though.
...love Maegan: M, have whatever attitude you want. It's an open forum here, and we don't judge!
we wear things: You've got holiday cheer to spare, issa! That's great. :D
Skye: It sounds like you've got lots of non-Xmas expenditures coming up. If only that free money you're getting could be spent on those things instead of icky stuff like "household debt." :( I hope things go well for you this Xmas.
TheSundayBest: That is a very sound plan, Thomas.
Stiletto Effect: Hooray for your holiday cheer!
HOUSE: Why thank you, Marian, for all the compliments! I know the debt circus goes on and on when it comes to Xmas. I thought the U.S. was the worst "Early Offender" with Xmas stuff. I had a catalog in July that had an Xmas tree on it.
-h/cc: Thanks for the compliment on my silly tree. It's nice that you can find good bargains right now. And that your list is short.
Pamela: I bet I know what you're making. :)
editor: That's a great idea, editor. I would like to use that approach this year.
Jen/MF: I guess it's always the case—Xmas costs us all a lot!
Carolina: That's a good plan, C.
Juan: I'm afraid you'd better get ready, because it's coming!
ambika: It sounds like you have a good tactical plan in place. I hope it goes well for you.
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