Black Friday

Black Friday separates the boys from the men ... the girls from the women ... as I watch the craziness begin ... shortly after sharing thanks for all we have with a delicious meal, family, friends ...  the lines begin to form to do what? Yes, get more stuff. And just what is all this 'stuff' for anyway? As I watch the ads on television, the radio, flashing across my computer, magazines, newspapers (ah, yeah ... did you receive a Thursday newspaper? I picked mine off the lawn - it wouldn't even fit in my newspaper box! - I chalked it up to my exercise for the day), flyers, and everywhere I turned taunt me to 'buy this, buy that.' I have to ask myself, "What in the hell is all the fuss? OK, it's good for the economy, but is it good for our wallets and budgets?" Then I realized many people 'worry' about paying it all back later ... really? I've got news ... much of what you haven't paid for yet will be lost, broken, or forgotten. Is it really worth it? I think not and that's where the separation begins.

There are those who step back and make thoughtful purchases and those who just buy. I ask each of you ... take a moment and think about what you really intend to do and what makes you do it. I remember one year after a big move right around  Christmas time when I gave a family member (and many others) a Mason jar with all the ingredients for spice cookies with a recipe attached - one friend (a neighbor) made the cookies the next day and invited us to her home for cookies and tea) but a family member actually complained. Now how's that for Christmas spirit ... this person was not only not gracious, she was downright bitchy about it. Fine, I said ... I be happy to keep it and you can have your candle back. Geez.  Later I found out they were unable to pay their light bill and called ME to help them. Really? Ah, no.  That same person - some months later - said she needed help paying their mortgage. We were in a pretty good spot and I handed her a check for $100 ... my husband asked me about it when he was balancing our checkbook and that check hadn't cleared. I called her to see why she hadn't cashed the check and was informed she had lost it. Then she asked for a replacement check. Ah, no. Sorry. Stupid people make me nuts ... but as my mother says, '... it must be her first time here.'