Yay! Holidays Sales Were Bleak
I’m don’t want to be a Scrooge, but I must say I’m heartened by this year’s post-Christmas retail sales report coming out of SpendingPulse, which is MasterCard Advisors’ report on national retail sales. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, sales grew by 3.6 percent, compared to the same period last year. This figure spells ‘bleak’ to retailers.
I’m ever hopeful that the figures are down because everyone has experienced a revelation that love has nothing to do with an Ibox or an HDTV. But I think spending was down for other reasons, including:
- The housing bust has frightened people or impaired their ability to spend
- The credit crunch
- More people are shopping online
I always fantasize about how much good could be done in the world if some of the money that is spent on stuff could be diverted to addressing the problems in the world.
December 26th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Although we do a moderate amount of shopping in our family, it has slowed considerably over the years. Even our girls are getting into the “less is more” attitude.
December 26th, 2007 at 10:46 am
I am so with you on this. Our family has finally stopped the crazy gift-giving frenzy and we just exchanged some small but thoughtful little presents. It was such a relief not to be going crazy shopping for a month before Christmas, and have a frenzy of wrapping in the day or so beforehand. We actually got to just enjoy the holiday.
Happy Boxing Day! (as they would say in England)
December 26th, 2007 at 11:15 am
I have become a fan of your site… boomer that I am.
“I always fantasize about how much good could be done in the world if some of the money that is spent on stuff could be diverted to addressing the problems in the world.”
I have to say that “… addressing the problems of the world” is the most godawful affection of Boomers. My New Year’s prayer is… that Boomers cease their do-gooderism. What a pain in the ass that has been!
Let the problems of the world fix themselves. Buying presents for the kids and for the relatives… well, in some ways it can be a drag. But, now that my kids are grown, I really miss that part of Christmas.
I have no interest in spending my Christmas in the fashionable trough of guilt that Boomers enjoy wallowing in. Life is short. I’ve already buried two wives. When you get a chance to have some fun and enjoy life, go right ahead and do it.
As soon as the current crop of “the problems of the world” are fixed, a new set will emerge. Eat… drink… fornicate… spend your money on a good time.
December 26th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Seamus and Maui, cool!
Shouting Thomas: Let me assure you that I most definitely like to have fun and have it on a regular basis. It’s just that I try to balance it with doing good in the world. Thanks for reading this here blog!
December 26th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
With the reduced spending, the ripple affect will be a slowdown in the economy. I hope that EVERYONE will be prepared for the ‘less is more’ way of life we are all going to experience. It is NOT going to be easy. It is going to be very tough, so I hope all are prepared (think recession of the 1970’s and dog food meatloaf). Many people will be learning for the first time in their lives, probably, the real meaning of a buck!
As for curing the ails of the world, there will ALWAYS be the poor and sick. There will ALWAYS be tons of people who do not want to work for whatever reasons. Once you realize that, life makes a bit more sense. We do our best, help those who need and want it and then move on.
If we let the problems of the world fix themselves, there would be no cure for polio, no landing on the moon, no medical control over the spreading of AIDS and so on and so one. The greatest achievement of mankinds’ quest for perfection was the amazing 27 hour operation on the little Indian girl, who was born a twin, but her twin died while still in the mother’s womb. This girl was born with 4 arms and 4 legs (remnants of her twin). Modern science restored this little girls life back to perfect. Here is the link:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3831220&page=1
God bless mankind and to all the boomers who strived to make this planet a better world to live in!!!!!!
December 26th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! This year, as for the last 3 years has been an “all cash” Christmas. I’ve sworn off credit cards for life! Now if I could just get out from under the massive student loans! Oh well.
Hope you’re having a great holiday season and are surrounded by those you love.
December 26th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
If there was a cause/effect relationship between purchasing and philanthropy, who could argue. But there isn’t.
Poor retail sales could push U.S. into recession and all the troubles that brings.
Be careful what you wish for.
December 26th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Well I’m not a fornicator, and I have not seen do-gooding gone wild in my vicinity, but I enjoy life, so I’m with Thomas on that anyway.
December 26th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
I think your 3 bullet items are right on! Heard on one of the network business channels that credit card late pymts and defaults are rising dramatically which I’m sure correlates with those in trouble with their mortgage. Is that going to be the next government bailout? Those who over extended themselves with easy credit? I sure as hell hope not. The majority of people do use credit cards wisely.
December 26th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Rhea,
We have the same fantasy. I love today, when I have nothing to take down and put away. Nothing to return. No large credit card bill coming in the mail. Oh how I love this day!
December 26th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
[...] Original post by The Boomer Chronicles [...]
December 26th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
I just want to know where all of those affluent boomers, I kept hearing the media talk about, spent their money this Christmas.
My family has NEVER focused on the commericalization of Christmas. It is a myth. When I finally realized I couldn’t keep up with the Joneses, I just stopped trying—and that was many years ago.
Please stop by and check out my Top Boomer Divas of 2007.
December 27th, 2007 at 9:53 am
nationwide recession? welcome to my world, buddy! /:~\
I’ll wish that kind of “lifestyle” for everyone else, too, in a heartbeat. What has passed for civilization and culture in the affluent American second-half-of-the-twentieth-century frequently makes me ill. It’s about time our country had a readjustment of priorities and values. It’ll take being forced into it for our society to let go of its dearly but erroneously held beliefs about how to live like a human being.
Bring it on! I’m already trained.
~ hb33 ~
December 27th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Everything in moderation as to giving. It seems that there is too much emphasis on giving material things at this time of year. Things that will wear out, get broken, be forgotten and ultimately trashed. You would hope that you would the best gifts, those that don’t wear out: wisdom, values, and real love. Most of us seem to be caught up in the frenzy prior to the holiday, but become very reflective after the holiday – it would be good to be as reflective starting the day after Thanksgiving next year…
December 27th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
absolutely !!!!
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
When “Borrowing” photographs, such as the one of Martin Harris in his role of Scrooge for the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco, it is generally considered polite to at least credit the photographer. Otherwise, its stealing. This year I have begun seeing many people using this image in their artwork, and while flattering, it really is theft of an artists work.