Published: December 6, 2006
‘Tis the season to dish out copious amounts of money on presents for your loved ones. Maybe we should just change the title of the holiday season to “give corporations your money season.” Because isn’t that what we do each year?
The only true value on presents is how much they are worth. Let’s face it. A kid now-a-days would be much happier with a name brand I-Pod than a lousy MP3 player. And you can forget about Santa bringing those teddy bears down the chimney – he went to the mall and bought an AR Series laptop.
So you spend and spend and spend just to get the most expensive, elaborate present, because that’s what you feel like you have to do. If you love someone, spend $300 dollars on them, by all means. But is that what the holidays are truly about?
Corporations depend on our money each year around this time; it’s what keeps them alive and kicking. And it works. We continue to buy more and more, until we think we’ve done a good job.
Each year we celebrate this excessive spending habit with “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving and the busiest shopping day of the year. “Black Friday” is a corporate feeding frenzy, and although we know this, we are still compelled to save money on things we think have gift-giving potential for that special someone. “Black Friday” introduces the urge to buy presents that are discounted and at a larger quantity, just so that we have something to give those ones we adore.
Where has the true value gone? Presents should be given because you care about someone and have them in mind. Not because of obligation. And certainly not because that really expensive laptop was discounted at 10 percent off. So do your loved-ones a favor, and buy something for them, not for the corporations.