Good Morning. It hit me

Happy Thanksgiving. Thank a turkey that was raised in a 10' cage along with 30 of his friends, or worse,.. that never saw sunlight or felt real dirt under his feet, and never got to run or roost in a tree. 

Our culture makes no sense. It hit me this season that we are the most gullible and stupid culture. We work ourselves to death so we can make the rich richer. Yeah, this is another plea to support small businesses and only those companies that look after the well being of their employees as much as they line the pockets of their investors, boards of directors, CEOs, and senior executives. You want to shop at Walmart and the other stores that make their employees work Thanksgiving or starting at midnight or earlier on the day after Thanksgiving? Knock yourselves out...I'm not going to be one of you. I think Christmas and the holidays have become ugly. What little bit of human kindness and sacrifice is lost in the pursuit of "things". 

Fed up in Virginia

Sorry, maybe it's the stress of trying to do too much when I'm just not feeling it.

yep, I've been over "things" for a while.  There is certainly nothing I "want" bad enough to shop today or tomorrow.  Maybe if I had kids to buy for it would be different.

Yep. Not in a panic over this stuff.

I usually don't give gifts except for the grand babies but this year I have got all my shopping done and it has hardly cost me a cent.

Last summer while riding around on my bike I came across a garage sale that was closing up and they were giving away everything that didn't sell.  Well, they didn't sell much and I think the woman was some kind of hoarder because she had tables of new things she was giving away.  There were a lot of Christmas type things that looked like they came for those home parties.  All new and in boxes.  I went home and got my car and loaded it up with tons of new Christmas items, as well as other things.  I sold many of the new things like new small appliances in the box.  Some of the Christmas things I donated to my work for their silent auction.  They had the auction last week and the things that didn't sell were put out for sale at half the opening bid price.  I got a ton of new things for $4, including toys, puzzles and children's clothes that were brand new.  Since I have 4 grand daughters and 2 step grand kids there was a kid that could wear them.  I also found a new Dora tent someone was selling for $10.  My 2  youngest grand daughters love Dora.

I will still buy some other stuff for them since I am working now.  I usually buy them all pajamas in their favorite characters and other things like that since they have more toys then they know what to do with.  

I also have presents for all the grown ups with the Christmas items I have stored in my closet.  Really nice things like tea sets, candlesticks and things like that.  There were also two collectable dolls that I will give to my 2 oldest grand daughters.  I may save some of the other things for future gifts and donate some.  I really want to get them out of my closet since they have been in there since August.  With any luck I won't have to walk into a store for anything other then groceries since I buy the kids clothes online.

Smart!

Happy Thanksgiving too. I am one *****fuses to go spend money anywhere today unless it is a medical thing. My DH wanted to stop at Starbucks on his way home from his run this morning and I told him no. I refuse to go shop or go anywhere else where someone has to work today. IMHO the only places that should be open on Thanksgiving are pharmacies and medical facilities. Everything else can wait.

Oh, I'm not shopping tomorrow either. I used to go out with my DH's cousin, but was injured by some older, rude lady trying to get a deal and she ran over me with her shopping cart to get it. No sale is worth it to me anymore.

I do send Wal-mart gift cards by e-mail to my grandchildren and then they shop  online. My DD & SIL live in a tiny town where shopping is pretty much nonexistent. They travel at least an hour to a larger town for most groceries and household goods. My DD says that she usually shops online for this reason and while I'm not a huge Wal-Mart fan, she says that it is easier to find things that fit the kids without the hassle of shipping exchanges or driving a little over an hour one way if the item doesn't fit. The kids almost always choose clothes with the gift cards and then e-mail me pictures of them wearing what grandma got for them.

As for me, my DH & I decided out gift this year is plane tickets to go see the kids. Our DS will actually get to go this time as we are not going to spend the 6 days of round trip driving. We hope to get a little skiing in as well. We take off right after Christmas, time with my grandchildren is gift enough for me.

Sounds like a happy balance. : )

I think the poster before me has it like you said, a happy balance. I've given up on many "things" as being useless or a waste of $$ or my time. Our old van is not working and there are no buses to our mobile park so I order online from Safeway and love it. I take my time and got the system down pat now. I get rides from neighbors and drop them a few bucks that they can use since most are on SS or disability income. I have a great cabbie who lives just down the road. I still work 3 days a week and use the train/bus at the station and either he gets me there or a neighbor will. It all worked out and we're saving on gas and car insurance! I buy only a few things from Walmart that really help with cost (like 5 things and that's all). I order from PetSmart our pet food and Amazon for my PB2 and Torani sugar free syrups. Bariatric Advantage is automatically delivered every 3 months. I just joined ZipCar and will have access to cars that can be rented for as little time as an hour. They're located all over where I work so I just catch a bus or train and pick one up to use for those special situations like special doctor appts farther away. I never would have thought I could go without our own gas guzzler but we're doing just fine!

There are some great ideas in your post. Thanks!

As much as I hated "shopping" today, at least it was because we went to see my daddy. Had to get gas, something to eat (twice) and then we came home.

But it was a good visit.

Liz