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Home > Blogs > Here's the Deal: Bargains in Hamilton and Middletown > Archives > 2009 > November > 30 > Entry
Learn how to savor as well as save this holiday
This year was rather tame for me in terms of Black Friday. I checked Web sites before venturing out and found most of the items I wanted for the same price with free shipping online, making it unnecessary to get up before dawn to get the deals. When I did head out it was closer to 9 a.m. and I found most of the deals I wanted still available in stores.
This could be good news for shoppers as retailers may have merchandise they still need to sell off. This is likely bad news for the economy as sales on the day after Thanksgiving were up just .5 percent from a year earlier, according to ShopperTrak, lower than originally expected. We as consumers are still not spending, not even on good deals.
But I just wanted to add a reminder for all those shopping for their loved ones this holiday season to also remember to savor this time. It’s been a tough year, with family members and friends unemployed and people facing some tough financial situations.
While in line on Black Friday I listened to the conversation of the two women in front of me. They told me earlier that had been out since 4 a.m. shopping and were now at their last store, their cart overflowing with gifts, wrapping paper and bows. One of the women began to ridicule the other as she explained how on Christmas she had each of her children open one present at a time and thank the giver before the next person could open one. The friend told this woman this practice was “ridiculous” and she should just let the kids rip into them. She then explained how she assigns each child a number or letter so until they start opening, there is no way to tell who got what presents and that once she says ready, set, go on Christmas Day, “it is all carnage.” She also said she has to make sure to give an equal number of presents to each child “or I never hear the end of it.”
Pardon me, but is this really what Christmas is all about? I do not have children, so I cannot comment on how I handle their presents, but I do hope when I have my own that I will base it on a much more loving gift-giving practice I experienced growing up.
As one of five children with my dad the sole salary contributor, Christmas was a little tight for my family. Part of the gift was the wrapping, which my parents pain-stakingly completed each night after we had gone to bed. I remember presents piled high in foil papers with beautiful wire ribbon decorating each package. Each child had a “section” under the tree, and one by one after breakfast my dad would hand them out, each of us watching as one present was opened, admired, likely photographed and then the giver was thanked. We went in order of oldest to youngest, with mom and dad opening last. The process was a long one, sometimes requiring a lunch break, and often there were needed items like new underwear, pajamas and socks wrapped under that tree mixed in with the toys and games, but it was all appreciated.
After the gifting was done, the wire ribbon was wrapped up, saved for another holiday, and our gifts put away. This was the practice until I was 22 and moved out on my own.
I’m not saying we were perfect angels, at times children are impatient, but my parents were bent on making sure we appreciated what we got and what we gave to others. After each Christmas we also spent time going through our old things and making a pile of items to donate to charity. My parents stocked up on wrapping paper and ribbon for the next year at the end of season sales.
The point of this story is I hope you will remember as you are out looking for deals to get your friends and family, remember to love and appreciate each one of them as well. When the kids are older and the electronics and toys have all worn out, all we will have left are the memories, so make them something to savor.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Savings tips
Comments
By Mary Beth
November 30, 2009 3:24 PM | Link to this
I agree. As one half of an engaged couple with multiple sets of parents, the Christmas gatherings that mean the most to me are the ones that take the longest, with each person taking turns. We even work it out at my Mom’s house so that everyone takes turns and ends without one person opening a whole bunch in a row. We also go to several celebrations where it is 1,2,3 … Go, and you have no idea how much it hurts, when we put so much thought into a gift to see it torn open and tossed aside as our family moves on to the next without an ooh ahh or thank you. This year, that side doesn’t get anything memorable.
By Lisa
November 30, 2009 9:52 PM | Link to this
What a beautiful sentiment. I am touched by your story.