Money Beat

As usual, I will refuse to shop in the first store to offer in-store Christmas advertising this year. It's getting ridiculous how early this crap comes out. There should be a rule, perhaps written into the economic bailout package, making it a Federal crime to advertise using Christmas, or whatever end of December event you like, before Thanksgiving. I'm finally seeing a valid reason for the application of the death penalty too.

Why ya gotta mention Christmas and ruin the whole day.

Whoa! September creep this year. I went to Target and expected to see all of the Halloween merchandise, but the whole wall of Christmas lights and yard decorations was just too much in this 95 degree heat. I was not amused.

I always use to wonder why stores would start selling things for the upcoming holiday so soon. Growing up as a child, my brother, my sister, and I would go and find the presents. So my parents figure out what we were doing and decided to shop later. I would not shop so early for my kids because of that same reason. I know it would be better so that I can get everything out the way. It’s not surprising to see that Wal-Mart is the first store to start their holiday season early. Everyone looks to Wal-Mart for a lot of things and because of the economy everybody is definitely going to go to Wal-Mart. Many stores use the holiday season to make the majority of their sales and by starting early would be the best way to do that. They may even get more sales because of starting early.

I am going to start avoiding stores that put Halloween stuff out in August, Christmas promotions in October, Thanksgiving in September. It's insulting and they need to be boycotted. It completely ruins any given holiday because the holidays no longer represent a specific time of the year. If Christmas is 24/7 365 days a year, why bother doing anything about it? I'll just put lights up on a cactus in March and be done with it.

Business' do this because people actually buy early. So really the issue isn't a boycott its consumer attitudes. But I suspect a large percentage of the sales are people shopping for themselves due to the notion of holiday sales, where people think they save money. But there's a bigger issue at hand, and thats how Christmas has been cheapened to the point that people only really see presents, and that the spirit and purpose of the holidays is lost in the nervous angry shopping trips, the family arguments, high credit card bills, and the excuse to gorge on food to excess while many starve in the world. So the point is the holidays are what we make of them, if we encourage this business behavior of course the consumers will be used, and eventually, at this rate, there will be Christmas sales 365 days a year.

Somehow I don't really care too much if retailers are hawking their Christmas stuff or not. Considering the important matters affecting all of us - economy, war, elections, etc... - who really cares? How much I actually spend this holiday will be dependent on what's in my wallet when all is said and done. Besides, for me the year so far has simply flown by. It will be only a short time before Christmas actually does arrive.

MCP good post. A lot of people talk about exercising their power by voting come election time; but the real power is voting with our checkbooks. These retailers will continue doing this because we vote YES every year. Christmas has been hijacked and it's no longer about anything meaningful. Every year they are able to hypnotize us with their Christmas displays, their artificial Christmas aroma and their piped in Christmas music and we're back into our trance-like state searching the aisles for bargains. Why? Because it's Christmas and we're supposed to buy stuff. We fall for this trickery every year and the retailers and the banks are laughing all the way.

I almost hate to admit this, and if I weren't so happy and proud of myself, I would not---I am 99% finished with my Christmas shopping. I have the luxury of my sis-in-law selling an item that makes a perfect Christmas gift (in my opinion), and I was able to place an order with her for 80% of the people on my Christmas list. I know to some people it is too early to start thinking about Christmas, and I guess to some extent, I would tend to agree. However, I try my best to budget what I spend on my Christmas gifts. By doing this and shopping early, I can stay on budget, get finished early, and enjoy the holiday season the way it is meant to be enjoyed---spending time with family and friends. I realize the retailers put things in front of us earlier and earlier each year, but what can we do about it. We live in a fast paced world--get it done now society. The retailers know that the earlier they get the stuff out there, the earlier we will start buying. Long gone are the days, my friends, when the malls would at least wait until November to decorate. Happy Holidays, ya'll!!

Being a Pagan, with Samhain (Halloween) as one of my high holy days, I find it obnoxious and offensive that the stores decorate for Yule BEFORE Halloween is here!
I'm sure most Christians would be equally offended if we kept up Halloween decorations up till Christmas!
peace & Blessed Be!

I want each holiday to be celebrated and made special like they used to be then move on! I hate Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving. The stores need to find some other way to make their money. Having Christmas stuff out so early doesn't make me buy more. I start shopping in January for the next year. So I am in no hurry to cram my shopping into a few short weeks.

I find this rather depressing! With the economy being what it is and people worrying about losing their homes the retailers decide to remind these people that many weeks earlier what they can't afford for Christmas. It's bad enough that people worry between Thanksgiving and Christmas about what they are going to buy and how they can't afford it. Now the retailers have decided to drive that unfortunate news home weeks and weeks sooner. Isn't it true that the suicide rate goes up at holiday time? What are they thinking? Put more stress on the already stressed. That's Christmas spirit for you.......

I was visiting a Menards store in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and they have Christmas items out. I'm afraid this year will be a hard year for many. We had severe flooding here. People are just wanting a warm safe place to live. Why does everyone have to rush the holidays? It's sad that businesses don't take time to enjoy each holiday.

30 years ago when my children were young, stores started "Christmas Layaway" in Oct. That was when I shopped, so I could have it all paid for and home befor Christmas. Some people I know start their Christmas shopping right after Christmas to get more discounts, and some start in July at the sidewalk sales. When your funds are Low, and you have children, keeping your eye open year around to squeeze out items at good prices here and there insures at least something for them. Depending on charities when the people are strapped and can't donate could be real dissappointing. I didn't smoke or drink, I shorted myself, but my kids had their Christmas, and Easter, school supplies and clothes. I made minumin wage, and they had second hand clothes in good shape and new clothes too, always new socks, shoes and underwear.

I live in Georgia, and I have noticed alot of the stores here already have their Christmas decorations out. It does seem like this year they are really pushing the Christmas Sales earlier. But just in case you may be looking for some great deals on kids toys, check out KBTOYS.COM, they have up to 60% off.

Well, Christmas before Halloween makes sense.. To some, and for some the tree goes up this early too. wgaf.

Folks, the stores have no choice but to put this stuff out early. It's ordered a year in advance, and must ALL be gone before January. They have to get it out early in order to get it sold. They can't store it until next year.

it's 83 days 'till Christmas! do the math!

The decorations are the only cheerful thing these days. Now with McCain/Palin resorting to dirty attacks (very depressing), I can't wait to see the old Norelco Christmas ad on TV!

Let them creep. I won't be spending my very limited Christmas budget on anything other than a few gift cards, so we can buy what we want after Christmas for even less.

And, I note that stores can't count gift card sales until they are actually cashed in for merchandise.

Yes, it's depressing to see this earlier and earlier each year. I love Christmas as much as the next person, but hate seeing all the Christmas stuff out next to the pumpkins and Draculas. It really disgusts me.

Hi Cidneye: I was raised as a Christian, but am now a Pagan also. I celebrate Christmas with my family, however, and enjoy the spirit of the season tremendously. I just wanted to take a moment to say hello to a fellow worshiper and to thank you for admitting to your religious beliefs. It seems that a lot of Pagans these days are reluctant to talk about their faith. I understand that, with so many misconceptions about our beliefs and so much pressure to be Christian in the U.S. today. Live and let live. The world would be a better place if more people practiced that old adage, and didn't want to walk around telling us how we are destined for hell fire and brimstone.