Black Friday & Stuff
Today is "Black Friday," the official $hopping day that begin$ the $eason of Need and Greed. Wednesday's paper was loaded with circulars advertising the sales.
I didn't read any of them. After I took this photo, they went straight to my recycling bag. I also wasn't among the throngs that lined up outside some Roanoke stores yesterday. I didn't go shopping today.
Why not? Because I don't need any more stuff. I already have plenty of stuff. I actually have more stuff than I'll ever use.
I find it hard to believe—although I saw it on TV last night—that folks actually camped outside some stores so they might get a chance to buy certain sales items. Many will buy the stuff with money they don't even have.
My husband and I used to exchange stuff for Christmas. Eventually, when we ran out of ideas for more stuff, we exchanged cash and gift certificates, which pretty much canceled each other out. Then we bought joint presents—stuff for the house. For the last few years, we've stopped buying stuff.
Last year, I fulfilled my need to give stuff by donating to Planned Pethood and the Franklin County Historical Society.
I'm thankful that I don't need—or want—more stuff. I'm satisfied with what I have—a good home, good friends, my animals, a husband who makes the morning coffee and often does the morning feeding, good land, enough income to live on—albeit not extravagantly, vehicles that still run even though they've got some age on them, plenty of books (my favorite stuff!), an Internet connection and a working computer (the 2002 eMac is still going strong), etc.
This morning, instead of shopping for stuff, we put fresh water in all the critters' tubs and buckets. Then we moved a few more loads of hay.
We're still working off yesterday's Thanksgiving Dinner at Claudia's. Despite a walk in the woods between dinner and dessert, we're still stuffed.
I didn't read any of them. After I took this photo, they went straight to my recycling bag. I also wasn't among the throngs that lined up outside some Roanoke stores yesterday. I didn't go shopping today.
Why not? Because I don't need any more stuff. I already have plenty of stuff. I actually have more stuff than I'll ever use.
I find it hard to believe—although I saw it on TV last night—that folks actually camped outside some stores so they might get a chance to buy certain sales items. Many will buy the stuff with money they don't even have.
My husband and I used to exchange stuff for Christmas. Eventually, when we ran out of ideas for more stuff, we exchanged cash and gift certificates, which pretty much canceled each other out. Then we bought joint presents—stuff for the house. For the last few years, we've stopped buying stuff.
Last year, I fulfilled my need to give stuff by donating to Planned Pethood and the Franklin County Historical Society.
I'm thankful that I don't need—or want—more stuff. I'm satisfied with what I have—a good home, good friends, my animals, a husband who makes the morning coffee and often does the morning feeding, good land, enough income to live on—albeit not extravagantly, vehicles that still run even though they've got some age on them, plenty of books (my favorite stuff!), an Internet connection and a working computer (the 2002 eMac is still going strong), etc.
This morning, instead of shopping for stuff, we put fresh water in all the critters' tubs and buckets. Then we moved a few more loads of hay.
We're still working off yesterday's Thanksgiving Dinner at Claudia's. Despite a walk in the woods between dinner and dessert, we're still stuffed.
~
Labels: shopping
posted by Becky Mushko | 1:49 PM
3 Comments:
Amazing to me how anyone could spend so much on Christmas crap...
I have started( with their births) getting savings bonds for my grand neices and nephews and now my grandson...when they get older, they will have something to add for college or a car or whatever...
the Christmas crap will be long gone....
I went to Applebee's to make money, instead of spend it. Unfortunately the rest of Franklin Co. probably felt the same. We were so slow and I was cut from the floor early. I only made $7.
But that's okay. I was just happy to head home to my kids and husband.
With three kids, we still buy Christmas presents, but I look forward to the day this isn't such a big deal. But someday, I know, I'll miss these little-kid-days.
Happy Thanksgiving!
It makes my stomach turn - all that greed. The sad part about it is that Christmas means exactly the opposite! My favorite part of Christmas is our Christmas Eve campfire. The children and I bundle up and Shannon reads us the Christmas story from the Bible. Then we roast marshmellows and sing carols. I never feel like I've celebrated Christmas until we get to do that. No shopping, no traffic, no lines... just peace...until Caroline throws the entire bag of marshmellows into the fire!
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