Consumer Craze

The holidays are a stressful time for almost all of us. Whether you wait until the last minute to do all your shopping, or you start when the stores are trying to lure you in to start your shopping in October. I was shopping with my three kids’ ages 6, 7, and 9, in Costco a few weeks before Halloween; the kids asked why the stores already had Christmas trees and decorations up. I really didn’t know what to tell them except it all boils down to the all mighty dollar. Then they wanted to know why we just can’t celebrate one holiday before they set up decoration for the next holiday. The stores have us shopping for holidays that are three or four months away. We spoke in class recently about how our county is a country that economy is dependent on consumers. I am just as guilt as everyone else wanting the coolest gadget that came out. However, marketing to Christmas shoppers in October seems a little over board. Yet we must fall for it, and buy more every year for the stores to market to us earlier each year. I will not be shocked if I walk into a store to return some ugly sweater after Christmas and I’m sure I will see Easter decorations up. This just solidifies to me that we are definitely a society that is very much dependant on consumers spending as much as possible. Who know maybe this year after the holidays we will know if our recession is almost over. It is sad to think that our economy and job growth will be determined by the success of this year’s Christmas shopping. Perhaps I shouldn’t complain about the stores marketing us months before holidays if it allows people to have jobs and security.