I just saw a news article about a woman who was knocked unconscious at Wal-Mart while a pack of shoppers rushed forward to grab cheap DVD players.

Happy Holidays.

We're all supposed to go out and shop like crazy this time of year. Apparently many businesses depend on holiday shopping for a large chunk of their profits. The newspapers each year have lots of articles about whether it will be a "good" Christmas or a "bad" Christmas for the economy.

Points to be dabated: Is this really so vital a part of the American economy? I don't know.

How does it effect you? Personally, it makes me feel all Grinchy and Scroogeish, and I can't wait for January.

Yes, it is vitally important to the economy, it being a large total of the entire years economy ( I forget the actual percentage). I was at a marketing seminar once and they told me that is why the US has so many "fake" holidays instead of honoring so many of the "world" holidays (women's day comes to mind, celebrated March 8th just about everywhere I ever travelled, except here and we have "mothers day"- a holiday created specifically for hall mark greeting cards LOL) and a reason our economy is strong, is artificially and consiously marketed holidays that force more consumer spending. I don't buy that completely, but it does make some sense!

It always effects my bottom line, and makes me all "scroogy" too LOL

I have no doubt that there are many businesses that depend on the holidays for a large portion of their profits, but it's such a waste from an individual perspective. All of the money that people spend on gifts for others on the holidays could be better used, in my opinion. I don't mean to sound selfish, but how often do you really receive something that you want or need? How often do the people that you buy for need or want the stuff that you give?

I have been asked many times this month what I want for Christmas, and I honestly don't want anything except for things that I use on a daily basis like bulk packages of toilet paper or dog food...you know the things I would buy if I wasn't spending money on Christmas presents, but people won't buy those things, because they want to give you something fun....like an endless array of knick-knacks or perfume or bubble bath. I have no room for those objects, and I feel ungrateful if I get rid of them, so it just adds to the clutter in my house.

I have been very honest with people that I will not be buying Christmas presents this year, nor do I want them to give me gifts in return. All it does is create unwanted stress and ruin the actual fun part of the holidays which is being with the people that I love. I am a class A grinch, but I think it's practical.

The economy, and I'll admit that I'm no expert, seems like it should balance itself out regardless of whether or not people go out on a massive spending spree. It will merely shift the focus to different types of products...perhaps more wanted and used products. Is this a naive thought?