Bloomberg TV, reading from bloomberg terminal, is saying Cash'n Carry says FRE and FNM have implicit treasury support but not "full faith and credit" of gov't. LOL.
This will be a Christmas that everyone remembers, people will tell their kids about it in years to come...
a few days ago. I'm sticking with it. This will be The Reversion Christmas... family, friends... (and pub crawls with f&f if you happen to live in Pacific Beach...)
lawyerliz, this is more of a consumer confidence survey - actual spending plans will change. Usually I wouldn't post this - except it shows just how negative consumers are right now.
This clearly means that Christmas decorations will be going up between Memorial Day and the 4th of July in 2009 in malls and main streets all across America. Only 406 shopping days until Xmas 09.
It is a bummer to be a kid on Christmas morning when the only presents you get from Santa are made out of squirrel parts, tree limbs, and rocks. I bet those rocks will find there way through a lot of neighbor's windows this year. Go long on window replacement companies.
Personally we are thinking of boycotting the economy (as much as possible) and in particular ramping down our ownership of U.S. Treasuries and other government obligations. We're also pulling away from tax-obligated bonds in our taxable accounts.
The TARP was a sham and until Washington gets the "no bailouts" message that the voters sent when EESA was being voted on, I'm not giving Washington any tax money that I have a choice about, and I'm not lending to them until they learn how to spend wisely again.
Nonsense. People will feel richer after the govt. gooses the market for a Santa rally. We still believe in Santa and Goldilocks don't we? Plus, their gas $ will now buy more toys.
Also, we are targeting Christmas spending to "kids only" in much of our family. (On the other hand, for the first time in a while, we're all getting together. But for my part of our family at least, that is just a displacement of vacation money that would have been spent otherwise.)
"Also, we are targeting Christmas spending to "kids only" in much of our family."
Don't leave those gifts in the car too long or they will be somebody else's gifts. I recommend renting a Rottweiler for Xmas shopping days to keep in the car for added security.
Last thought (gotta run) is that spending is down for two reasons:
1) some people can't spend. No credit.
2) some people could spend, but don't want to. Folks, especially grandparents, have been hammered in terms of retirement savings and home equity, and might prefer not to squander cash on toys. When your investments are off by half (or worse), you don't sell the investments to get cash to buy baubles!
I'm so glad I'm spending the next year travelling in South America. When I return it will be very interesting to see what the USA looks like.
BTW lots of ponies around here, and burros too...
Those poor children. We need a government agency that would contribute to the gift funds of children who live in a 4000 sqft house but whose parents can only afford to buy them half a pony this year.
What people say and what they do are very different. There is no way spending will be off 50%
NOT Irving Fisher!
I don't think it will be that bad either. I eyeballed CR's retail spending chart down below against their consumer confidence chart and it seems that the real spending is lagged from the confidence numbers by a year or so and you see about 2/3 of the confidence numbers in the actual spending. But 2/3 of 50% = 33% = Catastrophic!
Some stores will be sobbing at their sales numbers. Others will just sniffle. Many will whimper. Then some will disapear; never to be seen again
I think many will disappear. I read an article last summer regarding how many retailers survive year to year on loans due after Christmas sales. Tighter credit, miserable Christmas numbers does not bode well
Living on the (trailing) edge writes:
Will this finally be the year I can find a 42-inch flat screen LCD or plasma TV from a brand name for $500?
Me too. I'm waiting for a 42" 1080p Sharp Aquos or a 42" 1080p Sony Bravia for around $500. I'm hoping that after Christmas I might find something close to that. If I do, I'm all over it.
...our circle of family and friends instituted a "No gift Policy" for this year...Liz, zero gifts = no possible increase....
in addition, our Wine Club's annual Christmas dinner at a top restaurant will now be a buffet at home...no season basketball tickets...choose a plays selectively, not a season subscription......paint a car as opposed to buy a car....and, it goes on and on...
My wife's company will have had two layoffs this year....my industry (moving) is down....and, I expect next year to be rough also......
interestingly, my Wine Purveyor says his bottle count is the same, but the average individaul sale is down 20%...
I am getting catalogues from folks I have never purchased from: Eddie Bauer, Signals, LL Bean who seem desperate....however, Crutchfield has stopped sending catalogues which is smart: How many Surround sound systems do you need?
Living on the (trailing) edge writes:
Will this finally be the year I can find a 42-inch flat screen LCD or plasma TV from a brand name for $500?
I read somewhere that the BIG price collapse might come a little later. Apparently there is a lot of production coming on line over the next several months.
It occurred to me there might be a jump in sales right before the switch to digital TV (In February?), so I was thinking we could wait til just AFTER that, for some really big discounts. We wouldn't miss much.
Am I nuts or will the DOW movers want to send a message to the G-20 and pump up the indexes?
Anonymous
No they have to get it near a cliff so they will fear of a global meltdown...Bushy kept saying meltdown in his speech yesterday...I assume he knows a financial meltdown is different than ice cream melting in the TX sun..but who knows
There's a Honda radio commercial running here in the Bay Area narrated by Tom Tolbert (the radio host and former NBA player) where he begins by saying that he's afraid to open his 401k statement. But the good news, he says, is that there's a sale on Hondas. Then he says if things get so bad that he winds up living in his car, at least it's a Honda.
Department-store operator J.C. Penney Co. said Friday its third-quarter profit fell by more than half as consumers cut back on spending and took fewer trips to the mall amid the deteriorating economy.
The company also said mall traffic in general has been weak so far this month and issued fourth-quarter guidance well below analyst expectations.
I doubt there will be a true 50% drop from last year, but even at half that the retail sector is doomed with massive losses across the board. Already looking at BB's black friday "sale" even the doorbusters are tepid at best.
Retailers are painted into a corner. Hard to get stock in because of the credit crunch and consumers that are keener than ever for deals.
I worked in a retail store during the 1981 recession on a loading dock. One day the foreman, who was an asshole most of the time, told me and the 2 other guys that there was truck spillage in the tunnel.
The spillage was a bunch of boxes of mens clothes. We loaded up, did not really see it as stealing as it was outside of the store. Plus I did not have a winter jacket. Took me years to realize it was done on purpose for us.
Bush gets shit faced at the G-20 dinner, grabs Merkel's breasts, calls Sarkozy a jew, Hu a commie, then he pukes in the corner and passes out in the front yard
I wish I could institute a no-gifts policy except for the kids. My DH comes from a big family and everyone buys everyone gifts. So we all spend way too much and get too much junk. Sigh.
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- President George Bush on Friday nominated an assistant U.S. attorney general in New York to oversee the Treasury's $700 billion bailout. Bush nominated Neil Barofsky as the Treasury's point person to oversee the financial rescue. Barofsky must be confirmed by the Senate
ova: Ponys with Antlers writes: One day the foreman, who was an asshole most of the time, told me and the 2 other guys that there was truck spillage in the tunnel.
The spillage was a bunch of boxes of mens clothes. We loaded up, did not really see it as stealing as it was outside of the store. Plus I did not have a winter jacket. Took me years to realize it was done on purpose for us.
But Will and Joe and the gypsy Puglioni went back to their gin, and robbed and cheated again in the tavern of foul repute, and knew not that in their sinful lives they had sinned one sin at which the Angels smiled.
Was watching a Kohl's commercial last night -- everything on sale. Everything. And if you showed up at certain times of the day, even greater mark-downs.
For some reason, that ad brought the whole recession/cosumer economy crash home to me. Scary.
Our family decided to give up the inter-family gift giving... finances too tight for many in the group and no one knows what to buy these kids anyway... they all have everything already.
Shane Co., a Bay Area jewelry store, is jumping on the layaway bandwagon. Just driving to Safeway last night I heard their layaway ad as well as Kmart's.
I'm not planning to change how much I spend, but then, I've never spent that much on Christmas anyways. And we're still planning to go to whatever bowl game USC goes to. Business as usual here.
I no longer buy Christmas gifts and haven't since 2003. Instead I give to the local food bank. I see no point in buying things for friends and family who already have everything they need.
However, I tentatively plan to take advantage of the deals this holiday season to buy a larger flat screen TV, a digital SLR and stereo system. But, these are wants and not needs so unless I get a deal I'll wait.
when did mp write his paper... i missed it...
Suprise, suprise, suprise!
Santa Claus is NOT coming to town.....
Rats, not first.
We need to use some of the TARP money to bailout Christmas.
Do consumers actually plan how much they are going to spend and then stick to it? I know I don't.
Go long spam. Get a long term lease at the Hot'l Baltimore.
Bloomberg TV, reading from bloomberg terminal, is saying Cash'n Carry says FRE and FNM have implicit treasury support but not "full faith and credit" of gov't. LOL.
I wrote something to the effect of:
This will be a Christmas that everyone remembers, people will tell their kids about it in years to come...
a few days ago. I'm sticking with it. This will be The Reversion Christmas... family, friends... (and pub crawls with f&f if you happen to live in Pacific Beach...)
Do consumers actually plan how much they are going to spend and then stick to it? I know I don't.
The consumers who have lost access to their credit cards have a good idea.
lawyerliz, this is more of a consumer confidence survey - actual spending plans will change. Usually I wouldn't post this - except it shows just how negative consumers are right now.
Best Wishes.
how closely did this survey track actual spending?
That chart on average spending change matches your chart below on Year over Year change in Retail Sales
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pMscxxELHEg/SR2ApWIo16I/AAAAAAAADw8/_WOZu65FbLE/s1600-h/RetailOct2008.jpg
You can see a clear drift downwards.
Just ran across a quote from the ancient Roman historian Livy, in Shirer's Collapse of the Third Republic [from memory]:
We had reached those last days in which we could neither tolerate our vices nor their remedies.
This clearly means that Christmas decorations will be going up between Memorial Day and the 4th of July in 2009 in malls and main streets all across America. Only 406 shopping days until Xmas 09.
I'd call that a cliffdive, not a drift!
lawyerliz, oops, I meant the trend line of the retail sales chart over time.
It is a bummer to be a kid on Christmas morning when the only presents you get from Santa are made out of squirrel parts, tree limbs, and rocks. I bet those rocks will find there way through a lot of neighbor's windows this year. Go long on window replacement companies.
I'm off to visit my local circuit city for one last time.
The last two nickels I had to rub together fell through the hole of the pocket of the only pants I have left to wear.......
Shopping? ROTFLMAO
Elvis, at least a lump a coal is a lot cheaper now than it was earlier in the year.
Personally we are thinking of boycotting the economy (as much as possible) and in particular ramping down our ownership of U.S. Treasuries and other government obligations. We're also pulling away from tax-obligated bonds in our taxable accounts.
The TARP was a sham and until Washington gets the "no bailouts" message that the voters sent when EESA was being voted on, I'm not giving Washington any tax money that I have a choice about, and I'm not lending to them until they learn how to spend wisely again.
Pissed off in California!
What people say and what they do are very different. There is no way spending will be off 50%
Will this finally be the year I can find a 42-inch flat screen LCD or plasma TV from a brand name for $500?
I've been waiting about 4 years.
Is this data correlated with changes in 4Q spending, CR?
Nonsense. People will feel richer after the govt. gooses the market for a Santa rally. We still believe in Santa and Goldilocks don't we? Plus, their gas $ will now buy more toys.
It probably won't be as bad as this survey suggests.
So many people have more spending money now that they have stopped paying thier mortgage.
It won't get really bad until their you actually remove their ability to spend.
You can only do this by taking away their job or their credit.
The job losses have only begun and the credit cards are still ubiquitous.
Next Christmas may make this Christmas look rather cheery.
Comrade Wisdom Seeker,
I'm with you. I refuse to fund these shenanigans by buying treasuries with a 4% yield.
sweet fancy moses! 50% is ALMOST half! you do the math.
I see my thoughts were already covered.
o pony for you timmy. go play with your pet rocks.
"Will this finally be the year I can find a 42-inch flat screen LCD or plasma TV from a brand name for $500?
I've been waiting about 4 years.
Living on the (trailing) edge"
I think it will. I'm buying post Christmas.
What people say and what they do are very different. There is no way spending will be off 50%
NOT Irving Fisher! |
I disagree. I think this survey really means that most Americans think their spending will be down 50% because their capacity to spend is down 75%.
People are tapped.
At least gas is cheaper...too bad I don't have anywhere I need to drive to...
Living on the (trailing) edge writes:
Will this finally be the year I can find a 42-inch flat screen LCD or plasma TV from a brand name for $500?
I've been waiting about 4 years.
Living on the (trailing) edge | 11.14.08 - 12:32 pm | #
42" is so 4 years ago... 50" is the new minimum.
Also, we are targeting Christmas spending to "kids only" in much of our family. (On the other hand, for the first time in a while, we're all getting together. But for my part of our family at least, that is just a displacement of vacation money that would have been spent otherwise.)
Wow, that's a big drop, but right in line with my spending. It appears that the home ATM machine is closed this year.
Pavel, great quote.
We need to use some of the TARP money to bailout Christmas.
How long will it take Santa to form a bank holding company?
Reposted from last thread:
Go look at the last 9 months of the market swings before op. ex week and during....
That is not a "nothingburger"
Here's this year, opex date and market return% from friday before to friday close:
1/18/2008 -5.7
2/15/2008 1.5
3/20/2008 0.8
4/18/2008 3.8
5/16/2008 2.7
6/20/2008 -2.8
7/18/2008 1.7
8/15/2008 0.6
9/19/2008 -0.9
10/17/2008 5.3
average: 0.69%
big ups, and big downs, and big nothings.
it's just noise.
The second best holiday sales blog after CR is the WSJ. Here is the final tally from last year:
Final Retail Tally: Weakest Year Since 2002 - Holiday Sales Blog - WSJ
The main page is:
Holiday Sales Blog - WSJ
Gobs of linky goodness.
"Also, we are targeting Christmas spending to "kids only" in much of our family."
Don't leave those gifts in the car too long or they will be somebody else's gifts. I recommend renting a Rottweiler for Xmas shopping days to keep in the car for added security.
dp writes:
What people say and what they do are very different. There is no way spending will be off 50%
NOT Irving Fisher! |
I disagree. I think this survey really means that most Americans think their spending will be down 50% because their capacity to spend is down 75%.
People are tapped.
dp | Homepage | 11.14.08 - 12:34 pm | #
I personally know no one who plans to cut spending by half...I must live in a bubble. Oh wait, I am in an OC beach city.
Hookers and blow for Christmas
How long will it take Santa to form a bank holding company?
John Stark | 11.14.08 - 12:36 pm
Maybe if he joins forces with Starbucks he'll have a chance.....
Last thought (gotta run) is that spending is down for two reasons:
1) some people can't spend. No credit.
2) some people could spend, but don't want to. Folks, especially grandparents, have been hammered in terms of retirement savings and home equity, and might prefer not to squander cash on toys. When your investments are off by half (or worse), you don't sell the investments to get cash to buy baubles!
I'm so glad I'm spending the next year travelling in South America. When I return it will be very interesting to see what the USA looks like.
BTW lots of ponies around here, and burros too...
Circuit City gift cards for Christmas
Hookers and blow for Christmas
Q: "What did you do with the $1,000,000 you won"?
A: "Spent a half million on hookers and blow, and then wasted the rest"
Also hurting Christmas this year is that "frugal" is the new black.
"When your investments are off by half (or worse), you don't sell the investments to get cash to buy baubles!
Comrade Wisdom Seeker "
Your grandparents must have sucked growing up. My grandparents would have turned tricks to buy me way too many presents.
"and spending will not be off 50% compared to 2007"
Your sure 'bout this?
Those poor children. We need a government agency that would contribute to the gift funds of children who live in a 4000 sqft house but whose parents can only afford to buy them half a pony this year.
Circuit City gift cards for Christmas
I saw a sale on single-ply CC gift cards at the grocery store the other day.
I'm wondering what the "gotta have it" gift will be this year, if any...
Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!
I'm wondering what the "gotta have it" gift will be this year, if any...
50lb bags of rice.
Interesting but what stores? Because this will vary widely based on income and location. Or at least preceived income.
Some stores will be sobbing at their sales numbers. Others will just sniffle. Many will whimper. Then some will disapear; never to be seen agai
U.S Accounting rulemakers say they are being politicaly pressured to accept market to myth accounting. They want integrity and independence.
Why are they so un-American?
Steveo writes:
I'm wondering what the "gotta have it" gift will be this year, if any...
Steveo | 11.14.08 - 12:43 pm
A bailout...
What people say and what they do are very different. There is no way spending will be off 50%
NOT Irving Fisher!
I don't think it will be that bad either. I eyeballed CR's retail spending chart down below against their consumer confidence chart and it seems that the real spending is lagged from the confidence numbers by a year or so and you see about 2/3 of the confidence numbers in the actual spending. But 2/3 of 50% = 33% = Catastrophic!
I guess you would call this a total crisis of confidence.
BB gets a good job! rating from Bushco.
Nothing succeeds like failure.
This is a huge paradigm shift.
Someday this war's gonna end...
Half a pony? Sounds like good eatin' to me...
Some stores will be sobbing at their sales numbers. Others will just sniffle. Many will whimper. Then some will disapear; never to be seen again
I think many will disappear. I read an article last summer regarding how many retailers survive year to year on loans due after Christmas sales. Tighter credit, miserable Christmas numbers does not bode well
Shoplifting 101 online course now available.
If I can buy it...well
Living on the (trailing) edge writes:
Will this finally be the year I can find a 42-inch flat screen LCD or plasma TV from a brand name for $500?
Me too. I'm waiting for a 42" 1080p Sharp Aquos or a 42" 1080p Sony Bravia for around $500. I'm hoping that after Christmas I might find something close to that. If I do, I'm all over it.
I think Montecito is gonna need a bailout....
Explosive Blaze Destroys at Least 100 Homes Near Santa Barbara - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com
This afternoon will be wierd on the stock market. I'm thinking of going heavy into SSO
I wonder how many people will use last year's unused gift cards and regifts to others this year?
AS regifts, not and.
Kids are going to be pissed. Socks, underwear for Christmas
Anonymous writes:
Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!
Looks like he's staggering to his feet to me.
50lb bags of rice.
Eric
I guess you have not bought rice lately! My new 10lb bag of Basmatti set me back a whopping $16.00
Damn, I guess we won't be getting any of those food baskets with horribly over-priced fruit, some "sausage" and bizarre imitation cheese!
maybe after that big LCD price-fixing scandal those prices will be down in time for xmas...
i picked up 2 47" LG 1080p for 799 each 8 months ago...
Am I nuts or will the DOW movers want to send a message to the G-20 and pump up the indexes?
42" is so 4 years ago... 50" is the new minimum.
NOT Irving Fisher!
Kind of like 2000 sq ft is so 2001. 4000 sq ft is the new minimum. No need to be greedy.
...our circle of family and friends instituted a "No gift Policy" for this year...Liz, zero gifts = no possible increase....
in addition, our Wine Club's annual Christmas dinner at a top restaurant will now be a buffet at home...no season basketball tickets...choose a plays selectively, not a season subscription......paint a car as opposed to buy a car....and, it goes on and on...
My wife's company will have had two layoffs this year....my industry (moving) is down....and, I expect next year to be rough also......
interestingly, my Wine Purveyor says his bottle count is the same, but the average individaul sale is down 20%...
I am getting catalogues from folks I have never purchased from: Eddie Bauer, Signals, LL Bean who seem desperate....however, Crutchfield has stopped sending catalogues which is smart: How many Surround sound systems do you need?
The Times They are a Failin' !!
Living on the (trailing) edge writes:
Will this finally be the year I can find a 42-inch flat screen LCD or plasma TV from a brand name for $500?
I read somewhere that the BIG price collapse might come a little later. Apparently there is a lot of production coming on line over the next several months.
It occurred to me there might be a jump in sales right before the switch to digital TV (In February?), so I was thinking we could wait til just AFTER that, for some really big discounts. We wouldn't miss much.
Who bitchslaps Bush after dinner tonite. Hu, Sarkozy, Merkel or Brown?
Does this mean little Cindy Lou Who doesn't get 1080i this year?
Doc at the Radar Station writes:
33% = Catastrophic!
I think "catastrophic" is an understatement.
Am I nuts or will the DOW movers want to send a message to the G-20 and pump up the indexes?
Anonymous
No they have to get it near a cliff so they will fear of a global meltdown...Bushy kept saying meltdown in his speech yesterday...I assume he knows a financial meltdown is different than ice cream melting in the TX sun..but who knows
Does anyone know when the large appliance sales are starting?
Need to preserve a side of pony.
There's a Honda radio commercial running here in the Bay Area narrated by Tom Tolbert (the radio host and former NBA player) where he begins by saying that he's afraid to open his 401k statement. But the good news, he says, is that there's a sale on Hondas. Then he says if things get so bad that he winds up living in his car, at least it's a Honda.
Department-store operator J.C. Penney Co. said Friday its third-quarter profit fell by more than half as consumers cut back on spending and took fewer trips to the mall amid the deteriorating economy.
The company also said mall traffic in general has been weak so far this month and issued fourth-quarter guidance well below analyst expectations.
Children will get their friggin pony...dead one that is. Horse meat is ok once you get used to it
So who picks up the bill for the G20 and hanger's-on entourage?
Silly question, no?
Chaaaaaaaarge it to the bill payers of last resort.
I heard Price Waterhouse Coopers is canceling their Christmas parties company wide. Not going to be a pretty Christmas..
I doubt there will be a true 50% drop from last year, but even at half that the retail sector is doomed with massive losses across the board. Already looking at BB's black friday "sale" even the doorbusters are tepid at best.
Retailers are painted into a corner. Hard to get stock in because of the credit crunch and consumers that are keener than ever for deals.
I worked in a retail store during the 1981 recession on a loading dock. One day the foreman, who was an asshole most of the time, told me and the 2 other guys that there was truck spillage in the tunnel.
The spillage was a bunch of boxes of mens clothes. We loaded up, did not really see it as stealing as it was outside of the store. Plus I did not have a winter jacket. Took me years to realize it was done on purpose for us.
JK Rowling's book in the Harry Potter universe will save the bookstores for this year's Christmas.
TCA writes:
Looks like he's staggering to his feet to me.
TCA | 11.14.08 - 12:50 pm
He went down 6 times in that fight. It's still early...
Bush gets shit faced at the G-20 dinner, grabs Merkel's breasts, calls Sarkozy a jew, Hu a commie, then he pukes in the corner and passes out in the front yard
Hilipatihippa writes:
Children will get their friggin pony...dead one that is. Horse meat is ok once you get used to it
Not too fatty, bet it does well marinated Turkish style with some cumin and yogurt.
TCA writes:
42" is so 4 years ago... 50" is the new minimum.
NOT Irving Fisher!
Kind of like 2000 sq ft is so 2001. 4000 sq ft is the new minimum. No need to be greedy.
From the great Gordon Gekko...Greed is good!
I wish I could institute a no-gifts policy except for the kids. My DH comes from a big family and everyone buys everyone gifts. So we all spend way too much and get too much junk. Sigh.
Santa Claus is NOT coming to town.....
Angry Saver | 11.14.08 - 12:19 pm | #
He can't. He is being held prisioner by the uggy boogy ma
He can't. He is being held prisioner by the uggy boogy man
GIMME MY BAILOUT.... or the fat man in the red suit gets it!
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- President George Bush on Friday nominated an assistant U.S. attorney general in New York to oversee the Treasury's $700 billion bailout. Bush nominated Neil Barofsky as the Treasury's point person to oversee the financial rescue. Barofsky must be confirmed by the Senate
Lets see, tube socks: check, underwear: check, and orange: Check lump of coal: Check A single hot wheel car: check
Ok, stockings are full, Merry Xmas kids
Bush nominated Neil Barofsky as the Treasury's point person to oversee the financial rescue.
Micky Roarke portrayed him well in "Barfly"
ova: Ponys with Antlers writes:
One day the foreman, who was an asshole most of the time, told me and the 2 other guys that there was truck spillage in the tunnel.
The spillage was a bunch of boxes of mens clothes. We loaded up, did not really see it as stealing as it was outside of the store. Plus I did not have a winter jacket. Took me years to realize it was done on purpose for us.
The Highwayman (Dunsany) - Wikisource
But Will and Joe and the gypsy Puglioni went back to their gin, and robbed and cheated again in the tavern of foul repute, and knew not that in their sinful lives they had sinned one sin at which the Angels smiled.
New thread.
Was watching a Kohl's commercial last night -- everything on sale. Everything. And if you showed up at certain times of the day, even greater mark-downs.
For some reason, that ad brought the whole recession/cosumer economy crash home to me. Scary.
Our family decided to give up the inter-family gift giving... finances too tight for many in the group and no one knows what to buy these kids anyway... they all have everything already.
Liz - I've always liked you until you started this first shit. Not very lawyer like. Do some work or something.
Bob Dobbs - you must not shop at Kohl's.
Their entire modus operandi is that everything is always on sale. This is nothing new for them.
In fact, they've come perilously close to being sued by the AG of MA for not putting shit 'off of sale' once in a while.
Shane Co., a Bay Area jewelry store, is jumping on the layaway bandwagon. Just driving to Safeway last night I heard their layaway ad as well as Kmart's.
I'm not planning to change how much I spend, but then, I've never spent that much on Christmas anyways. And we're still planning to go to whatever bowl game USC goes to. Business as usual here.
&Dagger
I no longer buy Christmas gifts and haven't since 2003. Instead I give to the local food bank. I see no point in buying things for friends and family who already have everything they need.
However, I tentatively plan to take advantage of the deals this holiday season to buy a larger flat screen TV, a digital SLR and stereo system. But, these are wants and not needs so unless I get a deal I'll wait.
Other than some thong underwear for the mistress, I've got a vice grip on the wallet.