This past week, Q-line asked: How much do you plan on spending this holiday gift-giving season? Do you plan on spending more than last year, or do economic woes have you considering tightening your money belt?
Here are your responses: “THE ECONOMIC WOES AND RAPIDLY rising prices certainly affect my spending. I fear for those who will unwisely overspend and max out credit cards. Pay up time will come sooner than you think. Corporate America is out there with their greedy, tempting sales pitches. Buyer beware!”
“I CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND FIND IT an exciting time of the year, both religiously and enjoying all the magnificent decorations and bright lighting in the city and residential areas. I find Christmas a good time of the year and will continue to send cash gifts to those missions that feed those who need to be fed on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and all during the year. I also take my hat off to those celebrities who give cash and also serve food during those occasions of goodness and kindness. Amen.”
“I WILL PROBABLY BE SPENDING about the same amount of money as last year, except for one thing — I will not be buying any toys or things made in China. If I want some lead, I’ll go to the metal scrap yard and get some lead. I don’t need it in the toys.”
“I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH I’ll be spending this year for gift-giving, but I know one thing — I live in Santa Monica and I will not shop here because all the stores are large and expensive that a normal layman can not shop in. I will go over to Borders, to Target, to Mervyns and to Kohls. I just don’t have money to give away.”
“THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, I’LL BE spending just over $100 since I’m unemployed at this point in my life. I think that because Bush told us all to go out and spend money after 9/11, and we all did, it’s time for us to vote with our feet and wallets. Let’s go out and not spend money. Stick it to the Bush-mobile. The guy has botched our country big time, botched our reputation overtime. Why should we spend our money that’s being sucked away by gas prices, increasing rent, the credit crunch, general inflation that’s not being reflected by the fed policy, and the cost of living? Hello... ding dong. It’s the front door, Bush, and it’s for you — we’re not spending any money.”
“THE IRAQ WAR THAT THE PRESIDENT and his administration has hoisted on the United States has resulted in a record-breaking national debt, the value of the dollar has gone down big time. The result is higher prices on all items for all Americans. I have to cut my holiday gift spending dramatically.”
“I LIVE IN SANTA MONICA AND I HAVE been a gift-giver in the past, but I am on a limited income, as are a lot of people, so I do what I’m able to like volunteering at a social center and prepare meals for those in need. I, myself, need a few things, but I’m honestly very depressed. There’s all this pressure to buy, buy, buy and spend, spend, spend. I’m against that. That’s not what is important.”
“BECAUSE OF THE UNNECESSARY IRAQ war and tax cuts to the richest people, money is less than ever... you can’t afford to buy anything.”
“I PAY CASH FOR EVERYTHING SO I know where I stand in this capitalistic, interest-sucking society. If I have a big money-spending event like Christmas, I start saving at the beginning of the year. I will spend less this year in spite of the government’s denial of a recession. My frugal spending will be muddied by the socialistic spending of yellow-striped backs of bureaucrats who support the unearned needs of the poor and downtrodden to spend beyond their ability to pay for homes, children and flatscreen TVs.”
“OVER THE YEARS, YOU’VE ASKED some pretty silly questions about what’s going on in the city and our inept City Council and things like that, but this one — asking people how much their going to spend for Christmas — that’s a little bit ridiculous for you.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 1, 2007. Read the original PDF.