Then repeat after me:
I will tune out and turn off my Television and all the commercial hype of Christmas. I solemnly swear not to set foot in a department store until December 26th.
But Seriously...
It’s Black Friday, a day I consider to be one of the worst days for shopping. Despite some of the great bargains to be found, the stores are crowded, the lines are long and the deals are like to car dealer’s lost leader: only a lure to get consumers in the store so that they will spend their money on other things. The bargain you hope to find? There are only a limited number of units to be sold at that price and if you’re lucky you get one of them . . .
Big if.
If you really want to help those retail workers who are getting such poor wages for their blood, sweat and tears this Holiday Season, then follow me below the orange cloud.
One of the biggest drivers of consumerism is the television. If your can’t shut it off and quit cold turkey, then take note of these baby steps to becoming a better consumer.
First and foremost: Always Question Commercials: I learned this at a young age from my dad. As a skeptic, he was not afraid to yell “bull$&^#!” when a commercial pushed a product in such a way that it seemed too good to be true. I learned from him not to believe everything said on TV. After all, we did call it the “Idiot Box.”
If you find yourself believing the hype, there’s second fail-safe. Ask yourself whether you need that shiny new thing when you have so many already. . . that are collecting dust in some corner of your abode.
If you have a hard time retraining yourself to tune out the hype of commercials then try the MUTE button. I've never been shy about hitting this button. The last thing I need is the Idiot Box telling me what brand of dish soap to use. Worse, during the Holiday Season, it’s trying to tell me what I want for Christmas, for petesake!
When Shopping:
Go Local. Rather than shop Corporate, shop small, shop local. Look for shops in your neighborhood that that are small businesses. Go to local craft fairs, flee and open air markets. The advantages of these markets: prices are not fixed and you can quibble about the cost, unlike the department stores where prices are fixed until a "sale." However, there is a caveat in not knowing the merchant you're dealing with. If unfamiliar with market merchants then go with someone who's experienced or deal with those you know you can contact after the event. Also try the web for specialty items, especially here on DKOS. Look anywhere, do anything before setting foot on a department store today or any other day leading up to Christmas. . . unless there is an item on your list to be had there and NOTHING else will do.
Last, certainly not least: Act: Write letters to your senators and congressmen, and especially the corporations, like Walmart, Sears/K-Mart. email them, twitter and visit their Facebook pages. Let them know how you feel about the issue of wage disparity. Let your voices be heard until this issue is addressed.
End of Rant....