To spend or not to spend?

As most of us know, yesterday was called "Black Friday". It is the day when many businesses depend on consumers to spend Billions of dollars on "stuff" in order to make a profit. They spend tens or hundreds of millions on advertising and "loss leaders" to get people into the store.

And people were actually mobbing the stores to save a few dollars. Standing in line all night, etc.

The bigger questions are: Did they save any money? Did they help the economy? Did people spend more than they had to?

My interpretation: People go into the stores only planning to buy "one thing", but see all of the "great deals that people would love to receive for 'Christmas'" and go nuts. Everything gets thrown on Visa or Mastercard. The real winner? Visa and Mastercard. They are making a few percent of each purchase made.

The real losers? Our saving accounts.

In reality, we would all do better by just doing the following:
1) Avoid mass chaos
2) Carefully make a plan. Be Intentional about our gift giving and buying
3) AVOID DEBT for Christmas.
4) Give of ourselves, give our time and focus.
5) For Christmas, actually celebrate "Christmas". Investigate, plan, discuss, read, etc.
6) Prioritize family. Be intentional.
7) If you REALLY have to buy something, try to get it for the best price possible.
- Check online coupons
- Can you get it "preowned"?
- Call around and investigate
- Can you get free shipping online and save a trip to the store?
- Can you pitch in with someone else and share giving the gift?
- are you SURE that you NEED that gift? :)

It is just so easy to put Buying and Spending above People and Christmas this time of year, so we have to be careful. :)