The "War on Christmas" needed to happen this year. How else

[Skidmore]

was Wall Street going to get people with reduced purchasing power to splurge on stuff they can neither afford or need after a decade of trinkets on glutted markets? People this year have cut back considerably. The right wing has used this "war" to rally the followers of Falwell and Robertson and to let people know they need to be overt in their display of holiday spirit.

I'm not sure it's working. The Grinch arrived in the form of heating bills and gas prices at the pump.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. It happened a bit last year

and I'm betting it will become a regular Christmas tradition. Kind of like the Little Drummer Boy.

[mrcheerful]

2. Gee talk about daja vu

I just got done posting in a forum why i refuse to utter holiday words that mean nothing. Christmas used to be spirital, peace on earth good will to man, give to the poor. Maybe I'll start saying those words again when man gets out of the greed and back into the spirital. So until that day, well bah humbug to everyone.

[merbex]

3. We used to spend roughly $1000 - $1,200 on Xmas - this year?

$400

2 kids,1 niece,my mother and my husband and I - cash total

No credit card usage

My present will be a relatively sane monthly bill cycle for January

[stillcool]

4. I think it was needed to explain...

...all those holiday sales that never materialized. Have you ever seen prices marked down so much before Christmas? What are they going to do after the 25th, have a bonfire? It's all just noise...and to those who buy into the noise....sorry to hear you're not well.