Women's eNews: Consider Boycotting Holiday Shopping

[marmar]

via AlterNet:



Consider Boycotting Holiday Shopping

By Susan Feiner, Women's eNews. Posted November 12, 2007.


The biggest retail day of the year is this month, and it's time to resist the "buy" buttons that advertisers are trying to push and to join a consuming boycott.



Female shoppers, beware.

It's November and that means that Black Friday -- the day after Thanksgiving, the biggest shopping day of the year -- is lurking at the end of the month, raising the risk of a post-holiday debt hangover.

Twenty-three percent of Americans will not pay off their holiday debt until March or later, equaling $14.6 billion in interest-accruing debt, according to a Consumer Reports 2006 survey. Over one-quarter of Americans use credit cards most often when holiday shopping, contributing to the $63.6 billion charged on credit cards throughout the shopping season.

Since as much as 75 percent of retailers' profits accrue during the holiday season, Black Friday represents the point in time when retailers' account books shift from red (debt) to black (profit).

But black fades into red when we switch our standpoint to the consumer's perspective.

The money flowing into cash registers accentuates the red tide of consumer debt, which is especially toxic for women, whose bankruptcy filings have risen ninefold in the past 20 years, according to research published in the Brooklyn Law Review. Women Aren't Profligate

It's not that women are profligate in their spending, at the holidays or otherwise. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/story/67577/

[MADem]

1. My whole family has done that for YEARS!!!

We give money to those who need it. Young kids get a few toys, but most toys on Three Kings Day (advantage--you can shop the post New Year sales).

We do buy lotsa food, though, and have lotsa parties.

[Initech]

2. You know what I do on Black Friday every year? Sleep in.

Yeah, I don't feel like getting up at 6:00 AM, fighting traffic, and getting my ass stomped to save a few bucks on a DVD player. Just not my thing.

[hlthe2b]

4. ditto

walk the dog, do laundry, watch a movie, clean the house.... Geez, shopping doesn't even rise to the bottom of the list...

[Warpy]

6. Yeah, it'll be cheaper at inventory time in January

I do things made by crafters or myself. When I had people to celebrate with, I'd cook.

The one thing I've never done is hit the malls between Thanksgiving and Xmas.

[Initech]

10. Thank god for internet shopping.

I use that instead of fighting traffic and going to malls, which I really fucking hate doing.

[lonestarnot]

3. Did, done, nutt'n in the sock this year! Nutt'n but nutt'n!

[C_U_L8R]

5. An opening salvo in the War against Christmas?

Lets make O'Really's pea brain effervesce with little popping bubbles.
Shock and Awe baby.
Shock and Awe.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Big BLOWOUT sale. Save 100%

We are promoting a boycott against JC Penneys for a racial profiling incident here in KC. We made fliers that I love!

SAVE 100% BY NOT SHOPPING AT J C PENNEY'S.

[cynatnite]

8. $300 for a laptop at Circuit City...

nope, not sleeping in for that. We're buying it for daughter's high school graduation present. Free printer, free router and free anti-virus software comes with it.

Nope, sorry...no boycotting this year. Will be there an hour before it opens.

Of course, I find it hilarious this is aimed at women. Half the shoppers I've seen on black friday have been MEN. :rofl:

[pansypoo53219]

9. xmas shop?

no fucking way. haven't done that ever. sometimes being talented helps. tho a coupleof years i did 30 min ebay shopping for my uncle. that year ROCKED. maybe i can buy back that 1776 russian coin from him, that was so cool.

[KT2000]

11. Done!

Sent a letter to all past gift exchangers saying I will not be giving presents this year and will not accept presents.
It feels great!

[BlueIris]

12. I'm in.

Not that I've ever been a Black Friday fan, but this year I will definitely make a point of ignoring the madness.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. I sent the gifts to the family in Hawaii today

I am done!

I only need to get a few things for the guards and other service people we always give something to.

Oh and my budget for the holidays... has never gone over 150 dollars, shipping included. If I did not have to ship to Hawii (expensive), it would drop by fifty bucks easily.

Though here is a piece of trivia... the lady at the UPS store told me that last year it was lighter than the first year... and they expect this year to be even lighter.

[Jade Fox]

14. Heck, I boycott it every year!!

Full disclosure: Sometimes I buy myself something a little extravagant and trivial, but always AFTER Christmas so I can get it on sale!