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Thanks in thankless times?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Times are tough. The stock market seems to fall lower ever day. People are losing their homes and their jobs. Now comes Thanksgiving.
How can you give “thanks” in thankless times? This year, just what should we be giving thanks for?
What about you? What are you thankful for?
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Instead of gifts, try kindness
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The recycling box on the carport is starting to overflow with colorful flyers offering all manner of “must have” gifts for the holidays. And if I’m not careful I get caught in that retailing undertow that grips us all every year, convincing us that Christmas just isn’t complete until the gift boxes block our view of the tree.
Can I be so bold to suggest that we give the gift this season of random acts of kindness? I thought about this when I ran across a story of a woman who was at a foreclosure auction. She happened to meet a person whose home was being auctioned off and was understandably in tears.
The woman bought the house, and then worked out a deal to allow the former owner to move back in. She put up a portion of her own small business to secure the mortgage. Now it would be great if we all were willing to extend ourselves to that degree for our fellow man, but that isn’t always an option. But there are other ways we can give without making a run to the mall.
When a young child says “watch me” stop and give them 10 minutes of your full attention.
Hold the door open for the person behind you when you’re going into the store. Bake some desserts and drop them off at any fire station around town. Grab that empty soda can that didn’t quite make it into the trash can off the ground. Slow down and let that other driver ease into ahead of you.
Drop your pennies into the change box at the convenience store cash register.
When you drive through the “change” lane at the 400 toll plaza hand over a dollar and pay for the car behind you.
Make some time to visit with the folks at the Dorothy Benson Senior Center off Vernon Woods.
Buy some extra groceries to donate to the food drive every supermarket in town has this time of year.
Pick up those random pieces of trash you see around your neighborhood when you’re walking the dog.
When you sit down for dinner, turn your phone off.
Fill three big boxes of stuff and take it to the Goodwill next to the vacant Target.
Leave a really huge tip for someone who deserves it, but only if you can exit the restaurant before they catch you.
Haul out the lights and give your front yard a good old-fashioned tacky decoration.
I have nothing against giving and I sure love getting — but maybe this year it might make us all feel a little better if we turn it down a notch.
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How many ways can you save during the holidays?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What unique ways do you pinch pennies during Christmas? We’re not talking about clipping coupons from the newspaper or shopping discount stores. Everybody knows those tricks to save money.
Do you cut up old greeting cards to use as nametags? Do you save your old gift bags for the next year?
C’mon, you frugal consumers…share.
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Layaway makes a comeback for the holidays
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Layaway is making a comeback this holiday season.
Sears is one of several retailers bringing back the pay-as-you-go plan. The plan allows consumer to pay on installments over a set period of time. The retailers hangs on to the merchandise until the balance is paid in full.
The move comes in wake of tough economic times for shoppers. The practice began during the Great Depression but began to fade several years ago as consumers grew more prosperous and began paying with credit cards, according to an article in the Associated Press.
But layaway has its drawbacks. Be aware of the store policy if payments are late, skipped or if you don’t get the merchandise out at the pre-arranged time. Some retailers will put the merchandise back on the sales floor and refund your money minus a fee.
Do you plan to use layaway this Christmas? Have you ever used it? What do you remember about layaway programs in the past?
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What are your Black Friday plans?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Do you plan your Black Friday with the precision of a military unit?
Do you and your family fan out across Wal-Mart in color-coordinated sweats, walkie talkies in hand, to find the best deals on the day after Thanksgiving? Is Black Friday — the opening of the holiday shopping season — an annual event at your house that requires scouring ads, planning ahead and coordination?
Black Friday is one of the most important shopping days for retailers. Many stores open early, with “door buster” deals on electronics and toys. They hope that big sales will lead to big profits. Retailers can make up to 40 percent of their annual revenues in November and December alone.
If this is your big shopping day, Rachel Tobin Ramos, retail reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, wants to hear from you. She’s looking for people to talk about their Black Friday plans and share their shopping strategies. Email her at: rtramos@ajc.com
Latest comments
I first give thanks to God for all his blessings that he had given me. I thank the Lord for my family and for what he had already done. Everyone that is living should be thankful just to be alive. This is a time in which we all need to find a way to be... read the full comment by Elvin | Comment on Thanks in thankless times? Read Thanks in thankless times?
Theresa,YOU OURT TO GA AWAY TALKIN TO ME LIKE AT YOU DONT EVEN KNOW ME... read the full comment by KEITH | Comment on Thanks in thankless times? Read Thanks in thankless times?
If anything, we should all be even more thankful for the things that we do have. My husband is out of work, but I’m thankful every day that I have my job and we still have our house. We’ve cut back on a lot of material things, but we have... read the full comment by ccs | Comment on Thanks in thankless times? Read Thanks in thankless times?
Keith: I’m sure you stink a lot worse. You are disgusting and that was a terrible thing to be thankful for. People like you are what’s wrong with this country. I feel sorry for you since you have nothing else to be thankful for. Go away... read the full comment by Theresa | Comment on Thanks in thankless times? Read Thanks in thankless times?