This
Plus This
Equals This
Look at that dog’s face! Christmas fills people with sorrow! Wait no! Scratch that! Capitalism in December fills people with sorrow! I am stressing out about gifts to buy while dealing with other people who are stressing out over the same situation. It wasn’t until now that I realize that the Christmas season needs to die!
Alright! I’m not going to lie. I love Christmas. I love eating delicious food, having fun with family, and of course, receiving gifts. I guess giving gifts is fun too, when it’s done right. There’s a fulfilling way to give gifts and there is a ridiculous way as well. So which is which? That’s start with the wrong way to buy.
As an employee at a retail store, I automatically notice how the company sets up their products to appeal to the consumer. They strategically split female gifts from male gifts and stack them in the front of the store at eye level accompanied with a large sign that says “Great Savings.” Now if you gravitate toward this sign and pick these display items as gifts, then you fell into the trap because these “gifts” are not for an individual. They are for illusions, or I should say, they are for stereotypes. These “gifts” also take advantage of human laziness, so the ridiculous way to buy gifts is to buy out of convenience.
I see it all the time. For females, people usually buy name brand products: perfume, jewelry, make up, and for the younger crowd, New Moon stuff. For men, people also buy named brand products: wallets, cologne, sports products, and for the younger crowd, action figures. None of this stuff is original, yet everyone buys them because everyone else is buying them. Wow! Sounds like Christmas to me.
But there’s hope because I’m going to tell you the smart way to buy gifts, THINK! You read that right! Think about the individual who you’re buying for. What is this person’s interest? What are her hobbies? What does he really want? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then it’s time to get to know this person better. After you learn how to think, then you’ll buy a successful gift.
Now I’m not saint because I was buying blindly too. Like the people next to me at the time, I picked up these fake gifts without thinking about the person themselves. I was thinking, “Everyone loves this!” or “Every girl loves that.” There’s no substance in the gift at all, and how do I know this? As soon as I took the “gifts” home, I didn’t feel good about what I bought. I had to return them. Now I have much better gifts to give.
There is another alternative to buying a fulfilling gift. Make one! Seriously! Think creatively, and come up with something for that significant other. One of my friends is making interesting items for all the people on her list. This is the perfect gift because it’s original, and most importantly, it’s special. Are you stumped on what to make? Here’s some ideas: homemade jewelry (Yes! You can make jewelry from scratch), a sweater, travel plans, the list goes on and on.
Don’t get me wrong! I’m not completely against Capitalism, but I am criticizing it. I’m especially criticizing the people who choose to be victims of it. So think before you buy, and you’ll enjoy this Holiday season.
Happy SMART Holidays, Everyone!
Modern Perspective 