| Many shops along Price Main St. plan to be open on Black Friday or Nov. 23 at 6 a.m. That is the official opening of the Christmas shopping season. |
With gas prices jumping like a Jack Russell terrier on steroids and the local economy as shaky as one of the presidential candidate’s platform, many are are asking the eternal holiday question.
To spend, or not to spend?
And how much to spend?
At Christmas.
There it is, the word that strikes fear into the heart of many a shopper with a propensity for waiting until the 24th of December before finishing the last of their holiday needs.
Or maybe your one of the other kind, the dedicated few who are waiting on the steps of KMart, J.C. Penney’s, Circuit City or one of the many downtown shops just as they open at 6 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving.
According to the Associated Press, an increased number of shoppers are trading down to stores with lower prices this holiday season. Lending credence to the saying that it is the thought that goes into the gift that matters, not the gift itself.
When asked about what they most wanted for Christmas most Carbon kids, teens and adults were quick to answer and it seemed that the ladies answered with the most detail and excitement, however the boys and young men were just as excited for the upcoming gift fest (they just hid it better). The Sun Advocate found that most teens were looking for:
•Learning products for the younger ones, such as Leapfrog or intuitive IQ games for portable game systems.
•Roxy Laptop cases for the young ones with a laptop.
•The IPod or Zune along with a smorgasbord of electronic components and accessories.
•All gaming stations including the Wii, Playstation 3 and XBox 360 along with their thousands of titles for gaming well into the new year including the recent release of Halo 3 and all kinds of new guitar hero gear.
•Reversible hoodies, made by Fox, Hurley, Volcom and many other popular brands.
•Very dark blue jeans with skinny fit, made by brands including Hollister, American Eagle, Abercrombie, Bullhead and Citizen.
•Fossil and Ecko watches.
•Juicy Couture perfume and Polo Black for the men.
•Digital cameras are more affordable than ever and continue to increase in capability.
•Bags and purses from any number of carriers including Guess, Harajuku Lovers, and Betsey Johnson.
Popular and inexpensive websites for shopping included:
•Foxracing.com which carries free shipping for any purchase over $110
•Backcountryoutlet.com which ships from West Valley is here in a jiffy and gives orders free shipping on anything over $50. Most items are between 50 to 75 percent off for both guys and gals.
•Bodyshop.com is ever popular with the ladies and makes a great gift for any girlfriend in the picture.
•Amazon.com, always a great choice.
•Disney.com for the kids.
•Overstock.com for the saver in all of us.
And now for your community editors thoughts on Christmas.
That is a small run-down of what some Carbon County youth and non-youth reported wanting for Christmas. The things that were in the middle at any rate. The extravagant requests ranged from a new motorcycle to one carat diamond studs. And on the lowest end of the scale some kids just wanted to be at home with their family on the Christmas holiday.
So there is the difference, the perfect gift is something that is indeed different to everyone on this earth. Some require an expensive, extravagant purchase and could care less about where it came from or who got it for them.
Some long for the smallest treasure, as long as someone took the time to make sure it got to them on Christmas morning.
So whether you are playing Santa this Christmas or waiting for him, remember it is always better to give than receive.
Well I guess that is unless you are receiving exactly what you want…..
Or maybe, just maybe if the season remains special because it is filled by time spent with family that isn’t seen any other time of the year and life is what is celebrated, then it could be that the Christmas really isn’t about giving at all.