Spending is the spirit of the holiday season

Before even taking a bite of dessert on Thanksgiving, my younger sister is already getting ready to drive to the outlets to shop. She hardly says goodbye before she is out the door to go make purchases and buy things none of us need.

So while I am happy that she is doing her part to stimulate the economy, I have to wonder when I will be able to spend time with her again. I go to college out of state and do not have the opportunity to visit home all that often. But this country is in an economic crisis, so maybe she is just doing her patriotic duty by shopping.

Actually, it is a scene seen all across the country. Even before tummies are full, dishes are washed and the week’s supply of leftover turkey is put into Tupperware, American families are rushing to retail outlets all across town.

Instead of spending time with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and friends, the typical family unit is getting a head start on the holiday shopping season. In the midst of the worst financial crisis in recent history, consumers are waking up at the crack of dawn to get the best deals on Black Friday.

But this year, families feeling the pressure of a tightened belt are flocking to discount stores such as Kmart and clothing chains such as Old Navy to find the best deals.

In an unprecedented step these corporations are beginning their holiday sales on Thanksgiving Day. While it might be helpful for the consumer looking for the best deal and worrying about their pocket book, it is really a strategy by the companies to boost sales. Traditionally, the day after Thanksgiving kicks off the season that accounts for up to 40 percent of annual sales.

But with the financial crises freezing up credit and worrying consumers, retailers are less than optimistic about their holiday profits. So it is up to the reckless American consumer to get that profit back for the company by doing the socially responsibly thing: spending as much money as possible.

I hope that every citizen of the United States followed my sister’s example and shopped on the night before and the day of Black Friday.

Experts have already predicted that this holiday season will be the worst since the early 1990s, and a recent analyst poll indicated that some retailers are looking at declines in sales as high as 6.6 percent.

But if you do happen to have some extra spending cash on you now, be sure to check out department and specialty stores because 80 percent of shoppers are excepted to hit discount stores this year.

The idea that the holidays are intended for family time is antiquated. In the 21st Century, it should be understood that one does not spend time with loved ones if there is money to spend on material things instead. It is one’s sworn duty to do so.