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by tonymcewing from Los Angeles

Last Post 79 days, 4 hours Ago


That time of year--again
Nov 12, 2007 | 8:40 AM
Category: News
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Where the heck did 2007 go? 2008 is right around the corner, but before we get there, we have to get through this holiday season. What a difference a year makes. This time last year, the housing market had slowed considerably. This year, it's practically in shambles and is threatening to take the economy right down the tubes with it. Defaults and foreclosures are at an all time high. And gasoline is already $5 dollars a gallon in one Northern California town and more than $4 a gallon in another. Word is, we may all be paying 4 bucks a gallon by summer.

Question is, what impact will all of this have on holiday shopping?  How much are you spending on gifts this Christmas and is it more or less or about the same as last year? I can already tell you, I'm spending a lot less.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 18
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samo714 read my blog view my photos
Nov 12, 2007 | 1:31 PM

the high price of living isn't gonna change the way i shop for chrismas. the only people that get gifts for the holidays are the youngsters, and since it's only one person, it's pretty easy.

as for how the world has changed in a year, i think your right. it has changed alot. seems like the news on tv just keeps getting more grim. it makes me wonder how much worse it will get in the next decade.

as for gas prices, i hear that the uk is already paying $8 per gallon. i wonder if americans will be willing to pay 10-20 bucks a gallon, and i wonder if people will continue to drive big suv's and trucks. i guess we will eventually find out.
mystere read my blog view my photos
Nov 12, 2007 | 2:24 PM

I probably won't change my Christmas spending too much; I have an idea of how much I will spend total, and I stick to the budget. I will figure things out with the cost of fuel in my mind.

By the way Tony, this is an interesting topic! Keep up the good work with the best morning team in all of Los Angeles!

Mr. E from Cypress
sebar read my blog view my photos
Nov 12, 2007 | 3:25 PM

Tony my man....the Cameled dude, hey...check out a very cool Christmas/Hanukkah Page here at

http://www.sebar.com

Merry Christmas, well a bit early.
mystere read my blog view my photos
Nov 12, 2007 | 3:42 PM

Sebar,

Thanks for reminding us about the camel incident. That was one cool move! Tony...you're the man!

Mr. E from Cypress
Paul_D read my blog
Nov 12, 2007 | 5:39 PM

same as last year. zero.
sebar read my blog view my photos
Nov 12, 2007 | 7:32 PM

Paul dude, zero what?
godzgirl read my blog view my photos
Nov 12, 2007 | 9:43 PM

Question is, what impact will all of this have on holiday shopping?

Depending on how you look at it, I think life will go on in most places until reality actually hit. It won't affect holiday shopping much this year, and I shop at the discount, discount stores (SMILE) so it won't really affect my pockets, not this year at least.

How much are you spending on gifts this Christmas and is it more or less or about the same as last year?

This year it will be more or less the same. See you go to Red Lobster, The Sizzler's, Black Angus, The Olive Garden, TGFI and/or Starbucks and get a $25-30 gift certificate for the adults or a gift certificate from their favorite department store for no more than $50-100 and a $25 gift certificate for the kids from Wal-mart, K-mart, Target, Kaybey Toys and/or Toys r Us and/or their (parents) favorite department store.
craftyguy read my blog
Nov 12, 2007 | 11:55 PM

im gonna shop shop shop..you gotta do what you gota do.
craftyguy read my blog
Nov 12, 2007 | 11:55 PM

im gonna shop shop shop..you gotta do what you gota do.
bellker read my blog view my photos
Nov 14, 2007 | 3:42 AM

Hold on to your cash, I say tony... save up for a down payment on a home or second piece of property.... Something that will last past Christmas 2008
sharyan read my blog
Nov 14, 2007 | 3:48 PM

I'm not spending much either Tony. I'm going to Livermore on Friday. With the cost of gas I hope I have money left to eat on...LOL!

I wanted to tell you how nice you looked today in the Gym working out. Rick looked good but you looked better....
Shans-Deb read my blog view my photos
Nov 15, 2007 | 2:03 PM

Happy Holidays to every one out there. Spending money on gifts is not as important as spending time with family and friends. So even if your budget suffers the crunch, you can still spend time with each other, and that is what Holidays are really about... Best wishes.
bellker read my blog view my photos
Nov 15, 2007 | 2:51 PM

That's right Shans... Time is priceless
vtecjustkickedin
Nov 15, 2007 | 4:18 PM

I like to wear a elaborate Jar Jar Binks costume and mask as part of my every day life. I went to the grocery store, and saw how depressed everyone was so I thought I would help. I started dancing in the aisles, and yelling at people, and running up to people and taking things out of their cart. It was great fun. Then when I went to check out, there was only one lane open and a long line. I screamed and screamed while in line and danced, bumping into other people. I opened a box of baking soda and threw it around. Finally I got to the checkout. I started making noises at the cashier, and I kept pressing buttons on the computer. Some people in line were groaning because the line was getting very long, but that gave me even more incentive to make them laugh. I climbed onto the table and started kicking peoples groceries on the floor and singing. The manager and one of his goons pulled me off and said I could never shop there again. Can I sue for harassement or possibly assault?
Sm4Bj read my blog
Nov 16, 2007 | 8:12 AM

Holidays are priceless...people need to focus on family and loved ones. Spending time with the kids, the parents and grandparents, because you never know what tomorrow will bring. They way things are looking, it isn't going to get any better financially. So save your money, pay your bills on time and take care of those who need help the most!
This year, as in every year, my children will open presents. The adults, well, they are lucky if they get a card ;-)

Make people laugh...SMILE a lot...and be thankful!
Happy Holidays!
RaceNeked read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 10:51 AM

$4.00/gallon will be upon us BEFORE x-mas (what do the oil companies care about YOUR holiday season!. The government will have to step in and bail out the economy due to the insideous practices of many 'shady' lending companies/brokers (wheres the indictments here?).
The holiday season is SUPPOSED to be about the birth of (our) saviour (I'm born-again and try to be more like Jesus, sometimes I even succeed in minute ways), not about the marketing stratagies of the local retailers and what one expects to recieve on this day remembering the occasion...the occasion was the birth of my saviour, giving me eternal life with the Creator, merely by my accepting his gift, no strings attached.
I've already recieved my gift - and its more than adequate to last through this life-time, and for an eternity after...
I won't need an iPod in Heaven, and I'm sure I can't take it with me if'n I did have one...
Shans-Deb read my blog view my photos
Nov 17, 2007 | 4:18 PM

Bellker,
It is nice to find a blog where we can agree.
Happy holidays.
bellker read my blog view my photos
Nov 19, 2007 | 12:12 AM

Have a holy joly christmas (sing it if you know it)

And in case you didn't hear.... Oh by Golly have a holly jolly christmas....... this year!

I just had to get loose for just a minute...
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tonymcewing

Tony McEwing is an Emmy Award winning anchor of the Fox 11 Morning News and Good Day LA.

Member Since: 3/2/2007


 

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