Holiday Shopping

Black Friday came and went, and still the deals are not impressing. I've already spent countless hours looking for great deals when there seem to be none in sight. How are we holiday shoppers suppose to get into the jolly mood to spend our hard earned mula when everything is so expensive? I have decided to try and make my own gifts this year seeing as I'm not really in the mood to grow even more broke than I already am. I have decided to bake, and paint ornaments and sew potpourri sachet's or do little gift baskets, after all.... isn't it really the thought that counts? I mean in all honesty... I'd rather have a homemade gift that required thoughtfulness and creativity than some lousy re-gifted smelly body lotion. I use to love gift cards, and still do, but with this economy it is quite daunting to give gift cards when so many stores will be shutting their doors come January. Why spend money on a plastic card when they very well may not be honored. And by the way they can do that, if they file for bankruptcy. Sharper Image pulled that stunt last year, and I was not able to use my gift card. :( So with the long list of stores closing I am more reluctant than ever to give gift cards do to the fact that m y money will have been spent for nothing. This way my homemade calendar to a newly engaged couple will have more sentiment than a gift card to a soon to be closing Linens and things.

The Depression that comes with a Recession

Not so long ago, it seemed like the economy was just fine. The local Starbucks was a buzz, and the nearby Coco's was packed with lines out the door for Sunday brunch. The night atmosphere was fresh while the conversations of chattering couples sauntered through the spring air. Each time you set off to a movie or a walked down the Santa Monica promenade crowds of people crawled in front while you made your way to your destinations. Yeah, the news kept on pestering us and hinting at the fact that things were gonna get worse. But the young public seemed to ignore what lurked around the corner. Not until our pockets were hurt by the explosion of the gas prices did things start to change.
Once California's gas hit 4.65 a gallon everything turned around. With loads of people waiting for the nearest bus, and people ride sharing, the traffic eased up. People cut the weekend movie nights, and of course restaurants were hit hard by the lack of crowds. At first I thought the lack of crowds was due to blockbuster movies like batman, but as the weekends passed the usual crowded restaurants and local hot spots were empty on Friday and Saturday nights. Starbucks was unusually quiet and there was no lines to get into the pool hall. Now maybe there are other reasons for this lack of public enthusiasm, sure school has started up, and the announcements of the Vice presidential nominees were chosen; that's bound to create a slow period. I know when I spent all my years as a waitress while completing my B.A. if anything important was on t.v. or happening in the area business would be slow. Our tired feet would look forward to a Lakers game, or the Oscars, because one of us would get to leave early. But now it seems that Californians are in a funk, in a depression over this long and hurtful recession. Instead of going out on the weekends and spending time with our loved ones over pizza pool and a movie, we have to strap our cash to the back of our mattresses in fear our banks wont have our cash.We have to be extra stingy with our money. No more celebratory clothes shopping at H&M, no more Jamba juice breaks after our workouts, not even manis or pedis on a fresh day. So the question needs to be asked! Will Californians be happy again, will we have our free spirited wallets back, and when will we be able to brake open our piggies and spend a night out on the town without worry that we wont see a paycheck next month?