Mostly, it's the excess. The overload. And it won't stop until after the New Year.
I myself put some change in those little red buckets from time to time.
But not every time, and not in every bucket. Which is my fatal flaw.
Some of these bell ringers are aggressive, and make you feel guilty for not "helping out." It doesn't matter if you already put money in another bucket, or donated in that exact bucket yesterday when someone else was there. THEY see you now, THEY want you now, and if you don't donate NOW, you're an ass.
Or is that all part of their marketing tactic?
Excessive food (face it, from Thanksgiving to New Years we gorge ourselves on food, treats, cookies, snacks, and sometimes alcohol), excessive decorating ('Tis the Season...) and excessive spending.
I got a receipt as long as Santa's Naughty List.
Here's my transaction receipt. And here's a separate ticket to take a survey and win a chance for $500. And here's another for a coupon on a store-wide sale we're doing next week. Oh, and here's one for the week after.
And... and... and...
...and all I wanted was a box of Candy Canes and some Toilet Paper... instead, I just killed a tree with all the receipts they gave me.
The lady in front of me in line actually did some minor Christmas shopping. You think 42" of receipt tape was bad? I was convinced they were going to have to change the roll of receipt tape halfway through printing HER goodies...
I'm not really a fan of excess. I try to lead a simple life. Christmas is always Merry for me. In fact, I'm spending this weekend with my two boys as an early Christmas celebration. I just wish we didn't have to be so damn extreme about it. But... since everyone else is doing it... we are pressured to fall in line.
Merry Christmas. Back to the rat race for me.
