AP released a story today saying that people will spend less money for the holidays this year than they did last year. The essence of the story is fine. But I have a huge problem with the headline that was on Yahoo (Debt Turning Shoppers into Scrooges) and the lead, which goes as follows: By JEANNINE AVERSA, AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON – A lot more Americans are feeling stressed out by debt this holiday season, raising the glum likelihood they'll behave like Scrooge rather than Santa.
In fact, fully 93 percent say they'll spend less or about the same as last year, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. About 20 percent say they are suffering from debt-related stress, up from 15 percent in the spring despite all the talk about economic recovery.
You can read the rest of the story here.
But before you do, I want to point out that it contains an incorrect interpretation of the Dickens character. Scrooge HAD money, remember, yet he wouldn't spend it on anyone, least of all the people who could have really used a break. It's decidedly NOT Scroogelike to save pennies if you're in debt. And it's not Scroogelike to refuse to spend money you don't have. It's smart. So my holiday wish for you is that you won't be guilted into blowing more money this season by a hyped-up marketing campaign or a misguided news article. Maybe the real meaning of the holidays will come through if it isn't buried in STUFF.
Thank you! We should all brush up on our Dickens, I think. And not at the movie, either.
Posted by: Anamaria | 11/23/2009 at 09:20 PM