Christmas shopping
Halloween decorations are off the shelf – and even before we celebrate Thanksgiving, the stores are filled with Christmas decorations and music. Many of my friends tell me they are busy with their Christmas shopping list.
It is amazing to me how much money we spend at Christmas. According to the National Retail Federation, American spent 929.5 billion on Christmas in 2022, 955.6 billion in 2023 and it is estimated to grow 2.5% to 3.5%, to a new record of between $979.5 billion and $989 billion this year.
While Halloween spending is much less, it still is amazing what we spend. Americans spent $12.2 billion on Halloween in 2023 and $10.6 billion on Halloween in 2022.
Now – I am not trying to be Scrooge. Christmas is a great holiday – and absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying all the parties, gift exchanges and family gatherings.
BUT….as you begin shopping for family and friends, may I suggest you add something to that shopping list. Find an organization that helps the homeless, those who have lost their homes in natural disasters and the many in refugee camps around the world. The list goes on and on. Check out this website to find what needs there are – both in the USA and around the world.
https://www.charitynavigator.org/discover-charities/where-to-give/
There are many local organizations that could use some help. Local food pantries, Toys for Tots, check with your local school board for church for a family that could use help.
Check out my post on Mercy Ships.
https://wordpress.com/post/barblaneblog.com/7833
Let the joy of Christmas shopping extend beyond your immediate circle.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Still love the memories of that Montgomery Ward catalog.
Growing up every year as fall began, I would begin getting excited when the mailman came. I would come home from school and ask my mother, “Did it come today?” Anticipation grew each day until finally Mom would smile and say “Here it is!” How excited I would be as I opened the Montgomery Wards Christmas catalog.
Aaron Montgomery Ward launched the nation’s first mail-order business with a one-page price list boasting 163 items, which he sent to farmers’ cooperatives throughout the rural Midwest. Unlike existing mail-order businesses that dealt only in individual items, Ward offered the rural consumer a variety of merchandise and, by eliminating the middleman, kept prices low. His new business found a ready market as homesteaders pushed west across the frontier. By the spring of 1874, his price list had grown to 32 pages and was bound into a catalog. Ward offered a guarantee – “Satisfaction…
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Merry Christmas from St Johns Michigan. This is a view of our main street downtown all decorated for Christmas.
This small town has so much to offer year round but it is especially beautiful this time of year.
The stores down town have a decorating contest. So many unique shops.
There is the Adorn Mint Gift Shop. You can find all kinds of stocking stuffers here like earrings, candles, and the one I love is an beautiful glass etched with the state of Michigan outline.
And if you love candles (who doesn’t this time of year), you have to shop at the Kymora Kandles Outlet. I love this beautiful gift box loaded with candles.
But there is more than just candles here. Beautiful purses along with dozens of other gifts.
The Mint Door Boutique has many one of a kind clothing and a nice line of shoes to choose from.
If all that shopping (and there are many more stores to choose from) makes you hungry, stop and grab a cupcake from Cupcakes and Kisses St Johns. All the delicious items in this bakery are made from scratch with real butter, sugar and eggs.
And for your chocolate lovers, you must make a stop at Oh Mi Organics. The store carries 180+ flavors and its chocolate is all gluten, dairy, peanut free. They even have vegan options. I can verify that their chocolate is beyond description. This is one store I always take my visitors to and buy them some chocolate.
One of my favorite places to stop and relax while shopping is the Global Coffee Shop. The shop has a map of the world. The owner encourages us to think about where our coffee comes from – what’s in a cup of coffee, how it got there, and why it tastes the way it does. She says “Here, everything about the coffee matters – from the people, the origin, the elevation of the farm, and the processing, all the way to the meticulous brew.” I love to sit in the corner of the shop and sip my coffee while watching the people walk by.
Another very special treasure in this small town is the Art and Soul Art Gallery. Sponsored by the Clinton County Arts, this store promotes, encourages and supports the artist in Clinton County, Michigan. While you would expect an art gallery to sell beautiful paintings, the art here includes much more than that. You can find pottery, jewelry, scarfs, quilts, books as well as many beautiful paintings. My own husband has some of his paintings there.
You can end your day by enjoying a good meal. There is Main Street Cafe, Domino’s Pizza, Main Street Pizza and our latest addition, St Johns Brewing Company.
We may be a small town, but there is no need to fight the large crowds at the malls or in the larger cities. Just visit my small town. You will love it!
According to the National Retail Federation, a group that compiles information about consumer spending for major American holidays and events, an estimated 165.3 million people will shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday.
They break the numbers down like this:
- 39.6 million will shop on Thanksgiving day
- 114.6 million will shop on Black Friday
- 66.6 million will shop on Small Business Saturday
- 33.3 million will shop on Sunday
- 68.7 million will shop on Cyber Monday
When looking at Black Friday, it appears there are two opposing groups. There is the group that loves finding bargains or just enjoys the social aspect of hanging with family and friends. For many in this group it has become a family tradition that they look forward to each year.
The other group thinks anyone who will stand in line for hours or jostle with other shoppers just to get a bargain must be a little crazy.
Before I continue I must confess I belong to the later group. I have never gone shopping on Black Friday. In fact, I try to get my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving and avoid the stores as much as possible from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Dealing with crowds is just not my idea of fun.
I certainly understand the many who love to shop and who enjoy the social aspect of the day, but I must confess it bothers me a little to see all the money we spent buying more “stuff” when our homes are already full while so many in other countries do not even have clean water to drink. Or, in our country so many are homeless.
Think of the number of wells that could be dug in Sierre Leone or other countries for the money spend this weekend. Think of the food that could be donated to food banks here in our inner cities.
I certainly hope I do not come across as a Scrooge trying to take the joy so many get from Christmas shopping.
I just try it might be good when we start writing down our Christmas shopping list to go beyond thinking of our immediate family or circle of friends and look around to see those in need. Perhaps we could cut down on our own shopping list and help others.
Just a few suggestions:
- Check out your local food bank or homeless shelter and see what they could use to help the needy this winter.
- Check out https://www.worldhope.org/ and donate to help provide clean water or healthcare to those not fortunate enough to be born in the USA.
- Check out https://www.compassion.com/ and sponsor a child so that they can go to school and get nourishing food and healthcare they need.
- Check out Mariatu’s Hope on Facebook and give clean water to a village or help for a new born.
Remember Jesus told us:
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’