Howdy consumers

I write about consumer products…. what’s new, what’s cool, trends, etc. How about forgetting about all for that for once? I know it’s a bit late for this type of commentary around the holidays, but as you go do some last minute shopping today and after-Christmas holidays, think about THIS-

• Shop locally. Forget Wal-Mart and the other gigantic retailers and buy from a little store down the street. How much is keeping your neighborhood intact worth to you?
• Buy food grown in your state, better yet, in your own town. Shop at the farmer’s market or a local grocery. Buying and eating produce out of season that has flown thousands of miles, using up fuel resources, is stupid when perfectly good fruits and vegetables are available right now.
• Give, give, give, and give some more. Poverty is right here, right now in our own towns and cities. No need to go to the third world to find starving people. Giving is sooooo much better than receiving.
• Be reasonable in your spending. How much STUFF do you really need? How much stuff do your kids need? Co-workers? Forget that “secret Santa” crap this year. Try this as a policy in your home: if you buy a new non-food item then you have to get rid of something.
• Take a shopping break and STOP buying more crap. I don’t buy ANYTHING for any of my family members or friends any more for the holidays. And I do not get any comments about it anymore. They can buy what they want themselves.
• Visit friends and family in person and if you can’t, call them! Send a holiday card. Bake stuff and give it to people. Knit a scarf as a gift. Get off your butt and have a conversation with someone rather than updating your MySpace page.

So get out there, laugh with friends, go for a walk, and meet someone for coffee that you haven’t seen in a year. Give to your local food bank. Volunteer.

Cheers and have a great holiday and new years!

Reb