Don't you think as consumers we are becoming superficial?

I understand. Many people are caught up in that frenzy but not I! I am sickened by the fact that people just have to have the newest type of cell phone and lap top

I don't know who is the source of the rat race and frenzy shoppers are spun into but it's obvious that unless people wisen up and say stop this it will go on and on and on I use to think it shocking when a teenager said they had to get a pair of sneakers that cost 150.00 .. that was the gift they wanted Now it's not just the kids that are trying to keep up it's we adults. .We are teaching our kids by what we buy and by our values ..we are setting the pace. Buy buy buy. We have to buy valentine cards, mother's day cards, we have to buy halloween cards etc etc. WE not only decorate the house for christmas.. you see lights up for halloween and you see giant easter bunnies and items out on lawns for easter. People are being sucked into a buy buy way of living. If people stop buying then markets will have to stop pushing..What is the answer?

The day after Thanksgiving is the worst day in America to shop and I found that out when I went shopping on "Black Friday" ( the day after Thanksgiving) I had never heard of "Black Friday" but I can tell you I will never forget my first and only experience of it. Bumper to bumper parking..getting through the stores was like getting through a jam packed subway.. People grabbing things right out of the reach of other shoppers and there has been casualties on "Black Friday" Silly I bet lots of the things that are marked as a sale are not even!!

I think the program I watched was about "Black Friday", seems to ring a bell. I can't see any reason for people to fight over something that they haven't brought, this isn't something common in England. Scary to think that people are willing to fight over a purchase because they feel that it will get them a bargain. Only way I can compare it is going shopping a few days before Christmas. Empty shelves and the food you want you have to be quick to get. One reason why I do this way before because it's no fun, does anyone really enjoy these situations. It's been fun talking with you littlefranciscan :) It's nice to have a friend from when I originally here still around.

My philosophy is ."if it does the job for which I need it..it matters not the brand. It doesn't even have to be new."

True ..if the more expensive did satisfy us then we wouldn't have to keep buying more of the same. We just are never satisfied.. The more we have the more we want sometimes.

I agree with you ... but some people think if they spend more money on a product the product's quality is better. I many cases more expensive products don't always satisfy our needs but they are expensive because they look so attractive. People are sometimes so blind that they buy a product by it's wrapping and not by what's inside.

This is very true.. we only desire more of what we have. If we don't take the first bite; we don't seek more ..

Even the most careful have a debt they carry with themselves. I think only the very rich have no debt; but they carry plastic credit cards..so I would say even they have their bills to pay. The less we need to buy on credit; the more we will be able to save for the rainy days of life.

When things are little more sweeter does it make it better? If we never ate the brand names, would we know the cheaper brand is not tasty.. Is it because our palates are so spoiled that we have to have the sweetest tasting. I know when it comes to sugar free things the difference in taste is marked but, I have not always found the taste noticeable between name brands and generics. I think you do get better quality in a higher priced cloth. Yet, you can go to goodwill or salvation army and pick up a "name brand" at a generic price clothing

I agree. Second hand stores often are times have items that are quite good; the only one who will know that clothing or other items come from such stores is you