Stuff

The commercialization of Christmas really gets to me sometimes.I know it is nice to get people gifts and it makes me feel good but I don't like the fact that,especially for kids, the implication the retailers give you that you have to spend a lot to get them anything they would remotely like.It's all about "stuff".Acquire more stuff... I like gift cards because if you get one you can use it for something you truly need/want.Same thing for if you give one.But to get people slippers, nightgowns,gloves etc... when you don't know if they need them or want them and are just at a loss as to what they would like seems dumb to me.I know a lot of people don't do gift cards because they want the person to have something to open but why not get a small gift and include the gift card? My nephews are big now but when they were little I bought them video games, toys, board games, radios, walkie talkies etc.. and they acquired so much stuff-so much that they had no idea they had it because it never got used more than a few times..... Maybe nowadays it is different because a lot of the gifts are electronic and they get used more and they cost more? Still, I think rather than guessing sometimes a gift card would be a good idea-what kid doesn't like to shop for themselves ha ha Kids nowadays don't want an Mp3 player they need an Ipod.They don't want a cell phone they want a Juke,Razor or Chocolate Bar cell phone-it's all about brand names marketed to them to sell stuff. So you wonder when you buy something is this really gonna be good enough and live up to their expectations-is it the right brand? I guess this goes through my head periodically when I am shopping for the holidays. I am always trying to stream line the "stuff" I have that I don't use so I guess that is why I have this thing about "stuff"..................