Finding Value in All Things this Holiday Season

Initial reports are that consumers are, “making a list, checking it twice,” this holiday season.   That means that shoppers are becoming very targeted in their purchases.  According to PLAYTHINGS magazine, the Friday after Thanksgiving was busy, but most of the 73.6 million people buying were focused on “doorbuster” sales.  In other words, people were only buying those items that were a real VALUE.

Although we are all concerned about the economic downturn, there are perhaps a few positive outcomes from it.  To quote my friend, Lynn, “If you lose, don’t lose the lesson.”  And here’s what I think one economic lesson is.   As a society we should become more focused on value rather than volume.  Conspicuous consumption leads to not respecting what we have.  It reminds me of scenes I have unfortunately witnessed of kids frantically ripping open one present only to toss it aside and move to the next one.  Where is the magic and wonder in that! 

I have tried to put this into effect with all my purchases this year, by thinking about what each and every item will contribute to my life, or if a gift, what it might contribute to the person I give it to.  If I struggle to answer this question, I don’t buy it.    

To editorialize a bit, that is really what www.ableplay.org is all about.  It offers new, exciting, current, off-the-shelf toys that provide real value. In addition to a product’s obvious “play value,” Ableplay helps give a far more worthwhile gift.  These toys help children develop the skills they need in life.  That’s really what the website is all about – where to find great play products and how to use them to help children with special needs develop cognitive, sensory, communicative or physical skills. 

So my themes this year are to shop for value, value the things I have, cherish and value the people in my life and finally to make buying decisions with a keen eye to what these purchases will really contribute to me and those I care about.