While i was checking out at Big Buys yesterday, i had the following conversation with the cashier:
"Will that be all for you today?"
"Yes, thank you."
"I only ask because. . . ," she paused and eyed my meager selection of purchases-to-be. "To be blunt, it just seems you're being a little chintzy this year."
"Well, it's not exactly chintziness. I took a pay cut-," i began defensively.
"Yeah, yeah, the economy, blah blah blah," she interrupted, "You know, this is the one time of year where you have the opportunity let everyone in your life know how much you care about them, and you're about to drop the ball with some of them, and completely blow it with others. I mean, if you're willing to sacrifice your friends' and family's perfect holiday, that's your prerogative."
I was at a loss. She was right, i was buying things i knew my kids weren't exactly hoping for, and outright not buying for others at all. I tried not to look ashamed.
"Well, i . . . ," i stammered, groping for an unScroogely excuse. She held up her hand, mercifully forestalling my lameness.
"But there IS something you can do about it."
"There is?" Relief washed over me.
"Yes. You can apply for our Big Buys Visa card and max it out. Nothing says, 'I care' like a maxed balance on your store credit card."
"Hmm, i don't know. . . "
"Low monthly payments! A very competitive 35% APR! And a guaranteed line of credit that's unjustifiably high, given your recently-trimmed salary."
"Won't that take me like, 25 years to pay off?"
"Pah, 21! PLUS you'll get 10% off your first purchase!"
"10%! Do you know what this means?!" i enthused, my mind racing with the possibilities.
"I certainly do. You can buy 10% MORE gifts. That means you can even buy for a few co-workers you don't even like! Come on, let's face it. This is NOT the time to hide behind flimsy excuses like 'your budget' and 'the economy'."
"You're absolutely right. What're you waiting for?! Sign me up!" I smiled beatifically at the saviour of my family's holiday happiness as she ran my instant credit app.
****
Okay, so it didn't quite happen like that, but that's how it feels when every person who works at the store stuffs instant credit apps in my face as i shop. So the tacky holiday tradition i'd like to see done away with: companies trying to strong-arm me into fiscal irresponsibility by pushing credit cards on me (that i know damn well i can't afford), using the illusion that holiday happiness comes from a store.
6 comments:
Oh, I am so with you on this one. That's as tacky as it gets.
I will never understand why those companies are so willing to hand out credit to those who can't handle it. No one wins.
If only they'd realize. . .
Amen and AMEN.
LOL I am so glad this is when my ipod comes in reallllly handy. I ask "how much?" they answer and as soon as they go off onto some random tangent... I put the plugs back into my ears.
I completely agree with you on this one. I had this happen in Target the other night, but the cashier asked it in such a way that she expected me to say no. Well, I guess that happens most of the time.
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