Do you fall into the Hallmark (and other retailors) trap that guilts us into buying cards & chocolates, etc.?
151958
The art wall in my piano studio is covered with home-made cards & hand-drawn pictures. It's my favorite wall in the whole house. My students all went home with homemade chocolate chip cookies & pipe cleaner hearts. \n\nMy kids got to eat the leftover cookies. They'll be workin' on that 'til St. Patrick's Day. They also received pipe-cleaner hearts, and are still being occasionally grabbed & smothered with hugs & kisses. They wish Valentine's Day was over.\n\nIf I had a guy of my own, the one thing he could give me that I would most enjoy would be to sing to me. Down on one knee, hold my hand in his, look into my eyes adoringly, and sing to me. It wouldn't matter how he sounds, as long as he honestly loves me. I'd probably cry, but that's what I'd want more than anything else.\n\nFlowers are pretty cool, too.
548948
I work for one of the most "awesome" companies in the world.  It's the Hallmark Corporation.  My schedule is flexible and I work the hours and days I want to.  I have so much freedom in this position, but yet there is a great responsibility that comes with the freedom.  I hope you are familiar with Hallmark and want you to know it's more than just greeting cards.  There's the Hallmark Channel on cable TV, and believe it or not, Hallmark owns Crayola Crayons.  Before I got this job, I was scheduled to have an interview with Crayola Crayons, but had to cancel because I was closing on the sell of my house.  I was heart-broken, but everything worked out for the good.  Even though I missed the interview, I still "hooked-up" with Crayola Crayons.\nAlthough there are many positions with Hallmark, my position was determined by where I lived.  Where do you live?  Hallmark is always hiring.
266970
I buy cards...birthday cards, Vday, Holiday cards, Halloween, spring, fall....I love sending cards.  Just sent St Patricks Day cards.  You know, I am weird though.  I don't think the population as a whole is quite so gungho about greeting cards as me.
342566
I'm middle class. I guess in a way it can be frustrating because it's a long way up (or what to me seems a way up), but it's also motivating because you get to bring progress. It's important to not be tempted by the illusion of credit cards (it created poverty) and the impatience of wanting modern conveniences. One must exercise a lot of self-control to no waste money buying "passing fancies" (mp3, xbox, cell phone, car, computer, camera, games, cd's, alcohol, parties, etc). One can waste so much money that you may never get ahead.
786526
I can't believe people actually did that.\n\nI had to work on Friday (I work at a meat packing plant...this is our busy season).\n\nLike you, Raven, I hate to shop.  I do all my Christmas shopping online.\n\nWhat kind of sale is so good, that someone has to camp out the night before to save how much on a gadget that will be that same price in a month or two?\n\nThe Big Boxes (Wal Mart, Best Buy, Bed Beth) all got together and said "HEY!  We can take advantage of Black Friday lunacy!"\n\nAnd people fell for it.
700303
I feel your pain-but no card higher price. The good news is you can use a fictional name and number if you wish when you sign up that way they have a spending record but no matching party. Most stores will let you just use the phone number and not carry the card. Stores use them to make purchasing decisions as well as set pricing. If you think 2/$7 is a value and purchase they will use that matrix again if not and instead you purchase the name brand at closer to 2 of $6.25 they adjust their pricing accordingly. It also helps them stock for holidays and create those convenient "most needed" displays for shopping ease. Yes I agree they are annoying but they do save you an average of 8% and with coupons I have saved as much as 32%. Most non-chain stores will not take coupons because they are too much work chains are incented to take them which is why they will even have double and sometimes triple coupon days. Believe it or not those cards reduce food waste as well because they are a more accurate gage of purchase than end of day weights and inventory counts.  Some of the larger restaurants are considering them and food service here in California that are located inside of grocery stores often have secret sales if you use your card at the point of purchase.
698890
I HATE when people ask what I want for Christmas.  It's so tacky!  \n\nHow about a gift card to a large chain bookstore?  They can be purchased online and used online too.
151964
Definitely, don't feel sorry for yourself!!  It's only a silly "Hallmark" holiday, created for people to spend lots of money on each other.\n\nJust go out with your friends or something and celebrate being YOU!!
472488
yes, it lures you in by promising fun, and then you are trapped spending money on every toy imaginable because your kids say hey that has a mickey on it, and you are forced to pay almost 3 dollars for a drink and around 50 dollars at each meal if your lucky. Its a people trap that taps you until your broke then you have to leave.
60407
because Hallmark needed another day on the Calander to sell cards, candy, and dust collectors! LOL...
761681
I think if you are Christian it is definitely too commercialized. Otherwise, no. I am not a christian so it doesn't really bother me. I think the earlier stores get ready for the holidays, the faster I can get my shopping done with. And if you think about it, there IS a major emphasis on buying, but most of what is being bought, is being given. So in the end it all works out.
22101
Good question because personally, I hate it when they do that and I think most people do as well. (sorry, but it's true...)  I think the reason is because we like to buy but don't like to pay if you know what I mean.  By that time I get to the register, I don't want to take ten minutes to fill out an application for ANOTHER credit card, it just extends the painful paying process.\n\nMy two suggestions:\n\n1) Highlight the 10% discount.  Especially on large purchases, saying something like "this would save you $15.00 off this $150.00 purchase so you'd only end up paying $135.00 for what you have here today."  Don't mention the interest rate if you don't have to.  Like you said, it's in the fine print.  We know we're getting ripped off with store cards.\n\n2) Can you somehow get customers to consider signing up for the card, without being too much of a pest (and all sales people have to somewhat of a pest), before they get to the register?  Maybe offer some candy or a refreshment at a counter with your credit card information in a well-traveled area where a friendly low-pressure sales person is not too far away.\n\nGood selling.
387601
if not retired, Precious Moments carries them.  try a hallmark store
822019
The more I go about life , I find out that a nice  packaging is often a compensation for a cheap gift inside. Hey, doesn't mean I don't like beautiful people. I just relate my general deception that's all.
588495
Something you purchased on the credit card you aren't going to pay off.
883545
My family is going through some financial strains this holiday season, so I told my husband not to buy me any gifts. He agreed. I immediately felt disappointed, and I imagined Christmas morning with no gift under the tree -- how sad I would feel. I wish I had suggested a dollar limit, even if it was just $10 or $20. I would have been quite happy with a DVD, book or a music CD. Just a little something to celebrate the love. Thanks for asking the question. It got me to own up to my true feelings. I think I'll let my husband know what they are and make my suggestion of a limit. :-)
772041
ur surely not alone!!\nit feels great being able to give out presents to the people i love and care for. the best part is being able to see their happy faces when they receive the present, it always brings a smile to my face.\nalso, i hate the idea of demanding a present from someone else. no one is required to give anyone anything. it doesn't matter how expensive or how great the present is. its the thought that matters. plus, if you already know what you're gonna get, then that would be so boring. \ni have gotten many really gorgeous and expensive gifts, but nothing can beat what my dad gave me for christmas when i was 1 yr. old. my dad handdrew a series of animals on pieces of cardbaord paper with the correct number beneath each animal(s). like there was 1 blue bird on the first cardboard with the number 1 beneath the bird, two brown cats on the next cardboard with a 2 underneath, 3 yellow chicks with a 3 underneath, etc... he and my mom were both really poor then so they didn't have enough money to buy me anything. so instead my dad drew me these. he wanted me to learn the numbers. being only 1 yr. old, how could i possibly see the beauty of the gift right? but as i got older, everytime i opened up my photo album, i would see those 20 cardboards. that's how i learned to count from 1-20, that's how i learned to draw... and what touches me the most is, he put so much effort and thought into it. and that's what makes it so special to me.