The Meaning of the Holidays

People have lost their minds.
Why is it that BILLIONS of dollars were spent over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend and we are still in the middle of an economic crisis.
Maybe early 20-something me would've been out there with the rest of them spending money I don't have but mid-20-something me just thinks it's absurd to spend hundreds of dollars on presents.

The number of Americans who said they plan to spend more than their allotted holiday budget rose from 10% last year to 14% this year.

Read more: http://moneyland.time.com/2011/11/29/black-friday-52-billion-for-stores-big-credit-card-bills-for-us/#ixzz1f9jtTaCU

Unless you are a child under the age of 10 that I like/love, don't expect a gift from me.
The holidays are about surrounding yourself with family, spreading the love, eating lots of food and trying not to gain 15 pounds (more on the gaining 15 pounds thing later)
It's nice to open presents on Christmas day, but I think its just as nice to sit around with my family and argue until they make me cry (they gang up on me).
Happy Holidays !