Comments on: Buyer Beware: ‘Tis the Season http://raincityguide.com/2008/10/27/buyer-beware-tis-the-season/ Seattle's Leading Resource for Real Estate Information Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:47:42 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Rhonda Porter http://raincityguide.com/2008/10/27/buyer-beware-tis-the-season/#comment-327826 Rhonda Porter Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:55:38 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/?p=2992#comment-327826 Thanks, Reba. Much to my relief, my family has agreed to do a gift exchange. Wish me luck because years past, I almost negotiated a family gift exchange only to have it fall apart a few weeks before Christmas because a few did not want to participate. I was hoping to find the website I used back then that helped organize and draw the gift exchange...it was actually pretty cool! Thanks, Reba. Much to my relief, my family has agreed to do a gift exchange. Wish me luck because years past, I almost negotiated a family gift exchange only to have it fall apart a few weeks before Christmas because a few did not want to participate.

I was hoping to find the website I used back then that helped organize and draw the gift exchange…it was actually pretty cool!

]]> By: Reba Haas http://raincityguide.com/2008/10/27/buyer-beware-tis-the-season/#comment-327824 Reba Haas Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:05:08 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/?p=2992#comment-327824 Hi Rhonda, as usual, I think you've made a timely and excellent post. My family has done a gift exchange with a modest price tag limit since I was a young kid. The price has gone up some, but not by much. It helps to get creative sometimes and I like that we don't all feel like we've got to buy, buy, buy for everyone. The personal nature of some of these gifts far outweighs anything else and I frankly don't want to fill my house up with "stuff" that I don't need or want. I've found that donations are an excellent way to "give" and making personal gifts like favorite foods is fun and a renewable gift that you can give over and over and it never goes out of style. Hi Rhonda, as usual, I think you’ve made a timely and excellent post. My family has done a gift exchange with a modest price tag limit since I was a young kid. The price has gone up some, but not by much. It helps to get creative sometimes and I like that we don’t all feel like we’ve got to buy, buy, buy for everyone. The personal nature of some of these gifts far outweighs anything else and I frankly don’t want to fill my house up with “stuff” that I don’t need or want.

I’ve found that donations are an excellent way to “give” and making personal gifts like favorite foods is fun and a renewable gift that you can give over and over and it never goes out of style.

]]> By: Rhonda Porter http://raincityguide.com/2008/10/27/buyer-beware-tis-the-season/#comment-327556 Rhonda Porter Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:00:27 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/?p=2992#comment-327556 Kary, that's what this post is all about. The pain is just beginning for many--but hey, did you see the DOW's big finish today? Up almost 900 pts closing just over 9000. Thanks also for finding my post on <a href="http://www.raincityguide.com/2007/01/30/the-perennial-borrower/" rel="nofollow">The Perinnial Borrower...</a>I had forgotten about that oldy but goodie! Kary, that’s what this post is all about. The pain is just beginning for many–but hey, did you see the DOW’s big finish today? Up almost 900 pts closing just over 9000.

Thanks also for finding my post on The Perinnial Borrower…I had forgotten about that oldy but goodie!

]]> By: Kary L. Krismer http://raincityguide.com/2008/10/27/buyer-beware-tis-the-season/#comment-327551 Kary L. Krismer Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:49:55 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/?p=2992#comment-327551 Damn, the views expressed in this thread are very close to being anti-American! Spending and charging are good! ;) :D Rhonda, I think there will be a lot of people in trouble even if credit card availability doesn't change. There is a good percentage of the population that runs up credit and then refinances their house to pay off the credit. That no longer works. Damn, the views expressed in this thread are very close to being anti-American! Spending and charging are good! ;) :D

Rhonda, I think there will be a lot of people in trouble even if credit card availability doesn’t change. There is a good percentage of the population that runs up credit and then refinances their house to pay off the credit. That no longer works.

]]> By: Rhonda Porter http://raincityguide.com/2008/10/27/buyer-beware-tis-the-season/#comment-327543 Rhonda Porter Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:12:49 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/?p=2992#comment-327543 Shane, with regards to this post, I've alway's felt this way this time of year...knowing that many folks are out spending their budgets and will sheepishly be calling after the holidays for help. The next big drop in our economy is going to be when credit cards are capped. Consumers who are used to relying on credit are going to be hurting big time as credit lines are reduced and interest rates jacked. Shane, with regards to this post, I’ve alway’s felt this way this time of year…knowing that many folks are out spending their budgets and will sheepishly be calling after the holidays for help.

The next big drop in our economy is going to be when credit cards are capped. Consumers who are used to relying on credit are going to be hurting big time as credit lines are reduced and interest rates jacked.

]]> By: shane http://raincityguide.com/2008/10/27/buyer-beware-tis-the-season/#comment-327541 shane Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:25:35 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/?p=2992#comment-327541 It's been about two years since I found this site. It's amazing how quickly the gap between reality and perceptions has closed in that time. It’s been about two years since I found this site. It’s amazing how quickly the gap between reality and perceptions has closed in that time.

]]> By: Rhonda Porter http://raincityguide.com/2008/10/27/buyer-beware-tis-the-season/#comment-327490 Rhonda Porter Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:13:04 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/?p=2992#comment-327490 Thanks, Roger. This post really came together for me because of worrying about my family and our gift giving. For years I have tried to encourage our family to do a gift exchange...my hubby's family does this and it's fun. No one feels like they're missing out (not even the kids). I'm hoping I can convince my family that this may be the year to start this....wish me luck! You know, just as I do, that we have people contact us after the holidays because of their "debt hangover". It's going to be more challenging (if even possible) to cure it now. Thanks, Roger.

This post really came together for me because of worrying about my family and our gift giving. For years I have tried to encourage our family to do a gift exchange…my hubby’s family does this and it’s fun. No one feels like they’re missing out (not even the kids). I’m hoping I can convince my family that this may be the year to start this….wish me luck!

You know, just as I do, that we have people contact us after the holidays because of their “debt hangover”. It’s going to be more challenging (if even possible) to cure it now.

]]> By: Roger Ingalls http://raincityguide.com/2008/10/27/buyer-beware-tis-the-season/#comment-327488 Roger Ingalls Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:07:18 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/?p=2992#comment-327488 Rhonda: Good message. Living off the growing equity of your home is not going to be an option anytime soon. Here's two ideas to consider. 1. Last Christmas, I was stressed out by the pressure to buy more junk. We really don't need more stuff, but still, there's the obligation to buy presents, for folks that really don't need more stuff. Instead, really study what the person you want to give to cares about, and make a difference by making a truly personal contribution in their name, and write about it. Don't take the easy way out, and write a check to the Humane Society, but actually find a person in need, and meet their needs. Present your charitable contribution, along with pictures, descriptions, etc., to make it very personal. 2. Make a rule that NO gifts can be new merchandise. Go to thrift stores, barter, make trades, make stuff, etc. Of course, this is going to make China pretty mad, but honestly, do we need the stuff? Let the Chinese buy it for a while. When their number one growth industry is Public Storage units, we'll know they have enough. Rhonda:

Good message. Living off the growing equity of your home is not going to be an option anytime soon.

Here’s two ideas to consider.

1. Last Christmas, I was stressed out by the pressure to buy more junk. We really don’t need more stuff, but still, there’s the obligation to buy presents, for folks that really don’t need more stuff.

Instead, really study what the person you want to give to cares about, and make a difference by making a truly personal contribution in their name, and write about it.
Don’t take the easy way out, and write a check to the Humane Society, but actually find a person in need, and meet their needs. Present your charitable contribution, along with pictures, descriptions, etc., to make it very personal.

2. Make a rule that NO gifts can be new merchandise. Go to thrift stores, barter, make trades, make stuff, etc.

Of course, this is going to make China pretty mad, but honestly, do we need the stuff? Let the Chinese buy it for a while.

When their number one growth industry is Public Storage units, we’ll know they have enough.

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