Star Wars, Christmas spending, economic recovery et al
 

I got a haircut today and walked into Toys'R'Us on the way out of the mall. Who doesn't like toys?

I saw a lot of Angry Birds, Halo, Lego, and Star Wars stuff.

I remember as a kid wanting a "Millenium Falcon" toy for Christmas. IIRC, they were under $30 in the Sears catalog too. EDIT - right here: Kenner Toys - Millennium Falcon

Using this inflation calculator: The Inflation Calculator

$30.00 in 1983.
$68.81 in 2011 dollars.

See the attached photo. Note the price sticker underneath.

$270?! ($305.10 with tax!) What. The. Wookie.

There's a lot of talk about economic recovery being stalled out with consumers not spending like they used to.
Now I get why that's happening.

If I had kids, I wouldn't buy them a $270 toy unless it had significant educational value and I didn't see a lot of those at Toys'R'Us today. What the heck happened to chemistry or electronics kits? (RadioShack maybe?)

My spouse and I looked at each other yesterday and agreed we wouldn't buy gifts for the other person; we'll just take ourselves out to dinner in the New Year. We have everything we need already and most of what we want.

So, anyone else "disengaging" from the profilate Christmas spending?

I do to a degree, some of that stuff is ridiculous.

This year for christmas, I asked for socks. and records that my family members had lying around since I'm getting into vinyl.

The one thing I'm looking forward to most is a leather jacket I would have bough for myself anyways that my parents told me they would get me. so I've been waiting for a month to wear it, but that's practicality and quality, not a 270$ toy

*nods* For my birthday earlier this year, I asked for and received a Goretex jacket to replace the ratty one I'd been wearing since 1992. Entirely practical but I couldn't think of anything I wanted more.

Example: 8 year olds with the newest iPhone...children dont develop the skill and patience for electronics and hobby educational kits..so the kits dont sell infront of the angry birds gear

Personally I limit what I spend on Christmas gifts. The only 'big' spending I've done this year has been on a simple telescope and accessories for my two nephews (Honestly I think my sister is more excited about it than the boys will really be.), and most of the other gifts I'm giving out are under $30. I rather give people something that is useful, helpful, or truly special to someone (And ideally something they wouldn't have likely gone out to buy for themselves) or nothing at all. I have a closet that is half full of years of 'junk' that relatives have given me, and that I haven't gotten around to binning yet.

Really, a USB powered "Keyboard vacuum" that doesn't even have enough suction to overcome the dusts' static cling to the plastic? And sounds worse than some jet engines I've been around?


Honestly, the majority of the stuff you can buy in stores these days is so cheaply made that it may as well come packaged in a garbage bag. That is where it is going to end up fairly soon, so we may as well be able to reuse the packaging in a useful manner.

hobby stores and crafts stores.

got a crystal radio set after the last multi-state blackout to make sure i have some kind of radio...

radioshack has their 300+ project set somewhere obscure in a corner maybe.

Much better to pick up the Lego version of the Falcon, but still pricey at $180.

We tend to get what we can at various consignment shops and sales (there are a couple very large consignment sales for kids stuff in my area). It's amazing how many nice toys we find that are unopened or are in excellent condition!

E

*nods* I go to "Value Village" from time to time... sort of a Goodwill-ish store.

I saw a new in box, working Rolls-Royce jet engine model toy there a while ago, among other things.

I have that hanging on my ceiling....**** I didn't know it was actually worth selling...off to ebay with me