Wal-Mart worker dies in Black Friday stampede

[DrPhil]

Uh...ok, Lango.

My comments stand.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

No. But some people think that having $300 in an account after bills are paid counts as "excess." That counts as living paycheck to paycheck. The average American (who is out shopping right now) doesn't have any wealth accumulated and is living paycheck to paycheck.



If budgeting money when "money is tight" means living paycheck to paycheck, the presents should not be bought.

I think I love you.

[PeppyGPhiB]

This is what retailers get for encouraging the chaos that comes with 4 am openings. They WANTED this kind of craziness - it creates an illusion of demand, driving more people to "BE THERE BEFORE THE STORE OPENS!" I hope Wal-Mart and other retailers that participate in this ridiculousness get a lot of bad PR for this. Enough is enough. For the first time in many years, my mom and I are not doing our traditional "girls day in the city" lunch/shopping trip today; although we never went to the big box stores on this day, we just decided that we didn't want to deal with the craziness considering we aren't buying as much this year.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I think I love you.

...so what am I so afraid of
I'm afraid that I'm not sure of a love there is no cure for
I think I love you isn't that what life is made of
Though it worries me to say that I never felt this way

[preciousjeni]

This thread has me thinking of my childhood. I wasn't one of those kids that got gifts and trinkets during the year. There was no money for that. I remember taking a blank notepad (my mom was/is a teacher) and running around outside like I was Penny from Inspector Gadget. We didn't have cable any time when I was growing up. We got a VCR as a gift when I was 15 or so.

At Christmas time and birthdays, my parents would have my brother and me give them a list of the things we really wanted in order of importance. My parents would then go down the list from the top and figure out which ONE thing they could afford to get that we really wanted.

I was listening to Michael Baisden the other day and they were talking about Black Friday, Christmas and the economy. He was telling parents to give their kids air for Christmas. LOL. One woman came on and was explaining how she was going to tell her kids that money's tight and they might not get everything they want. Then she said something about how they "get things throughout the year" so they have nothing to complain about.

[Langox510x]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Uh...ok, Lango.

My comments stand.

Let me put it this way.

If you personally would live your life only using the necessities and pinching every penny even if you didn't have much to start out with, then you sir are a cold fridge person.

Life is to short not to live a little.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Look what I found!

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?se...cal&id=6529135

It seems that the baby is fine, and the woman was 28 weeks along. It would have had to take a major blow for someone to miscarry at 28 weeks with no hope for the baby at such an early stage.

Thanks for the link!

I've always felt that you have to be a special kind of stupid to get involved in those "door busting specials", but I think the stores are crazy for holding them, too. Exactly how much more money do they plan to make by opening up five hours earlier than usual? Wouldn't a lot of the profits be eaten up by paying the workers overtime, or hiring extra employees?

ETA: I will admit that I'm not a fan of crowds, period. Put money in their hands and not even "goodies" to go around, and it can quickly become a riot!

[navane]

A worker died after being trampled and a woman miscarried when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island Wal-Mart Friday morning, witnesses said.

The unidentified worker, employed as an overnight stock clerk, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.

Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.

"He was bum-rushed by 200 people," said Jimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker. "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too...I literally had to fight people off my back."

Animals!

Seriously?? Is that high def TV so important to you that you would trample someone in order to get your hands on it? Are you going to kick back in your comfy sofa and enjoy your HDTV with some popcorn while another family grieves this Christmas? I hope it was worth it.

Dirtbags! Some people just don't know how to control themselves.

.....Kelly

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Langox510x

Let me put it this way.

Don't bother. My comments stand.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Langox510x

Odd thing is, I’ve heard people say buying sneakers for $175 is dumb, but is it no different then buying that $400 X-Box, or that $600 handbag?

$175 sneakers = dumb and selfish
$400 X-Box = dumb and selfish
$600 handbag = dumb and selfish

Giving the money we waste on ourselves to people who are starving to death and/or can't afford college and/or need medical attention, etc = good for the soul.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

$175 sneakers = dumb and selfish
$400 X-Box = dumb and selfish
$600 handbag = dumb and selfish

Giving the money we waste on ourselves to people who are starving to death and/or can't afford college and/or need medical attention, etc = good for the soul.

I don't get $175 for sneakers. I wear designer shoes (Michael Kors, Bobbi Blu, Ettiene Aigner) and carry a designer purse (Kate Spade), but it's because I buy classic styles on S-A-L-E (thank you DSW).

On the topic of spending what you don't have - I have a friend at church that can ususally barely pay her rent, yet every time I see her, she's got Starbucks coffee and pastries. I feel ripped off even buying McD's new coffees because I have a perfectly good espresso maker at home.


PS...go ahead and say it....I'm CHEAP.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

PS...go ahead and say it....I'm CHEAP.

It's not cheap, it's wise and being a good steward of your money. People like Langox510x are chasing a false reality that tells them luxury means a higher quality of life. If you feel the need to purchase things to "live a little," I really do feel sorry for you.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Langox510x

Let me put it this way.

If you personally would live your life only using the necessities and pinching every penny even if you didn't have much to start out with, then you sir are a cold fridge person.

Life is to short not to live a little.

But you're going from one extreme to the other - there's a middle point between "pinching every penny" and being able to "live a little."

I didn't grow up with a whole lot, and even though my wife and I do fairly well, we're not going to be spending a ton of money for Christmas presents this year. The problem is that people don't take a long view of things - you should look beyond the next month, and try to figure out how to make sure that things are ok over the long haul.

If you can truly afford it and buy expensive things that you and your loved ones will enjoy, then that's not a problem in my mind. But, using all of your accumulated savings to buy holiday gifts is just asking for trouble.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

This thread has me thinking of my childhood. I wasn't one of those kids that got gifts and trinkets during the year. There was no money for that. I remember taking a blank notepad (my mom was/is a teacher) and running around outside like I was Penny from Inspector Gadget. We didn't have cable any time when I was growing up. We got a VCR as a gift when I was 15 or so.

At Christmas time and birthdays, my parents would have my brother and me give them a list of the things we really wanted in order of importance. My parents would then go down the list from the top and figure out which ONE thing they could afford to get that we really wanted.

I was listening to Michael Baisden the other day and they were talking about Black Friday, Christmas and the economy. He was telling parents to give their kids air for Christmas. LOL. One woman came on and was explaining how she was going to tell her kids that money's tight and they might not get everything they want. Then she said something about how they "get things throughout the year" so they have nothing to complain about.

My family had money but we were taught early on that having money doesn't mean that the money is to be spent in excess. Happiness isn't contingent upon buying STUFF. So if there was a family change of some sort, we wouldn't blink because we didn't NEED gifts. We loved dancing and singing to Christmas records (David Frost and Billy Taylor/The Temptations Christmas...don't hate ) and hanging out around the fireplace.

Decades later, I love that my parents did that. And now my family only gives Christmas gifts for the grandkids/nieces and nephews who are 5-14 years of age. No grown folk expect Christmas gifts, but if folks give it is completely up to them. As my nieces and nephews get older, they will also be taught to enjoy themselves without being obsessed with what's under the tree. They eventually need to learn that mystical Santa isn't giving these gifts--hard working family members are and sometimes hard working family members have more important things to invest their money in.

For all the broke ass people out there, whomever you are, regardless of why you're broke and whatever broke means to YOU: Be forward thinking. And if you have children, think of what you are teaching your children about money and life (i.e. happiness is contingent upon buying STUFF and NOT buying STUFF means that you're miserable and don't understand how to enjoy life.).

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Thanks for the link!

I've always felt that you have to be a special kind of stupid to get involved in those "door busting specials", but I think the stores are crazy for holding them, too. Exactly how much more money do they plan to make by opening up five hours earlier than usual? Wouldn't a lot of the profits be eaten up by paying the workers overtime, or hiring extra employees?

ETA: I will admit that I'm not a fan of crowds, period. Put money in their hands and not even "goodies" to go around, and it can quickly become a riot!

I heard some stores were giving coffee and doughnuts to waiting customers. I assume this calms some people down.