OVERNIGHT OPINIONS: It's Going to Be a Blue Christmas

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Background Music Credit:
Music: Hang for Days - Silent Partner https://youtu.be/A41A0XeU2ds

Someone call Elvis Pressley… because it’s going to be a blue Christmas. 
Welcome to winter, the days are shorter and now, thanks to our lifestyle and economic woes, our wallets are emptier. No matter what happens to Americans, we just can’t get enough stuff. We want stuff all the time… and Christmas is really nothing more than an exercise in conspicuous consumption. 
This year, nearly 200 million people participated in Black Friday - a split between online and in-person shopping. Nothing wrong with this, either. Shopping is fun and this unofficial shopping holiday can be a lot of fun… but it’s not wise for a broke nation to participate. 
Consider these facts. More than 40% of holiday shoppers said they don’t make enough money to cover their planned purchases. But don’t worry, Americans are crafty! 40% are planning to use credit cards, 25%  will use a buy now pay later service, and a little over 20% of people will sell their assets. But this doesn’t seem to be a red flag to slow Christmas shopping as much a motivator to keep on keeping on. Nearly 75% of consumers say they plan to spend just as much - if not more - than last year. In fact,  retail sales are expected to reach as high as $960 billion - more than $70 billion more than last year. On average,  Americans are projected to spend nearly $1500 this season.  
This isn’t just a rant about greedy Americans, their materialistic ways, or how we have replaced Christmas with gifts. It’s about how ignorant and arrogant Americans are. This year inflation hit its highest level in over 40 years. On average, inflation has cost Americans more than $700 extra each month. This equates to more than $8,400, according to the United States Joint Economic Committee. And that could be way more depending on which state you live. For a fun and depressing look at inflation, check out the tracker map in the link in the description. 
But back to the main point: Americans have less money and plan to spend even more. 
40% of Americans can’t afford to put any money into a savings account. Nearly 60% of Americans have less than $500 in their savings. 
And it’s not just savings and inflation that’s crushing Americans - it's gas, too. The first time ever, fuel hit $5 a gallon. Not to get all political here, but gas never went over $3/gallon during the Trump years. In fact, when Big Daddy Trump left office, gas averaged $2.38. For those prices, I’d take some mean Tweets. 
Anyways, what’s the point here? We will be drowning in meaningless crap while also being unable to afford our basic needs. Somehow we have copied the federal government's financial model for our very own personal budget. A recession is on the way. Supply chain shortages have persisted and will only get worse. Companies have been purging employees in mass layoffs. Costs are rising. 
As cousin Eddie would say: 
SOT: Shitters full
When are we going to stop guzzling money and close the valve to all the wasteful spending we’re doing? 
No money, don’t worry. Just keep feeling special and do what you want. If you don’t have money, just identify as someone who has money. 
Check out this article on Yahoo titled Food Stamps 2022: Items You Can Buy for Christmas This Year. What? Nearly 41 million people are on food stamps and we think that telling them how to blow their money for Christmas dinner is a good idea?  Maybe you should have a peanut butter sandwich and not blow your food benefits on one day of bougie eating?  Use a coupon for crying out loud. Maybe you could use that to stock up on some food and try to move yourself out of poverty… just saying. 
Everyone is going to go broke on gifts and then return the ones they received to pay the credit cards they overextended.
Christmas - a holiday about our savior … and a reason to be self-indulgent. Remember, baby Jesus was born in a manger - not a top-tier crib. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes - not a cashmere blanket. He was surrounded by barnyard animals - not a feast of food. Just remember the song goes away in a manger, not away in credit card debt.