Christmas

To life, to life, la kayim! The joy of home-enhanced booze.

OK, so this is too late for Christmas, but there's still time before New Year's to try this out. I was pondering the range of joy and sorrow that is the homemade gift.

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Deadweight loss of Christmas: Economist explains why gifts are inefficient

Did you unwrap any crappy presents this morning? Are you thinking that all the shopping and running around was a big waste of time?

You might be right, says economist Joel Waldfogel.

Waldfogel estimates that people generally spend 16% more on presents than they’re worth to those who receive them. He calls this phenomenon “the deadweight loss of Christmas.”

For example, a deadweight loss is created when you spend $20 to give me a DVD that I would spend only $15 to buy for myself. Economist Tim Harford explains:

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Hype is Expensive

I want a Wii. I really really want one. I’m an avid female gamer and I am dying to play Trauma Center: Second Opinion so I can use Nintendo’s innovative remotes to perform surgery. I want to play Cooking Mama where you race against the clock to mash, slice, cut, and stir based on “real-world receipes.” I want to bring the Wii over to my parents’ house and watch my mom play tennis and my dad try to bowl.

I had one. Actually I had five. I stood in line at Walmart at 6am and was 30th in line at EB Games. I picked up the one I preordered at FYE because no one knew FYE was doing preorders. I got the last one at Game Stop by sheer luck and won a lottery at Costco. I sold them all. At a profit margin of $100-$200, hype paid for the Wii I will pick up when hype cashes in for the year and disappears until next holiday season.

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101 Classic Christmas Videos Online

Greedo at Fanpop compiled an amazing list of links to Christmas videos that can be viewed online.

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A Couple of Morning Links to Help You Save (Christmas Presents, Anyone?)

Amazin’ Amazon Hacks

Probargainhunter.com offers some great links to bargains in the vast universe that is Amazon, as well as an explanation of how to find your own bargains, in the departments, stores, and categories that interest you.

Schweeeet!

Personalshopper.com's Sweet Deals beg the question, "Can anyone say, 'Bargain prices on brand name clothes?'" Not to mention the deals on accessories, handbags, movies, home furnishings, electronics, books, games, flowers, and more? I can! I can!

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