Gift Cards are not Gifts

This is another article by Liz Pulliam Weston.

While I agree that unlike gifts, the cards do not require much thought and I wouldn't give them to my best friends, I do think they are gifts. I have gift cards from a few stores on my Christmas List. Maybe I don't have a problem with gift cards because I don't have a problem with giving cash (to certain people, for certain situations).

This a quote from her article:

While researching party themes for my daughter's upcoming celebration, I stumbled across a posting by a woman who proudly included the horrifying words "monetary gifts would be much appreciated" on her 3-year-old child's invitations. She went on to explain that "I wanted money as gifts for my daughter's savings and for us to buy bigger toys, like a big kitchen and a Barbie Jeep that she wanted, instead of guests giving her small toys."
It's official. Shame is dead.

I don't think there is anything wrong with that request. Her daughter would like the bigger gifts and she may not be able to afford them on her own. It is unfair for the little girl to suffer. Plus, the little toys can clutter up the house, and she's likely to get multiple of the same. While it may have been fun to have 50 Barbies, I'm glad that I had a kitchen set, a rocking/spring horse and other large items instead. I'm not really sure how asking for money is any different than asking for specific items especially items on a registry (then the receiver still knows exactly how much is spent).

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a large family/group of friends to all put in money and buy one large and more special/wanted/needed/useful gift. My friends and I often purchase expensive items for each other that we either wouldn't or couldn't get for ourselves.

So basically, my opinion is: for people very close to you, you should be able to find a gift; but for acquaintances cash and gift cards is acceptable.

10 Things You Should Never Buy Used

This article was also written by Liz Pulliam Weston. I agree more with this one then what shouldn't be bought new.

1) Laptops - If it's cheap enough (a couple hundred), I'd risk getting a used one. Although, I think I'm going to splurge and get myself a nice new RED one.

2) Car Seats - Never really thought about how they could have been in an accident.

3) Plasma TVs - I didn't even know you could get these used. I bet they're still crazy expensive, so getting a new one with a warranty would be a good idea.,

4) DVD Players - How cheap are you? You can find a new one for under 50 bucks. I think I spent $20 or $30 or mine five years ago and it still works.

5) Vacuum Cleaners - I didn't even know people sold them. But seriously, if some one is selling it, it probably sucks (actually it probably doesn't suck enough).

6) Camcorders - Don't really use these, but I wouldn't buy a used digital camera. Besides, can't you get a relatively cheap camcorder?

7) Shoes - Ewww

8) Mattresses - Ewww

9) Wet Suits - Ewww

10) Helmets - Ewww

I Don't Know, Leave a Message!

I've been the receptionist at work since Friday (the actual reception is on vacation). Yesterday, a woman from some magazine or publication called asking for information about the CIO and who works for him. I do not know the hierarchy of the entire organization. I also don't even know his direct reports especially because it has changed recently. I helped her as best as I could then transferred her to the CIO. He doesn't have an assistant, so we send all calls to his voicemail. Instead of leaving a message, she called back and asked about an assistant. I told her he didn't have one and offered to transfer her to the IT Manager. When his phone went to voicemail, she called me back and started asking the same questions that I already told her I didn't know. I assured her that Sean was in the office and if she left a message he would get back to her, but she wanted to know right now. I transferred her to HR since she was asking about employees. Once again she got a voicemail, and once again, she wouldn't just leave a message even though I assured her the person was in the office.

Then she said, "Well the president might know," so I tried transferring her to the CEO's assistant, who also thought it was an HR question. Finally, the woman asked for some one in customer service, which I really didn't think would be able to help her, but she stopped calling back.

Today she called back -from a blocked number. She asked similar questions and I tried transferring her to three people, which all went to voicemail (two of those people were here, but one was on vacation). The last voicemail mentioned our hotholine and the extension number. She asked about this number. When I explained to her that was the number to call for computer problems, she thanked me and (hopefully) finally gave up.

10 Things You Shouldn't Buy New

I read this article by Liz Pulliam Weston. I disagreed with 9 of the 10 items. Not because I thought those items necessarily shouldn't be bought used, but I really saw no reason not to/good reasons to buy them new. Basically, I don't think there is ever a good reason to NEVER buy something new if that's what you want. I a bigger fan of sales.

Here is the list (if you want to see her reasons and exceptions, read the article):
1) Books
2) DVDs and CDs
3) Little Kids' Toys
4) Jewelry
5) Sports Equipment
6) Timeshares
7) Cars
8) Software and Console games
9) Office Furniture
10) Hand Tools

Here are my comments:
1) Books - This is the only one I agree with. Books are ridiculously expensive, and I very rarely read a book more than once. I just go to the library, because I get to read my book for free and then it's not cluttering up my house later. This exception I can think of (which she did not mention) is children books. I will still read Dr. Seuss books (in English as well as other languages), and I'm sure you'd get your money's worth if the kid is reading them a lot (maybe that's why they're so god-awful expensive).

2) DVDs and CDs - I have no problem with buying these used. Actually, I hardly ever buy CDs and most of the DVDs are from Blockbuster when you can the 4 for $20 on "previously viewed" DVDs. However, you do run the risk of them being scratched. Good reasons to buy them new: You want them when as soon as they come out and/or you know you'll watch/listen multiple times and want to wear them out yourself.

3) Little Kids' Toys - This is one I actually think should be bought new. Kids are germ factories and do pretty gross things to their toys. I once used the toilet as a pool for my dolls. I would not to give my kids a toy that had been in some one's toilet.

4) Jewelry - Umm...why the hell would I want someone else's used jewelry? Weston suggests going to a porn shop. No, Jewelry is freakin' supposed to be shiny and new. The only used jewelry I want (and have) is passed down from relatives.

5) Sports Equipment - My initial reaction when I read this was "EWWWW!" But Weston did say that the exception would be shoes, gloves, stuff that molds to the body. But still, if you're going out to buy this equipment, why wouldn't you want new stuff?

6) Timeshares - I know nothing about theses, so I really don't have an opinion.

7) Cars - I have a used car, I haven't had too many problems with it, but my dad bought his car new. We (because my mom and I had to throw in our two cents) were able to get everything we wanted (dual heating controls, cd player, spoiler, etc). If you like to get a new/different car every couple years, then I would say leasing or buying a used would be the way to go. But if you're like my fam (my parents keep their cars for at least a decade, and I've had mine for almost 6 years), I see no reason not to buy a new car.

8) Software and Console games - Like the DVDs, you run the risk of the disks being messed up. More so with games because they are played so much. Also, last time I was looking at video games, the price for a new copy was $60 and the used was $55. Five bucks does not seem worth the risk. Also, Weston says that waiting a few months will reduce the cost the games and also will give other people time to find the problems. Well, if you wait and then purchase the games, this does not mean they're used. If they're still in their cellophane wrappers, they're new.

9) Office Furniture - This is something you're going to use ever day, why not get it new?

10) Hand Tools - Huh? Are these things really that expensive you can't just buy them new?

Excitement in the Parking Lot

The other day, around 9:45 am, one of my co-workers walked by my desk and said, "psst excitement in the parking lot." I wasn't really expecting much, because these people that I work with have stared at snow and contemplated if we would get out early. I grew out of that behavior in middle school.

Anyway, when I got to the window that overlooks the parking lot, there really was some excitement. There was an SUV on fire! While we were gawking, the flames and smoke kept growing and eventually both tires blew. We saw an "Auto Glass Repair" truck hanging around for awhile, but eventually I think the driver realized that this car was going to need a little more than glass to fix it.

Then we saw a woman (from the building next door) come out with a set a keys and walk toward the car. We thought it was her car that was in flames, but her car was actually parked right it front of the flaming car. A cop took her keys and moved her car to a safer area.

Even though there is a firehouse about a block away, it took the firemen awhile to arrive because they are volunteers, so they don't stay at the firehouse. It took them a couple tries and a few minutes to put the fire out. If the fire was out, the excitement was over, so we all went back to work.