Shopaholic Reform: Tuesday & Wednesday Damages (10/6 & 10/7)

Thursday, October 7

Tuesday & Wednesday Damages (10/6 & 10/7)

Tuesday

$2.43 - Dunkin Donuts (iced coffee to start my morning, god how I missed them)
$2.66 - Panera (Cinnamon crunch bagel with cream cheese...another thing I missed)
$5. 23 - Starbucks (some Pumpkin spice latte thing and a sugary treat)
$24.32 - Roche Brothers (food for dinner and some other very random stuff that I passed and bought because it was on sale)

Is it just me or do you get back from vacation and have a need to buy the things you feel you've been deprived of while you were away? In my case, iced coffee and bagels...obviously it was going to be food of some sort, what else would it be?

Wednesday

$8.42 - Russo's Market (delicious salad bar and macaroons)
$50 - American Cancer Society (donation for D's walk against breast cancer)

$465.62 - Michael's Crafts

Okay, so you're probably a little shocked over the amount of money dropped at a crafts store. Let me explain. Aaron and I bought a plethora of paintings while in Greece, and believe it or not I still have a print that I bought when I was in Africa way back in 2002 that needed to be framed. Michael's was having a 60% off sale on custom framing so I couldn't resist. So we got three pieces framed for ourselves, which came to something like $250 or so, then got two pieces custom framed for friends/family for present (getting started on Christmas a little early), and then bought a bunch of do it yourself frames for some smaller prints, which we'll be giving out as gifts.

So while spending close to $500 on framing is a bit steap, I think it's totally worth it. I like to buy art and/or jewelry whenever I go on a trip, and what's the point if you don't get it framed and take care of it when you get back? I mean come on now, it only makes sense. Not to mention we did save a lot of money with that whole 60% off thing.

I should also mention that Aaron will be reimbursing me for some of the cost of the framing, so really the final cost won't be quite so high. Side note: you should have seen his eyes bug out of his head when the lady told me the total. AND some of these are Christmas presents...so we're getting a head start on the holidays already.

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Something to Chew On...

The downside to Globalization

1. “The general complaint about globalization is that it has made the rich richer while making the non-rich poorer. It is wonderful for managers and investors, but hell on workers and nature.”¹

2. Multinational corporations are accused of social injustice, unfair working conditions (including slave labor wages and poor living and working conditions), as well as a lack of concern for the environment, mismanagement of natural resources, and ecological damage.

3. Multinational corporations which were previously restricted to commercial activities are increasingly influencing political decisions. Many think there is a threat of corporations ruling the world because they are gaining power due to globalization.

4. Opponents say globalization makes it easier for rich companies to act with less accountability. They also claim that countries’ individual cultures are becoming overpowered by Americanization.

5. Anti-globalists also claim that globalization is not working for the majority of the world. During the most recent period of rapid growth in global trade and investment, 1960 to 1998, inequality worsened both internationally and within countries. The UN Development Program reports that the richest 20 percent of the world's population consume 86 percent of the world's resources, while the poorest 80 percent consume just 14 percent.

6. Some experts think that globalization is also leading to the incursion of communicable diseases. Deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS are being spread by travelers to the remotest corners of the globe.

7. Globalization has led to exploitation of labor. Prisoners and child workers are used to work in inhumane conditions. Safety standards are ignored to produce cheap goods. There is also an increase in human trafficking.

8. Social welfare schemes or “safety nets” are under great pressure in developed countries because of deficits and other economic ramifications of globalization.

As manufacturing continues to decline, so does our ability to innovate. In the long term, this means fewer well-paid jobs, lower productivity, declining wages, declining living standards and low economic growth. Globalization is a big part of this decline and will affect all jobs and all sectors of the economy. From the point of view of multinational corporations and Wall Street investors, globalization is probably viewed as a wonderful phenomenon with many opportunities. But from the point of view of American manufacturers, manufacturing workers, the middle class, professional service workers and overall economic growth, I think the disadvantages far out weigh the advantages.

-Mike Collins, The Pros and Cons of Globalization (2010)