A few weeks ago my dad and I were looking through the ads in the Sunday newspaper trying to find something for my mom for Christmas.  We noticed this ad in the JC Penney flyer. I don’t think they were trying to sell any of the clothes on the page because the center square “Give Me What I Want” was what most people would notice right away.

The more I thought about that phrase, the more selfish it seemed. I know that stores are in business to make money, just like I am with my Pencil Bugs business, but at a time in our economy when things are hard for a lot of people, putting an ad out like this to make people think they have to have everything they want doesn’t seem quite right.

If people feel entitled to have everything they want, what’s left? It’s good to appreciate the things you have and if you buy what you need instead of everything you want, you’ll be ahead in the long run.

I guess big companies like Penneys don’t really think about the message they send in their ads or what it must feel like to the people who don’t have jobs to buy things for Christmas this year.

I know I’ve said things like “I want . . . ” but if I ever sound demanding, my parents make sure I don’t get what I want just to keep me in check.  Do I like when they do that?  No.  But when I can look back on the situation, I can see why they do what they do.  It’s a good way to learn the value of things, not overspend, or feel entitled.  I guess that’s why I’ve liked donating toys, etc. to kids in the hospital. I know they appreciate it and it makes me feel good.

Maybe the Penneys ad should have read, “Give to Someone in Need” and get rid of the “Me, Me, Me” idea.