I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

[jodi]

I read a funny article in the newspaper today - we have a very amusing columnist who writes a little blurb every Sunday. Today he was spouting off about the price of greeting cards and how he is guilted into spending $3.87 for one because of the phrase "When you care enough to send the very best", implying that if you DON'T buy this card, you obviously do not care about the person you are sending it to.
It got me thinking...what other phrases are out there trying to guilt us into spending more?
I saw this one while clipping coupons today "Because you're worth it" (Loreal)...so if I don't buy it, then apparently I do not think I am worthy of ten bucks?
Then there are a ton of variations on the theme of "You deserve this" designed to make us feel that we have EARNED the right to treat ourselves. I'm not saying we aren't deserving of treats, but it's a wonder so many people feel the need to buy so much. Just my thoughts...anyone want to add their hated slogans?

[jeffrey]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

lol...my very first job out of college was with Hallmark cards. They print money (those cards cost a few cents to print). Sure glad I was able to see the light and decide that I didn't want to spend my entire life writing greeting cards

[thriftymom]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

I buy card stock and envelopes that fit an 8 1/2 x 11 folded in half and make personalized cards on my computer! I haven't bought a card in ages! I won't fall for the silly slogan!

[getforfree]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

My dh usually gives me a big buqet of flowers for my birthday. Its very nice, but I wanted something more usefull, like clothes or linjere or chocolate. Or at least the flowers that I could plant in our fron yard. But spending like $25 for flowers that would last only a couple of weeks, is too expensive. I appreciate that, but I gently reminded him that I would want to keep them fresh longer, maybe if I could plant them, they would last forever. How do I tell him that if he wants to buy me something, buy something usefull?

[Bluezy]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

I get quality time with my son, CJ. That's priceless.

[Lori63]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

I get quality time with my son, CJ. That's priceless.

I love my boys, but I guess I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum. They are 17, 14, and 10, and all I want is for hubby to take THEM somewhere for the day without me!

[Haku]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

The best cards I've ever received were hand-made. They didn't cost much to make.

[poundwise]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

One of the nicest cards I have ever received was handmade, but very well done. She used a heavy stock paper which was rippled and brown on one side and solid blue on the other. It had a nice photo affixed to the front. It was actually kind of hard to believe that it was handmade. She says that she estimates that it costs her about 30-40 cents to make each card.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

My dh usually gives me a big buqet of flowers for my birthday. Its very nice, but I wanted something more usefull, like clothes or linjere or chocolate. Or at least the flowers that I could plant in our fron yard. But spending like $25 for flowers that would last only a couple of weeks, is too expensive. I appreciate that, but I gently reminded him that I would want to keep them fresh longer, maybe if I could plant them, they would last forever. How do I tell him that if he wants to buy me something, buy something usefull?

Try the phrase "buy me this" it generally works, but don't forget to layer oin the praise for him doning the right thing

Another thing I like is handmade cards by the kids...I still have my birthday card up right infront of me, signed by all three kids (JC just made a J, GMC spelled his out nice,a nd UE made a scribble) I can't really remember what I got for my brithday, but I remember the card!

[Tree0164]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

I have tried to get away from buying cards. I have gotten some card making supplies that kids and I can do together.

Spending $3 or $4 on a greeting card to me is useless.

[poundwise]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

Another option to consider is that Dollar General sells some fairly nice cards for 2/$1. That's hard to beat and they aren't cheap-looking either.

[Ima saver]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

I don't know how to make cards, but my girlfriend makes all of hers. i agree with poundwise, I get my cards for 50 cents at the dollar store. I have asked for no more flowers either. If I want flowers I will go outside and enjoy what is blooming!!
The only slogan I can think of is, you deserve a break today. (McDonalds)

[mrvirgo]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

I don't think the marketing wizzards who will use any method possible to make you buy their products are going to find too many suckers among the regulars at SavingAdvice. Their guilt, status, and nothing-but-the-best gimmicks have not altered my choice making for years. After I read Joe Domingues and Vicki Robin's Your Money or Your Life, years ago, their tricks, happily, didn't work on me any more.

[poundwise]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

One that comes to mind for me are the older Michelin ads which featured babies sitting in tires. The slogan, "Because so much is riding on your tires" is clearly an appeal to parents who surely will buy Michelin; that is, if they love their children they will. Right?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Re: I guess I DON'T care enough to send the very best...

My eyes were opened regarding the effectiveness of advertising when my eighth grade current events teacher asked the class if anyone had bought something because of advertising they had seen. I remember thinking "Who in the world would buy something just because of advertising?" But hands shot up in the air and the teacher began asking the students what they had bought. Again and again, the kids named a certain brand of toothpaste. About 2/3 of the class had bought this toothpaste, consciously aware that it was because of a television ad. But then they admitted with humor that the toothpaste had not made them more beautiful people with lots of adoring boy/girlfriends as the commerciall seemed to promise.