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Overpriced Values

While watching television the other night I came across a commercial for this product called Zillions Deluxe ATM.  This is a toy that kids can deposit money into as well as withdraw from, and it records their balance after each transaction.  They are even given their own PIN number.  “An ATM that works just like Dads,” it is described, “help your children learn money management.”  Naturally, I thought to myself, that’s nice, kids can learn the value of a dollar and how to budget.  Then I saw the price, $109.99!  Are you kidding me?  The irony was priceless.  This is a toy designed to teach kids to be smart with money that the parents would have to be idiots to buy.  What is it really?  A glorified piggy bank.  What’s a good piggy bank go for these days?  Five, ten bucks?  Now don’t get me wrong, I still appreciate the concept.  I’m just not sure if it’s worth the extra hundred dollars.  Why not save your money and teach your kids the value of a dollar yourself; or at least lead by example?

            See, I still remember my grandparents.  They would never throw away an old shirt that could be used as a rag.  And trash bags?  Forget about it, why buy something just to throw it away?  Thirty years ago if you would have bet them that bottled water would cost more than gasoline they’d have put everything they have against it; especially the kitchen sink.  Imagine what they would say to people that ride around all day on their five-thousand-dollar Segways then write an eighty-dollar check for their gym membership. 

            It just seems like there’s no smart consumerism any more.  Take the infomercial for example.  It didn’t exist thirty years ago, but it has invaded late night television the last two-plus decades with flowbees and chia pets.  They offer people magic diets with misleading guarantees such as “if you don’t loose up to ten pounds.”  What does that even mean?  But there are people out there that actually buy these products.  There has to be.  I’m no economist, but I’m sure these companies aren’t buying network airtime for nothing.  And whose up this late at night watching these things, anyway?  People with stable jobs that can afford frivolous expenses?  Probably not.

            Is it any wonder our citizens are racking up debt in record numbers?  The average American home with at least one credit card is in debt $9,200.00 according to cardweb.com.  Furthermore, this is a trend that is growing with our young people.  Between 1992 and 2001 the average debt of Americans ages 25-34 increased 55 percent; for ages 18-24 it raised 104 percent.  Obviously, basic necessities attribute to these numbers.  Housing, healthcare, education and gas are becoming less and less affordable.  But I don’t think Odor Alert Cat Litter, kitty litter that changes color when it detects an odor, is helping this situation either.   

            So I guess I agree with the Zillions toy company.  We should teach our kids to be better with money.  But spending $450 billion a year on Christmas gifts is not the way to do it.  So this year you should scratch the Zillions Deluxe ATM off of your gift list…unless you really think it’s worth it.  After all, it is an ATM that works just like a dad (so you don’t have to.)  While you’re at it, don’t help her blow out her candles during her birthday either.  You can just buy her a Birthday Cake Candle Extinguisher^[1] that can do it for you.