Monday, December 14, 2009

A Lesson in Economics

Everybody remembers this little diagram from economics class, right?!




  • P - price
  • Q - quantity of good
  • S - supply
  • D - demand



Well, if you do....good for you. But this Christmas season I have certainly learned a valuable lesson in supply and demand.

It all began with a little trip to the Hallmark store a few short weeks ago. Each year I pick an ornament for each member of the GRITS family; however, I usually go AFTER Christmas when those suckers are half price.

Because I am a cheap skate.

It is important that you must know that my two favorite Christmas movies, of all time, are "Christmas Vacation" AND "A Christmas Story".

Seriously!

So, imagine the joy in my heart when I spotted this little ornament gem:


Yes, yes, folks.....that would be Cousin Eddie's RV!!! I knew when I laid eyes on it, that it WOULD be hanging on MY Christmas tree this year!

It was meant to be mine, because I got the very LAST one in the Hallmark store. And apparently the last one in my city, because no one has been able to find one since my purchase.

YAY ME!

A couple of other ornaments caught my eye, but I decided to wait on their purchase. But that little voice inside had me back in the Hallmark store a couple days later. Which turned into a trip to Books-A-Million, where they also sell Hallmark ornaments.

My next two purchases were these hot little items:





Be honest, how many of you just said in your mind (or out loud), "Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian."



Now, here's where our little lesson in economics comes in. I purchased each of these ornaments for $16.50 EACH. Which is why I usually wait until the day after Christmas to buy them, when they are half price.

Imagine my surprise when I found all three of these ornaments on Amazon.com selling for over $30 EACH! The Cousin Eddie's RV ornament alone is selling for $49.95.

Seriously.


That, my friends, is today's lesson in supply and demand!

(And, NO, I am not selling my fabulous ornaments....they will be on my Christmas tree for the rest of my life!)

8 comments:

Leslie said...

Those are cute! I love the RV. You wouldn't be able to find those after Christmas. Good for you for nabbing them while you could.

Southern Cheesehead said...

yes, after I saw you tweet about that RV ornament...I went to try and get it for the hubby and not one hallmark store near me had it! I'm dying to get one but $50? Not that desperate!

The Source said...

Oh, I LOVE your new ornaments! Those are two of my favorite Christmas movies ever! Now I'll have to knock myself out trying to find the hubby Eddie's RV.

Dawn @ simply transparent said...

cute cute cute..and wow so pricey! At least you know you could sell on eBay and get some serious cash!

Muthering Heights said...

OMGoodness...I saw a house that was all decked out for Christmas, and they had the leg lamp from that movie in the window!!! You would have loved it!

My mom asked, "what's that?" I said, "it's a major award!!"

Irene said...

Oh you're such fun! Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family.

j said...

I love them all!!!

Rachel said...

You love my least favorite two movies of ALL time.

Mental Note: Never go to the movies with Tammy.