I enjoy my debit card. My bank has a particularly cool looking card designed by a local artist, so every once in awhile someone will start up a conversation about it....I like my debit card because I don't have to take the time to write a check or dig up exact change, but I'm still using money I actually have in my account.
But I begin to have a lengthy (sometimes heated) conversation in my head with the little swiper machine at the checkout when it asks me this question:
"Total: $XX.XX"
"Is this okay?"
What a dumb question. Is this okay?
Is it okay that you're charging me $2.69/gallon for milk, when it was just $1.98 3 days ago?
Is it okay that the Multi-Grain Cheerios box is skinnier, but you're charging me the same price?
You really want the answer? No. It's not okay.
I'm not okay with being manipulated into buying products because they say "less sugar" or because you put a special sale sticker on them.
I'm not okay with the fact that prices on the same items at the 3 different Walmarts in town are not identical. Or that it's the 3rd time in a row I've left my re-useable grocery bags at home. Or that my daughter thinks I'm the meanest mom in the world because I wouldn't buy her frosted animal crackers.
How about instead asking "Can you afford this?" - that might keep me from adding a roll of chocolate cookie dough to the cart....
or maybe "is this really how you wanted to spend your hard-earned cash?"
but certainly "Is this total correct?" might be a more appropriate question.
4 comments:
THANK YOU for this! I always laugh at myself when it says "is this ok?".
No, of course not. I'd much rather not pay for things like toilet paper, soap, shampoo and other things I consider necessities.
I loved this post! Truly.
I would love it if the machine would ask if I REALLY need something!! I'd have to put half the stuff back!!!
i wish you would stop holding back, and tell us how you really feel about this...
i give it a couple years, before the machines start to read..
"Is that all? You can spend more than that!"
its all a conspiracy.
you need to start a farm and eat grubs and corn.
just sayin.
Emily, you don't know how close I am to chucking it all and becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder....except I realized I have no "pioneer living" skills....and I'd miss my DVR.....
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