"Every first day of the week let each of you at his own house set something aside in store as he may be prospering."
I do that, and use the funds to buy silver at the end of the month. I also buy things that will help me to get through emergencies that I believe are all but certain to become common in future years, when such supplies will be much more difficult (if not impossible) to buy. Such as high-power flashlights, batteries in sizes that they take, high-capacity NiMH battery chargers, and making sure I have plenty of high-power LED lanterns on hand.
While it might not be perfect, it is far better than what the washtowel suggests. When we start getting rolling blackouts, I am ready with battery powered LED flashlights and lanterns (it can even happen at your big-box store, where a flashlight can make the difference between a nuisance where you simply can't buy your purchase and a life-threatening situation where you can't find the exit). Are the witlesses prepared? Or, do they wait for God's tyranny to "fix it", too stupid to realize that for 60 toilet papers, they could have gotten a small but high-power flashlight to save themselves?
The silver is also better than what they suggest. Buying silver with my "surplus" now ensures that, when the dollar becomes worthless because of QE697857687, I will still have enough to survive until a better barter system develops. Do the witlesses think of that? It might not be perfect, it might not solve the problem. However, it could make a life-threatening situation into a mere annoyance. Does putting money into the Worldwide Pedophile Defense Fund box even do that?
As for Christmas, I still put money and time into maintaining my Christmas lights and displays. They stress the amount of time it takes to shop, decorate, bake, entertain, and actually open the presents. The total amount of time (and gas used) is actually less than what is wasted by pious-sneering, which they recommend doing. And when I am finished with a major Christmas decoration project, or even the beginning of it which can be added to later, there is something to show for it. It actually gets widespread appreciation. What do the witlesses have to show for their hours of field circus? And, has anyone actually really felt spiritually uplifted after wasting all that time in field circus? I have felt that way after the trips to shop during Christmas, whether online or in-store.
Debt anyone? How about this. Does anyone actually give 10% on the gross as churches and Kingdumb Hells recommend? One weird solution is to put aside this money instead of tithing your churches or Kingdumb Hells. Invest it in something that will hold value. Then, once school starts in fall, you use that fund to start your Christmas shopping. Cash in the silver you may have bought for your Christmas fund, and use it to buy gifts. You can do this throughout the fall season, spreading out the shopping so you are not under undue stress at any one time. Yes, you still go in December--but to finish your shopping, not start it. You go then for the fun of watching the lights and listening to the music, picking up perishables and semi-perishables for baking, and the general Christmas atmosphere. It may even give you ideas for decorating your own home, or inspiration to pick up a few more missing decorations. And, since you have been paying with church tithe money all year, you get no credit card debt from doing this--pay now, buy later is better and works better than buy now, pay later.
And less money for your church or Kingdumb Hell to spread their rubbish.
