Valentine's Day Spending

If you've read this blog for very long, you know I usually have something to say about holiday spending. Well, I've got some more stats for you along those lines. I was unable to find exact numbers for spending in 2009, but the estimated spending for Valentine's Day this year was almost $15 Billion. Last year, Americans spent $18 Billion on Valentine's Day gifts. I'm always amazed at how much we shell out for things. We have become a very commercialized consumer-oriented society. While we're munching on chocolates and smelling roses, millions of people around the world are in need of simple necessities for survival. Consider giving up a luxury today for the sake of someone who has never known a luxury.

These blogs are never intended to condemn or point a finger at anyone. We should be grateful for the luxuries that we have and enjoy them. We should also be able to forgo them from time to time for someone else.

Super Bowl Numbers

Here we go again with some staggering statistics from the athletic side of things here in the USA. As you all know (and I found out yesterday morning) last night was the Super Bowl. I, not being a sports fan, have a hard time believing the numbers that I have found involving money and the Super Bowl. Let's take a look, shall we?

30 second advertisements for this years televised Bowl game were around $30 Million!

The face value of the tickets to this years Super Bowl was between $800 and $1000 each. Resale value for the same tickets was around $2500 each. Total ticket sales for the game $57.6 Million.

The players got a piece of the pie too. Each team member on the winning team, takes home $78,000 for the game. The losers get a measly $40,000.

And the players aren't even the biggest profiteers in this whole deal. Retail sales for team related merchandise are estimated at around $125 Million.

and finally, for a whopper of a number.... in 2007 sales of HDTVs sold to people who cited the Super Bowl as the reason for the purchase ...drum roll please....$2.2 billion!!

Meanwhile on the other side of the world 3000 children die each day from Malaria.

25% of the Luxury Fund each month goes to the Compassion International Malaria Fund, where $10 provides a mosquito net for children in Africa, which will protect them from mosquito bites and prolong their life.

Would you please give up a luxury this month for the sake of these kids? $10 will provide a child with a mosquito net.

100% of the money given to the Luxury Fund is given to the 4 organizations that we support. Please click on their links to learn more about each one. Also, be aware that the Luxury Fund is not a 501c3 organization, which means your donation is not tax-deductible.

Pampered Pets

It's safe to say that some animals in the USA have it better than a lot of people around the world. It is estimated that Americans will spend $52 Billion on their pets this year. Which, by the way, is more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world.

Think about this...

Our dogs never miss a meal. They drink all of the clean water that they want. They have better medical care than even a lot of people in USA have (just the fact that they have medical care puts them ahead of millions of people in the world). There are doggy spas, mobile dog grooming services, professional dog walkers, dog motels, dog massage therapists and even animal psychologists.

If that's not enough, there are even "Neuticles" which are testicular implants for dogs who have been neutered, so that they can "retain their natural look and self-esteem". They've sold over a quarter million pairs worldwide.

Um, wow!

Don't get me wrong, I love my dog. As a matter of fact, I have the best dog in the world (that has been verified by many people). But there is such thing as going overboard with any kind of non-essential spending.

If you happen to be one who gets your dog a pedicure, massage or an hour session with the psychologist, maybe you could give that up this month for the sake of people in the world who need clean water, mosquito nets or a safe house to escape from slavery. Your dog won't mind, I'm sure.

We're back in action!

Sorry for the unexpected time off. All is well here. I got too busy for my own good for about a month and I'm just getting a little order back in my life. First of all, I want to thank you all for your participation in the Luxury Fund. Between July 15th (our starting date) and December 31st, you gave $4454! That is incredible. Thanks for your part in that! Whether you gave money, added us as a friend on MySpace or Facebook, told your friends or whatever, your part was a big one, and I am grateful! I'm looking forward to a new year of giving. If you have any ideas about how you or I can turn our spending into giving, please post them here as a comment. It will be helpful to hear your ideas.

So, how about a staggering statistic of the week for ya?

Americans spend $33 billion in weight loss products and services each year.

Pretty crazy that we have to spend $33 Billion to lose weight when so many people go to bed hungry every night!

Let's be grateful for what we have and share with those who don't!

Thanks!!

Sex Slavery - Be an abolitionist!

As we are focusing our attention this week to the work of Love146, let's take a look at the seriousness of the problem of sex slavery.

It is estimated that 2 children are sold into slavery every minute.

That's 2880 every day!

As of 2006 the number of children trafficked annually was estimated at 1.2 Million

The UN and other experts estimate the total market value of illicit human trafficking at roughly $32 Billion!

That makes trafficking on persons the second most lucrative crime in the world!

It is estimated that 27 million people are currently enslaved around the world.

All of this information and more can be found on at www.love146.org

This is a big problem! 100% of the money that we collect with the Luxury Fund is given away, 25% of it goes to Love146 who is working hard to end sex slave trade and restore the lives of freed slaves.

BE AN ABOLITIONIST!

Think of what you might give up this week, so that you can put a few bucks in the Luxury Fund to help this cause.

Thanks!

Love 146

For the month of December, I'll be spending a week "Showcasing" each organization that we support, so you can have a better idea of what they do and why we have chosen them to give money to.

This week . . . Love146

The trafficking and rape of children for profit is one of the darkest stories on the planet. This physical, mental and emotional trauma leaves children broken and scarred for life. Interventions for these children
are critical to their survival. This is why Love146 exists.

Love146 works toward the abolition of child sex trafficking and exploitation through prevention and aftercare. Love146 trains aftercare workers, multiplies safehomes, aids socioeconomic development programs in high risk communities and provides a voice for these victims of modern-day slavery.

This information and more can be found on their website www.love146.org.


Here's what the people at Love146 have to say about the Luxury Fund:

"Love146 is grateful for the support of The Luxury Fund in helping to abolish child sex slavery and exploitation. All funds received via the Luxury Fund go towards our Aftercare program which includes building a new "Round Safehome" and running existing safehomes. See our website love146.org for more details."

Please decide what you can give up this week so that you can contribute to the Luxury Fund. We can make a difference by making one small sacrifice at a time!

SEC Championship Game

This weekend Atlanta will host the 17th annual SEC Championship game in the Georgia Dome. I know it's a big day for a lot of people. #1 ranked Alabama fans and #2 ranked Florida fans can hardly stand the anticipation of the game this weekend. In light of this weekends focus on the big game, I thought I'd throw out some numbers for you (you know I like like throwing numbers out there).

Let's talk money.

Nick Saben coaches Alabama for an annual salary of $4 Million.

Urban Meyer coaches Florida for an annual salary of $3.25 Million.

Ticket prices (as of today) online are between $400 and $800 each and The Georgia Dome seats 71250 people.

A cup of beer at the Georgia Dome is $7.50

A bottle of water at the Georgia Dome is $2.50

I have no idea how to calculate fuel, lodging, food and miscellaneous spending for the 71,250 who will be in attendance, but I'm guessing it's ridiculous!

Now for even more sobering numbers

During the 3 hour duration of the game:

360 Children will be trafficked for sexual exploitation.

465 Children will die from lack of clean water.

2165 Children will die from lack of food.


I don't want to ruin your game weekend, but I would like you to consider the excess money that goes into recreation will so many around the world are suffering and dying every day.

Every little bit helps!! Can you give $1, $5, $10?

I promise there will be some very grateful people!

Luxury Fund is not a 501c3 organization. Your only reward is knowing that you have helped make someones life better! We give 100% of the money we raise to four amazing organizations who are able to do a lot with a little. Check the links to find out more about Blood Water Mission, Compassion International, International Justice Mission and Love 146.