The last summer holiday always brings a twinge of sadness, because we know that fall is coming, and it’s time to get down to business. And yet, we look forward to family celebrations and lavish picnics. But stop and think before the big day. Beware of these 5 Labor Day Pitfalls.

1. Weight control. It’s possible to gain 2 or 3 pounds over the holiday, depending upon how many picnics or family gatherings you attend. The major culprit here is mayonnaise. What is a Labor Day picnic without deviled eggs and potato or pasta salad? Or without brownies or some other absolutely delicious dessert. Here’s a caloric breakdown of a typical picnic meal , assuming you have just one serving of each item.

Potato Salad 160

Baked Beans 124

Deviled Egg half 64

Hot Dog with Bun 272

Chocolate Brownie 112

And that’s not counting beverages. Have a can of beer, and add 154 calories

Labor Day Picnics can cause weight gain — A picnic in the park may have 1,000 to 2,000 calories

So, you’re consuming close to 1,000 calories. If you have second helpings, or an extra beer, You could be consuming 1, 500 to 2,000 calories in just that one meal.

2. Traffic . Labor Day has a high number of automobile, motorcycle and boat accidents. Drive safely, and be especially careful at intersections.

3. West Nile virus. Mosquitoes carry it, and if you’re out in the woods, you are at risk. There are no vaccines to prevent the disease. The best defense is to wear lots of insect repellent.

Mosquito bites are the cause of West Nile virus — Mosquitoes carry the West Nile;Virus and a bug bite could be dangerous

4. Labor Day sales: Could put a dent in your wallet. The newspaper is full of tempting advertisements, and it’s hard to resist driving to the mall, Kohls, TJMax or wherever you can get major markdowns. But before you go, take a look at your closet and go through your dresser drawers. Do you really need another white blouse or pair of jeans? Where are you going to put all those new shoes when you barely have room for the ones you have?

5. Loneliness: Seniors, especially, are apt to be forgotten over Labor Day. Children and grandchildren are preoccupied with starting school, and may have no time for out of town grandparents. Many elderly folks live alone. Most have fond memories of past labor Day holidays, but their friends or siblings have passed away. If you’re going to be alone, try to get out of the house. Go to a movie and eat popcorn, take a picnic to the park, or splurge on a nice meal at a good restaurant.

And remember, it’s just one day. Tomorrow it will all be over.

Labor day sales have begun, and shoppers are going wild. Shopping baskets are filled to the brim. Today, I was at a clothing store where summer clothes were 70% off. Last weekend, while shopping with my granddaughters, we found bathing suits at 80% off. It’s the last giveaway of the season, and it’s never going to be this good again. Is this China’s last stand at the mall?

This may be the last summer weekend that we can get bargains from China

When you get home, go through those piles of clothes you’ve purchased at end of season sales. Look at the labels. Can you find one item that wasn’t made in China? Only 2% of the clothing products we buy are made in the USA. But next year, it’s estimated the cost of garments made in China will increase about 25%, due to new tariffs. Which really isn’t all that much.

We’re so accustomed to cheap clothes from China that we don’t want to think about how it’s affected the American labor force. We know that many Chinese laborers work sixteen hour days to produce those incredibly cheap clothes, but it doesn’t stop us from buying them.

What is going to happen now that we’re in a trade war? Will more clothes be made in the USA, and how is that going to affect the price of our next pair of blue jeans? Personally, I would be willing to pay a higher price for garments made in our own country, but it probably won’t happen for another decade. Clothing manufacturers will probably turn to other third world countries where wages are low.

Sales this labor day will be full of bargains from China

Department stores are filled with shoppers buying bargain priced clothes made in China

Here are some other things that could happen if clothing and shoes get too pricey: We might reduce the size of our wardrobes. People could start sewing their own clothes again, which will help the fabric industry. Sales at Goodwill Industry stores may increase, providing more jobs for the handicapped. Garment manufacturers might decide to open factories in the USA, which would create more jobs in the USA.

And so, while I’m snapping up the bargains like everyone else, it won’t bother me to pay higher prices next season, as long as it benefits the American worker.

And, if you didn’t get to the mall this weekend, don’t worry. Labor Day Sales are still ahead.

Tag: Labor Day Sales

Beware of 5 Labor Day Pitfalls

The last summer holiday always brings a twinge of sadness, because we know that fall is coming, and it’s time to get down to business. And yet, we look forward to family celebrations and lavish picnics. But stop and think before the big day. Beware of these 5 Labor Day Pitfalls.

IS THIS CHINA’S LAST STAND?