Love is grand . . . for the economy
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Love is grand . . . for the economy
TESS VIGELAND: Tomorrow’s the last day of June, a popular month in which to get married. According to TheWeddingReport.com, the average nuptials will cost nearly $27,000 this year. But anyone who’s been in love knows the wallet starts emptying way before any talk of marriage. Actress and commentator Michelle Philippe says all those birds and hearts twirling above her head are great for the economy.
MICHELLE PHILIPPE: This year I fell flat on my face in love. And it’s made me all domestic. Suddenly I’m buying muffin tins and salad spinners and throw pillows. And clothes! Because I don’t want to be seen in the same thing twice, of course.
I advise advertisers to rethink their marketing campaigns. They try to sway singles to buy in an effort to lure love their way. But they are wrong. Ya get super-spendy once you’re hooked up.
Like me and my boyfriend. He buys me flowers and chocolate kisses and takes me out to sushi on Saturday nights. And I LOVE champagne. And my boyfriend loves me. So I get champagne. Which totally costs money.
And all this running around forces us to pull over for gas more frequently. We are just pumping money into Chevron. Not to mention Hallmarka€¦getting our greenbacks for mushy poems and cards featuring pictures of kissing fish.
Love is great for the economy. Instead of just fixing interest rates, the Fed could just set up a matchmaking system called Love dot Guv. Then step away.
Because people in love contribute to the Gross National Product, we should get a break. In California, our cars should be allowed to travel in the carpool lane, even if only one of us is in it. After all, we’re in a hurry to meet our honey.
That leftmost part of the freeway would become “Lovers Lane.” And all you’d need is a heart on your license plate you’d get by paying ten bucks to make out at the DMV.
And I need more cell phone minutes. Since I can’t be with my boyfriend 24/7, I have to talk to him. All the time. So Mr. Head of the FCC, how about some government- subsidized minutes? It’s more than just good communication karma, it’s good communication business.
Of course, all this loving and spending and loving and spending wears me out. I’m very practical, but acknowledge my limitations. In order to ground myself, I need some time off work. Some love days. Similar to sick days. But not.
Flu damages the economy. Love enhances it. Wouldn’t CEOs go for that?
VIGELAND: Michelle Philippe is an actress who works right here at Marketplace. She got a gorgeous flower bouquet delivered to her yesterday . . . just ’cause. That’s one expense they won’t have if they get married.
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