'Electronics has taken a huge chunk out of the average household spending budget,' said Eric Wiseman, CEO of apparel maker VF Corp., maker of JanSport backpacks and Wrangler jeans.

So at least twice - maybe more - I packed my things in an old Jansport backpack, clicked the garage open, tipped my hat to my goodly parents asleep in their bed, and struck out as happy as a hobbit.