Santa Beats the Recession

So the American economy has been in a recession since late last year? Now there is a shocker to most people in the country. One thing that we can at least be thankful for this year is that gas prices have dropped by more than half in most areas since their summer peak, just in time for the winter heating season.

So your retirement fund has taken a hit, you are thinking more about running up credit card debt, and you really would like to cut back a bit on your holiday spending. What can you do that will still enable you to feel more like Santa Clause than Ebeneezer Scrooge this Christmas? Plenty.

The first thing that you can do is what might seem like an easy place to cut back, but in fact you should not, and perhaps you should consider expanding. That would be your Christmas card list.

The fact is that Christmas cards have become extremely affordable if you just shop around. You can go lavish and spend $20 or more for a box of 18 cards. But why do that when you can also find nice ones of twice that number for half the price?

You can hand them out at work and school, and even to most of your family members and neighbors. But make sure that you mail a bunch out to those who live far away. A Christmas card is your opportunity, perhaps the only such opportunity that you will have during a year, to let people know that they matter to you.

Time for Christmas Shopping

Okay, the zaniness of 'Black Friday' is still a week away, but now is the time to really start your Christmas shopping. By next weekend, and for each of the final four weekends afterwards before the actual holiday, the rush at your local mall is going to only get worse and worse.

Oh yeah, I know, there is some 'financial crisis' or whatever the doomsayers are trying to sell you on today. So there won't be any Christmas shopping this year, right? Probably will be short lines and plenty of stock on the shelves at the stores, right? You can put it off until later this year, right?

Wrong! You and I both know that you are going to be out there buying gifts for your kids and grandkids, your siblings, your parents (right girls?) as well as other close family members and friends.

So let me give you a hint. Get out there this weekend! Things began to pick up last weekend at the malls and stores. They are going to get worse next weekend and every one after that through December.

This is the time to take advantage. Get out there, beat the real mad rush. Grab exactly what you want without fighting too much of a crowd. Oh, it will be crowded. But this rush is nothing compared to what is going to be happening for the following five weekends.

Help! Mom!

While reading through the latest edition of the Washington Times Weekly Edition, I came across a small article on a new book by Katharine DeBrecht titled "Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed!". 

The avowed conservative mother of three wrote the book as an answer to "the liberal agenda that's being thrown at our kids from the left". 

The book tells the story of two young brothers who are trying to run a lemonade stand, while liberal politicians make things difficult on them by taxing their profits, restricting the amount of sugar they can use in their drinks, and by requiring that they also serve broccoli. 

The boys are also legally harassed for placing a picture of Jesus Christ on their stand. 

The boys overcome in a happy ending thanks to the "traditional family values like self-reliance, hard work, charity and family". 

The book has been a big seller thus far, and it's popularity is growing by the day. The writer now is planning the second in what may be a series of "Help! Mom!" books. The next tentatively titled "Help! Mom! Hollywood Is In My Hamper!" 

What a tremendous sense of humor this woman has, and what a great service she is providing. You can get the book through Amazon at this link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0976726904/104-6224142-3682338?v=glance