Stores are now getting rid of all of their left over Christmas merchandise. Wal-Mart started out when it opened at 6am the 26th with all Christmas items half off. A lot of stuff doesn’t last long. If anything remains in a few days it will be 75% off.

If you need any gifts, wrapping paper, gift sets, cards, or anything else for a birthday coming up or for next Christmas now is the time to get it.

For example there are bath and body kits, perfume kits, and stuff like that, which would be good for any gift occassion such as birthdays, not just Christmas.

Get all your wrapping paper, boxes, ribbons, bows, name tags, and cards now for next year. So when Christmas comes around again, you will already have all your supplies so you won’t have to go shopping at full price.

Most kids today are spoiled. That’s just the truth. The average 12 year old will tell you they want money, video games, video game systems, and expensive name brand clothes.

And there are some kids who get loads of good presents, whip them all open in a few seconds, and then groan, “Is that all?” While any decent person knows a better response would be “Thank you.”

If you are worried about your kid being spoiled or want to prevent your kid from being spoiled, call up and arrange to take them to a homeless shelter or women and children’s shelter.

Many of these women and children arrive at shelters with nothing but the clothes on their back. These kids have literally nothing and at Christmas only get what the genorosity of strangers provides for them with programs such as Toys for Tots.

Tell your child that in order to get new toys, they need to pick out some of their old toys to give to kids less fortunate.

Then take them to the shelter (don’t just show up, call and arrange for this first) and have your kid donate their old toys to the homeless kids. When they see how little these kids have with often entire families sharing one small room, they will be more appreciative and thankful when they open their own presents on Christmas. (Or whatever you celebrate)

Here is a tip to save a little on your electric bill. Nobody wants to pay a penny more to the utility companies than you have to.

At night, before you go to bed, turn down the thermostat about 4 or 5 degrees. So you won’t be using as much electricity.

For example if you have your heating set to 70 degrees during the day, turn it down to 65 degrees every night. You can even go further and set it to 60 at night and then gradually increase it during the day, so your heating system doesn’t have to work too hard at once. Like turn it up to 63 in the morning, then an hour later turn it up to 65 and an hour later set it to 70. Until bed time again.

And be sure everyone has plenty of nice warm blankets on their bed. 4 comfy, warm blankets should do just fine and keep everyone snuggled up warmly in bed.

If you have a large family and need a lot of blankets, go to a thrift store and you’ll find plenty of blankets you can buy for only $1-$7. That’s a lot cheaper than buying one brand new. Just run it through the washer once before using. And most likely, you’ll be using that blanket for years and years.

The unemployment rate is the highest it’s been in 30 something years and 1 in 10 homeowners are either in foreclosure or late on their mortgage payment.

I’m totally not into fear mongering and wish the media would stop it, but it’s really time for the middle class for cut way back and learn to be frugal. In fact, things wouldn’t be so bad for a lot of households if they simply cut back.

I know a family that constantly complain about how poor they are and about how bad things are money wise, but they keep going on vacations and eat out more than they eat at home-what’s that all about! If they would eat at home and not go on so many vacations, they’d actually have more money. Big surprise!

The older generation things that parents of today are spoiling their kids like crazy and it’s even backfiring.

Way back when kids got homemade Christmas presents like homemade dolls and trucks and crocheted mittens and hats instead of video games, video games systems, cell phones, cash, ipods, and blackberries.

Give a kid today a pair of crocehted mittens for Christmas and they’d probably kill you. Hopefully not literally, but you never know today.

If things are so bad moneywise:

• cancel your cable/satellite
• have a landline phone and no cell phones
• if you have a cell phone stop text messaging unless it’s free
• stop buying video games
• buy clothes and books at thrift stores and not retail
• cook at home instead of eating out

If you’ve done all this and are still struggling, then there are more drastic measures you can take such as moving to a cheaper place or renting a room out if you have an extra room for a homestay or something. (Be sure to get a background check and have rules in place first). Or going to a food pantry if things are really bad.

And if you STILL need help, then it’s time to put yoru efforts into making more money instead of just saving it. You can’t save what you don’t have.

If you are unemployed, fill out applications everyday. Even if you go to the same place more than once, then they will know you’re serious.

Or if you have no income and can’t find a job go on welfare.

Ok these last steps are for the low class/poor and not the middle class.

Anyway the middle class needs to start shopping smarter and not spoil their kids so much. Besides, love is better than any material item period.