Times are tight for quite a few because of lay offs and businesses closing, money may be hard to come by for Christmas presents so perhaps some help for you here. First, if you have cable tv and you have extra channels that cost more than the basic service, get rid of them. Keep the basic cable but stop paying extra, there is a little extra money in your pocket.  Second, perhaps every Christmas you average over 50.00 or more on desserts, get half the desserts this year, 2 or 3 pies and a cake or a platter full or Christmas cookies should cover it, okay you can't do this maybe because every aunt,uncle,cousin,sister,etc. comes over for Christmas. TIME for you to stop footing the food bill, everyone must bring a dessert and or side dish, make them commit early to have plenty of time for preparing. Now you have saved a little more money. Third, if your a smoker it is time to cut down, if you do 4 packs a day cut down to 3 right away, if 5 packs cut down to four, etc. This will put extra money in your pocket also. Fourth, if your sellling here on ebay stop driving to the post office daily to drop of the packages to ship. Put in your auctions you will ship every 2 or 3 days for everything that has been paid already, unless buyer contacts you letting you know they need it quickly for a wedding or birthday which happens sometimes. There you go more money in your pocket. Fifth, your going to hate this one but cut down your Christmas list this year. Say What? yes keep the present giving to you immediate family, and if there's enough money then your Mom and Dad next for you adults, and then sisters and brothers after that, and maybe your boss if you still have one. Everyone else gets Xmas cards that you pay 2.00 to 4.00 for a big pack of them from a general dollar store or here on ebay someone is offering for a good price. Expensive and special cards should only be bought for those very close to you and those you truly love such as husband/wife and mom/dad,etc.  Okay there is more money you just saved in your wallet. Now for the good news add up all that money you have saved and there is enough to do some Xmas gift shopping. You may not be able to afford hundreds of dollars per kid or person for gifts, but believe me in my young years as a child we struggled and I was happy with what I got for gifts for Xmas and birthday, some toy gifts weren't even new they came from thrift stores,yard sales,school sales,etc. But I did not mind them still loved opening them and playing with them and it does not bother me now either. I feel extra special and loved that my mom and dad cared enough to give me the best Xmas they could afford without them going into deep debt, or worst. Some years later we moved to a low crime suburb area in a house they bought.  BUY YOUR PRESENTS NOW!!! yes you heard me start buying Xmas presents now, even if it is just one or a couple every week. WHY? This keeps you from having to give a ton of money a few days before Chrismas, and could be real bad if you don't have that money to spend right before Xmas. I already bought a small gift, a My Little Pony for a Xmas gift, and a Xbox for our teen son for Xmas too. This is less money already I will have to spend right before Christmas when I do my big shopping. For everyone that has the inside and or outside of their house looking more decorated than SANTA'S home himself, it is time to stop buying any more Xmas decorations and use what you already have. I have been to yard sales where the person's garage door is open and literally half to almost the whole garage is filled with Christmas decorations and such. If you have enough to sell at a flea market with 3 tables or more, or enough to open your own Xmas store then wow take it easy until the money is better.   Look in weekly newspaper and flyers for coupons and discounts on toys,clothes,shoes,electronics, and anything else you give for Xmas and buy then if you have the cash. Try not to use your Credit card for Xmas gifts, my husband and I have not used credit cards for seven years now. It is so wonderful to have no new bills from credit cards, talk about helping out financially wise, it does. Alot of people go into debt just trying to pay the interest on a few credit cards, ouch!! My firends have complained about dreading the new year because they used credit cards during Xmas and now have to pay it all back, it is not good to start off the new year negtively with more debt over your head. Consider more low cost gifts this year instead of  more "expensive" gifts. For our teen son we already told him the xbox is his expensive gift for Xmas that we already bought, and we will get him a few clothes and maybe a pair of shoes, thats it for him only one expensive gift. I already am finished Xmas shopping for my 18 year old daughter.Some inexpensive gifts are some hot wheels cars and a cheap no brand name car racing track, webkinz or kookey plush animals that have a adoptive internet pet the kids can play with for a whole year. Lower price Barbie dolls and Gi Joes for play, etc.  Well I pray everyone has a wonderful Xmas with lots of celebrating,singing carols,food, and a few good gifts for everyone. Stay safe and happy this holiday season.