Making your own liquer is easy, and it makes great holiday gifts. Image from Flickr.

This is the time of year for giving, but with the current economy you may be short on cash now. Exchanging gifts can be a fun and exciting part of the holiday season, but can also be a source of stress and worry. There is the hassle of figuring out what to buy, coupled with the anxiety over cost.

Particularly during these tough financial times, stretching the budget to buy presents can be a challenge. Fortunately, with a little creativity and exploration, the undertaking can be a lot more enjoyable and pocket friendly.

Get some Inspiration

For those having trouble with finding the right gift, there are a few places to turn. Whether you are intending to shop in stores or online, a great place to get ideas is on gift sites. Two helpful ones are gifts.com and findgift.com. These sites offer gift suggestions based on information you provide about the recipient.

On gifts.com you can take a quiz that narrows possible gifts by gender, age and personality traits. Additionally, you can choose from pre-sorted groupings of gifts to browse through. Findgift.com offers a similar questionnaire, but also takes the occasion and person’s relationship to you into account. These sites both offer the option of purchasing the gifts through online, but they are also great sources of ideas for present shopping in general.

Now how about a Great Deal

If you already have an idea of what to buy and do not mind shopping online, eBay can be a great resource. It is free to sign up for an account and can be a great way to get an amazing deal on a hot product. Besides, you do not have to spend hours sifting through products that you do not want. EBay allows you to narrow your search by several different factors, giving you the ability to eliminate items that do not meet your specifications.

When searching for gifts, it is often a good idea to remove the used items from the search, unless you are looking for antique or vintage piece. If you are short on time, it can help to keep the search to results within your own country so that the mailing time will be shorter, and if you are extra low on cash now, sort your results from low cost to high and start looking at the top of the list.

Gifts from the Heart that Go Straight to the Thighs

Getting in touch with your crafty side can be another option for those looking to save some cash now over the holidays. Indulging in decadent sweets is a regular part of the season. Instead of baking a bunch of different kinds of cookies, why not become the ultimate resource for one kind of indulgence?

Become the definitive fudge or toffee maker. Create to-die-for truffles or caramel corn. Whatever your choice, find a fantastic recipe and concentrate on making it well. Next, package it up in bags or boxes tied with festive ribbon, and you have great gifts. The best part is that the packages need not be very big because of the richness of the treats.

Another idea is to create a signature liqueur. Recipes can be found online and are relatively easy to make. Pour your creation into bottles and add ribbons and tags and they are ready to give. On the other hand, if your recipient is artsy, but you are woefully uncreative you can check out a wide array of inspired items at a great price on Etsy.com.

Apply Here for Cash Now

Charitable giving is easier than ever, thanks to the Internet, and a little bit of money can make a huge difference. Plus, it's guaranteed to make you feel good!

The holiday season has a way of pushing the generous, charitable side of people into action. Of course, fighting hunger and poverty are year-round battles, as is providing developing countries with access to education and health care.

But if the holiday season is what it takes to get people into a giving mood, so be it. Giving to charity helps families in the U.S. and all over world, and I recently found out just how far small donations go toward fighting hunger and aiding education, gender equality, health care and infrastructure. You might think juggling debt management and donating money to charity is impossible, but it only takes a little bit of money to make a big difference.

Book recommendation

I learned about what charities do with small donations from a book I read recently, “Give a Little,” by Wendy Smith. Much like the author of this book, I had always thought that I had to make huge sacrifices in order to help the less fortunate. However, from “Give a Little” I learned that donations as small as $3 can make a huge difference in feeding the hungry, fighting disease or helping those who don’t have access to clean water.

“Give a Little” details what different organizations do with small amounts of money, from about $3 to $60. Even just a $5 or $10 donation can lift a whole family permanently out of poverty in some cases. Who doesn’t have $5 to give to sick or starving fellow humans?

Making every dollar count

Of course, I paid $15 for “Give a Little” and then felt very silly knowing how much good that $15 could have done to help people. But I gave the book to my sister and asked her to give it to someone else when she is done, hoping that a chain reaction of giving will follow. This is an example of ripple effect giving, which is talked about at length in “Give a Little.”

However, I recommend you use your $15 to help poor families in developing countries or right here in the U.S. I have compiled a short list of organizations that can do a whole lot of good for a little money. My family agreed to give to these charities this year rather than buying each other more unnecessary stuff, so if you’re struggling to come up with a way to draw more meaning out of the holidays, perhaps this will help.

Heifer International

One of the most inspiring stories in “Give a Little” is about Heifer International, an organization that has been around since World War II. Heifer International provides individuals and families living in poverty in developing countries with the tools they need to feed themselves and their loved ones and make a living.

Donations as small as $20 can help lift a family permanently out of poverty. For instance, $20 buys a flock of chicks. When the chicks are old enough to lay eggs, they provide food for the family, and extra eggs can be sold for substantial income. Once a family escapes poverty and has enough to pay for the children to go to school the cycle stops and the children grow up to be self-sustaiing and entrepreneurial as well. Check out the Heifer International web site for more details on how the organization has helped and does help people all over the world, and find out how as little as $10 can change lives.

More organizations to research

Some of the other organizations I learned about help fight diseases. Nothing But Nets provides insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets to poor people who live in areas where malaria runs rampant. It only costs $10 to help someone avoid this often deadly disease.

Action against Hunger runs feeding centers in Kenya that nurse severely malnourished people back to health. A $50 could save someone’s life. KickStart helps Kenyan farmers by providing inexpensive water pumps to irrigate crops. KickStart says a $60 donation can permanently life a family out of poverty. Maternal and Child Health Product can help 18 mothers have clean, save baby delivies for just $5. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis says if Americans donate $30 a year for three years they’ll have all the funding they need. Go to GreaterGood.org to learn more.

Most importantly, just remember to give whatever you can, even if it’s only a little bit. Thanks to the internet, donating to worthy causes is easier than ever. With so  many people out there living in poverty, just a few dollars can make all the difference in the world. A small amount that won’t make any difference to you could mean all the difference for an unfortunate family.

Be thankful for what truly matters during these happy holidays. Personal loans don't just mean money, but kindness and love. (Photo: flickr.com)

During this holiday season, amidst the many personal loans granted for various reasons, it’s hard to imagine reasons to be thankful. The mainstream news still proclaims that our economy is in a recession with no hope of getting out. Wall Street analysts predict low returns on the market (while continuing to line their pockets in secret), leaving many companies wondering where they will be at the first of the year. The economy is still not recovering, in spite of the many stimulus packages granted to taxpayers and businesses. Even online marketers are feeling the pressure of this slow economy! My E-mail inbox is full of marketers trying to jumpstart their earnings by giving away products. Several years ago, free information products were unheard of.

“War on Terror” Still Going Strong

Soldiers are still in Iraq and Afghanistan. The terror alert still remains at the yellow level, which is “Elevated.” When will the war be over? No one knows, and with all the uncertainty, it’s hard to be thankful.

Unemployment Rates Still High

Jobs are still few and far between, with each job hanging by a thread. There are some people who would love to leave their jobs, but cannot because they are unsure of finding another job to replace that lost income. As of October 2009, the national unemployment rate is at 10.2 percent, higher than it has been since April of 1983. In fact, in November and December 1982, the unemployment rate was only a tick higher at 10.8 percent. Will we surpass that number today?

What is There to be Thankful For?

It seems that many people have allowed themselves to become too upset about current events. Furthermore, they’re struggling to pay off personal loans and have become distracted from when they can be truly thankful for – thankful for the blessings all around them. The media loves to focus on the negative events happening, rather than the little miracles that are happening on a daily basis. Really—what is there to be thankful for?

Family and Friends

How long has it been since you have truly appreciated your family and friends? How long has it been since you have truly acknowledged who they are and what they mean to you? If you put aside the events happening in the world and focus on the people that matter to you, you will find plenty to be thankful for.

A year ago (2008), my marriage crumbled around me at the same time my mother was suffering with treatments for cancer. Not only that, but another relationship I thought was going to last a long time suddenly ended… through all of that, my children stuck by me and helped me heal. I am truly thankful that they are still in my life, and that my mother is still alive.

Freedom Still Rings

In spite of everything that people think about the government, one fact remains—we are still free to make our own happiness as we see fit. We are free to make or not make a living in any industry we choose. We are not forced into working a particular job or forced to go into the military. Freedom is something that we take for granted, yet we complain about the minor inconveniences facing us right now.

Enjoy the Holidays, Won’t You?

During this holiday, put aside thoughts of money or personal loans, and focus on what matters the most—your family. Whoever that family may be to you, take the time to just appreciate and acknowledge them for all they do. Happy Holidays! You can go back to worrying about money and current events the next day.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25103209@N06/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

I am so looking forward to Black Friday 2009. I’ve been waiting all year for this day to come and boy, with all the hot deals I’ve discovered, I’m afraid I might need an installment loan if I don’t reach my Black Friday budget goal.

One major retailer, however, is already buzzing with hot deals. Just to give you a head ups, Sears Black Friday ads for 2009 have already leaked online. Starting Oct. 31, and every Saturday after that up until Christmas, Sears will kick off Black Friday deals with layaway options making the traditional act of giving a lot easier and affordable. From electronics to housewares to jewelry and apparel, you can find an incredible selection of goods with hot deals for all of your holiday needs.

Sears Black Friday Now Event

Here is a small sample of Sears “Black Friday Now” deals for Saturday, Oct. 31:

• 50 percent off (save $200) Craftsman® 302-piece mechanic’s tool sets
• $79.99 (reg. $259.99) 3/8 ct. diamond stud earrings
• $174.19 (reg. $259.99) 7 1/2 ft. Wakefield Christmas tree with 700 Never Out(TM) clear or multi lights
• 50 percent off all DieHard workboots (reg. $75.00) and $19.99 (reg. $39.99) on all Covington low-shaft boots
• $399.99 closeout (reg. $699.99) ProForma XP elliptical 16-in stride length

If you think that’s not good enough, check out the extended list of hot deals for Sears Black Friday Now event here.

What is “Black Friday Now”

According Reuters, “Black Friday Now” was created after a hard wave of customer demand for day-after Thanksgiving doorbuster values came crashing in earlier in the season. Consumers who would much rather avoid the 4 a.m. morning rush right after Thanksgiving Day can take advantage of the Black Friday Now deals on each of the five consecutive Saturdays through Thanksgiving. Wow… on second note, I doubt I’ll need an installment loan with this type of offering at hand.

Behold, my favorite part of Fourth of July.

Three things come to mind when I think of reasons I like the Fourth of July: barbecues, family and it’s not Christmas. The Fourth of July is a relatively inexpensive holiday, unless you go all out on the fireworks.

Still, you are not really obligated to spend a bunch of money on fireworks. You don’t have to find out how much your significant other, mom or cousin is spending on fireworks and then try to spend roughly the same amount. In general, Fourth of July is a stress-free, low-cost holiday — and for that, I love it.

Barbecues are the bomb

I love barbecues. This makes sense because I love summer and food. However, despite the fact that I hate the cold, if I were invited to a barbecue when it was 14 degrees, I’d probably go. Lucky for me, barbecues are a very inexpensive thing to love. I’ve never wondered if I needed to get a cash til payday loan in order to be able to afford to attend a barbecue.

Sure, it can get pricey if you provide all of the food and drinks yourself and invite 25 people, but who does that? Every big barbecue I’ve been to since I can remember was potluck style. The host generally provides protein, and guests provide beverages and side dishes. I’ve even been to some barbecues where the host basically said “I’m firing up the grill. Come over if you want to use it.”

Free fireworks

Sure, you could end  up spending lots of money on fireworks pretty easily. Fireworks can get pretty expensive pretty fast. But if you plan ahead for this expense and remind yourself that it’s an option, not a necessity, there’s no pressure and you won’t end up totally depleting your bank account and maxing out  your credit cards like you might at some other (cough, Christmas, cough, cough) holidays.

Of course, for the people who create those big, elaborate fireworks in the sky, they are very expensive indeed. But, hey, we don’t have to worry about that do we? Really, we just have to worry about charcoal, ground beef and ketchup. Let everyone else worry about everything else. That’s the spirit of the Fourth of July!

Travel is a tough one

Of course, the place where you’ll run into big expenses is travel. Many people want to travel to be with family for Fourth of July, but this is another area in which there’s not a whole lot of pressure. Of course, this depends on your family. It all depends on the amount of pressure they put on you to attend family holiday gatherings in general. The equation is roughly:

Pressure to come home for Christmas* X .5 = Pressure to come home for Fourth of July

*Can substitute Channukah or other appropriate late-winter holiday

As you might have picked up by now, I am basically opposed to the commercialism, pressure and stress associated with Christmas. Lucky for me, I have arranged a trade with my family. I have agreed to always visit for Fourth of July as long as I never have to visit for Christmas. So the travel expenses are tacked onto the cheap holiday, Fourth of July, and subtracted from the expensive one. Another winning equation.

Print a poem on colorful, decorative paper and frame it to show Mom how special she is.

I am sure your mother would agree with me that you should not get an online payday loan to buy her a Mother’s Day present. In fact, if she is like my mother, she wouldn’t even approve of putting a gift on a credit card.

Mother’s Day poems are a wonderful, creative way of showing your love an appreciation without spending a penny. But writing a poem can be a lot of pressure, especially if you’re not a creative type.

Find Mother’s Day poems online

The good news is, there are some great collections of Mother’s Day poems online. Pick one that reminds you of your mom, find some colorful graphics or even family photos that you can integrate into it, print it out on a color printer, and voila. If you’re artistic you could decorate the paper yourself. Or, go to a scrapbooking store and find some fancy predesigned paper.

Even though you didn’t write the poem yourself, she’ll appreciate it if you pick one that really expresses how you feel. Be prepared with tissues. Here are some good sites to check out for Mother’s Day poems:

• Poemsforfree.com
• Apples4theTeacher.com
• TheHolidaySpot.com
• Funmunch.com

Snippets from Mother’s Day poems

These sites also have poems for grandmothers and other mother-figure types. Here are some examples from poems I found online.

With dreams enough of what I was to be
And hopes that would be sculpted by the years,
Then bit by bit stepped back to set me free,

Relinquishing your powers gradually
To let me shape myself among my peers.
Before I was myself you made me, me

-From “Before I Was Myself You Made Me,” author unknown

Sometimes Mom in passing
Would pat you on the back
And sometimes in passing
She’d show you the right track.

Sometimes Mom in passing
Would say, “You sure look nice!”
And sometimes in passing
She could, make you, think twice.

-From “In Passing,” by Del “Abe” Jones

“Happy Mother’s Day” means more
Than have a happy day.
Within those words lie lots of things
We never get to say.
It means I love you first of all,
Then thanks for all you do.
It means you mean a lot to me,
And that I honor you.

-From “Happy Mother’s Day” by Kay Hunt

A Mother’s love, is sure to find
A way to comfort, ease your mind

She knows just how, to build you up
When you’re so down, and can’t look up

You love the way, she makes you feel
Like you’re so special, her ideal

-From “Mother,” by Roger Robicheau

Sometimes people go a little overboard on Valentines Day

Like it does every year, February signals not just declarations and validations of love and affection, but an opportunity to know what payday loans are for.  Why?  Just research the huge amount Americans spend on flowers, gifts, and dinner dates every Valentine’s Day and you’ll get the picture.

The Financial Tradition of Love

Not to take away the romantic essence of this much-celebrated occasion, but this is one perfect example of how our consumerist culture has maximized the all-encompassing emotion of love—through a host of symbols, as well as merchandise, that promise different ways to express those three sacred words.  “I love you” can mean a cute teddy bear for a sixteen-year-old, a bouquet of designer roses for the twenty-something, and a fabulous diamond ring for the woman in a long-term relationship.

And this is not limited to women—men are known to receive some of the most extravagant, albeit unnecessary, gifts of love during Valentine’s Day.  And then, most restaurants count this occasion as one of their most lucrative; try to get a reservation on the day itself and you’ll most likely be turned away for lack of space.  The day of hearts is indeed one to remember, and if you’re the kind who actively participates in the revelry, your wallet won’t find this day easy to forget.

Celebrate Love in Different Ways

While it is traditional for most to go all out on this annual event, love can still be celebrated in other ways.  How about making your own present, such as a poem or a blog dedicated to your special someone?  You can also search online for Valentine’s Day-themed recipes to prepare at home, or make your significant other’s favorite meal, and just spend a romantic evening at home.

All that would only require a few dollars to spend for ingredients and some candles to complete the mood—time is what you’ll be investing in, and that would mean much more than any store-bought gift.  Perhaps you can even enjoy a romantic stroll in the park, and spend the rest of the evening looking up at the stars.  Cheesy?  Maybe, but on Valentine’s Day, all those restrictions are off.

You Can Choose To Spend, But Wisely

OK, so you may think Valentine’s Day trumps all other occasions, which means you’re really dead set on making it the most memorable ever.  If this means having to part with your hard-earned money or whipping out your credit card, then you better make sure you get the best you can buy.

But what if you had your heart set on it, then went ahead and spent your money on that formal dinner in the city’s best restaurant and an overnight stay at a five-star hotel, then realized you don’t have the money to pay your bills? You might want to take a look into getting payday loans.  No, it’s not an excuse to spend like there’s no tomorrow, but a means to tide you over if you’ve gone overboard on this special day.  You can borrow between $100 and $1,500.  Just remember to keep track of everything and be prepared to pay the money back in the agreed to terms.

Love does conquer all, but the key is making the relationship work. Knowing there are payday loans may help you keep that relationship working.  In the meantime, have a happy Valentine’s Day and enjoy every minute of it!

The holidays have come to an end – at least for this year. As people scuttle to pack up the holiday gears and clear up the festival debris, the holiday weight will probably be the hardest thing to put away. All the holiday stress, inactivity and free-flowing sweets combined are enough to throw off a perfectly fit weight.

Watch Out for the Food Monster

Not everyone is fortunate to live in sunny Southern California. Perhaps that would mean that the rest of us are probably confined at home because of the snowy weather. Besides the possibility that you may need payday loans to help makes ends meet because of all the work days you’ve missed, beware; you could easily fall victim to the food monster. Distract your urges to over consume. Catch up on house cleaning, re-organize, or pop in your favorite Pilates DVD. There are so many things you can do to get back in shape; all you need is focus and determination.

Okay, so maybe you just cannot get over the delectable taste of chocolate melting in your mouth. There are weight loss programs that provide a way to lose weight just by eating your favorite foods, along with one-on-one motivational support. The Jenny Craig menu is packed with balanced and nutritious meals; like how PersonalMoneyStore.com not only offers payday loans, but also offers tips and guidelines on how to maintain a healthy budget. Jenny Craig Cuisine is high in fiber, moderate in fat and sodium but still has the great taste you love. You get three meals and up to 3 snacks a day so you won’t go hungry without overeating. Just like payday loans, the meals are absolutely convenient!

“Who is Jenny Craig?”

Founded in 1983, Jenny Craig, Inc. is one of the largest weight management service companies in the world. The company brings in annual revenues of more than $400 million and still growing. But who is Jenny Craig? Jenny Craig, whose real name is Genevieve Guidroz, was born in Berwick, Louisiana in 1932. While living in New Orleans, she met Sidney Harvey Craig after he hired her to be the director of the Body Contour fitness salon. Their relationship flourished and the couple was later married in 1979.

In 1982, the couple broke from their other business partners and sold out to a competitor. Because they were legally unable to open a new health center in the U.S. for two years, Jenny Craig and Sid decided to move to Australia. There they generated a new nutrition, fitness, and weight loss program. They returned to the U.S. in 1985 and introduced the Jenny Craig Program. At the same time, the Craig’s opened 14 centers; today their U.S. holdings include 285 centers in 18 states. Over the past 25 years, Jenny Craig has helped many people worldwide learn how to eat a nutritious diet that includes many of their favorite food and achieve their weight loss goals.

Physical Progress, Financial Retreat

Jenny Craig sounds great. However, not everyone can afford many of these weight loss programs. While payday loans can help make ends meet through your journey to weight loss, spending money you don’t have can be financially damaging. There are many other things you can do that are simple and inexpensive that can help get you back in shape; all you need is willpower.