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.

That’s because Hanukkah started Sunday evening. You  may be able to whip up a celebration for the eighth and final day of Hanukkah, Dec. 29.

Challah if you speak Hebrew

Now before you jump all over me for spelling “Hanukkah” wrong, you should know that there are three spellings listed for this Jewish holiday in Merriam-Webster, including Chanukah and Hanukah. The truth is, none of these is correct. That’s because Hanukkah is a Hebrew word, and Hebrew symbols look nothing like the letters in the English alphabet.

The three spellings that appear in the dictionary are only the tip of the iceberg. There are several more spellings out there. And there are several theories about what Hanukkah means, when it is, how important it is and how to celebrate it.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one

So we all know the name of the holiday, but not much else is general knowledge. There are a few things that the average non-Jewish person knows about Hanukkah. It last eight days. There are presents. There is a Menorah. All of these things are correct. For most of us, after that it gets a little fuzzy.

In the spirit of sharing all types of holiday joy, I offer you a brief tutorial on Hanukkah.

Preface to a miracle

Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Light. It dates back 21 centuries to when the Jews’ Holy Land was ruled by Syrian-Greeks, who tried to take over the land, including the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

A small band of faithful Jews were able to resist the enormous, powerful Syrian-Greek army, and they reclaimed the Holy Temple. The small Jewish force was called The Maccabees after its leader.

The Menorah

After the Jews’ triumph, they went to the temple to light the Menorah. Jewish faith mandated that only olive oil that was ritualistically purified could be used.

There was only a tiny amount of oil left that hadn’t been contaminated by the Greeks. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. The candles of the Menorah symbolize this event. A Menorah contains nine oil-fueled lights or candles. One light burns throughout the eight-day festival, and an additional candle is lit for each of days.

So on the first day of Hanukkah you light two candles, the “attendant” candle and one additional candle. On the second day you light three candles and so on. Today at sundown the third day begins, so you can still get a no fax payday loan in time to celebrate the last half of the holiday.

Christmakkuh

Presents weren’t always a traditional part of Hanukkah. Conservative Jewish custom is to give children money and encourage them to give some of it to charity.

In the United States, as little Jewish children began to assimilate with little Christian children, they felt left out. The tradition of giving money for several days of Hanukkah gradually morphed into giving presents on all eight days.

The food

Because oil plays a significant role in the Hanukka holiday, it is customary to eat foods fried in oil. The most common of these are latkes, potato pancakes. Many other foods fried in oil are acceptable traditional foods as well.

Latkes are shredded potatoes made into round cakes, about the size of the palm of your hand. At a Hanukkah party I attended this year, latkes were served with sour cream and apple sauce.

When is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah falls on a different date on the Christian calendar every year because the Jewish calendar is different. The Christian calendar began 2,008 years ago, while the Jewish calendar has been around for 5,769 years.

Also, days on the Jewish calendar begin at sundown. So Hanukkah this year began at sundown Sunday, the beginning of the 25th day of the month called Kislev on the Jewish calendar. It falls on the same date on the Jewish calendar every year.

Don’t play dumb

There is a lot more to learn about Hanukkah, such as the significance of dreidels and modern arguments about the origin of the holiday. But at least now  you can speak to your fellow humans with some authority on the subject.

Hanukkah doesn’t end until sundown Dec. 29, so if you apply for a no fax payday loan today, you’ll have your cash in time to celebrate the final few days.

However, this may be a good time to reflect on just how lucky we are to live in one of the richest nations on earth.  It seems kind of maudlin to say, but it is the truth.

Many others across the globe would be thankful just to have clean drinking water, enough food to feed their children or some basic antibiotics to fight off diseases that were cured or done away with over a century ago in the core nations.

UN votes nearly unanimously that food is a basic human right

A somewhat contentious vote (for some) went before the United Nations and was passed nearly unanimously.  The vote was whether to add food to the list of basic human rights.

The measure saying food was a basic human right passed 180 to 1.   Financial freedom should be on the agenda eventually, which would give people the option of payday loans in lieu of loan sharks.

The votes for were signed by almost every nation of the world, including many of the big time power players.  China, the UK, Germany, France, even the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein, all voted yes.

Who voted no?

As stated, only one nation opposed the measure. That dissenter, who opposed the idea that all human beings should have food to survive on, was the United States of America.

We aren’t going to start America bashing here. This isn’t an anti-American forum, and this author, for one, isn’t about to back a different horse in the least. But it seems, at the least, to be arrogant on the part of our leaders to pursue a policy in which those who can’t provide for themselves aren’t given a helping hand by a nation with the richest agricultural base in the world and the largest food reserves perhaps in recorded history.

This author is not one who is about to start advocating that any one nation has to take care of the world. That would be ludicrous. But it is at least worth discussing that this has transpired.

We all hear it so many times during the season, but that hardly negates the truth of the statement

It is an oft repeated sentiment that there are “starving kids” elsewhere in the world, often to persuade kids to eat vegetables ineptly prepared by their parents that smell like an NFL lineman’s gym sock. But in the wake of severe food shortages the world over, it’s all too terrifyingly true. Citizens of the island nation of Haiti have been resorting to eating literally sand and dirt “cookies” to stave off starvation and suffering as a result of ingesting the soil.

So remember, if you have to look into getting payday loans to cover a short-term gap in your finances, do not, by any means think there is any shame in doing so.  There are millions who would love to be in your shoes.

December 23rd is the Festivus for The Rest of Us

For the millions who are fans of the sitcom legend Seinfeld, this may be familiar territory.  For those who were more of Friends fans, then let the lesson begin.  If you don’t feel the need for getting payday loans to cover a shopping spree, you can celebrate an alternative holiday, invented by one of the show’s writers and incorporated into a famous episode.  A holiday for the people that don’t get affected with Holiday Cheer (which by its definition, almost qualifies as a seasonal neurological disorder) the show presented to the world a new holiday, a seemingly more sensible holiday:  Festivus!

What is Festivus, and How is it Celebrated?

Festivus is a winter (or summer for you folks below the equator – G’Day, Australia!) holiday that is celebrated every year on the 23rd of December.  It has some features with Christmas, but with some subtle differences.

The Aluminum Pole

Instead of a Christmas tree, Festivus is celebrated by erecting a simple aluminum pole.  It is far stronger than any conventional or plastic tree, and requires little to no decoration.  According to the story in the episode, the creator of Festivus found tinsel “distracting.”

The Airing of Grievances and the Feats of Strength

After the Festivus dinner is finished (anything really, but in the show it was either spaghetti or meat loaf) then comes the Airing of Grievances.  The Airing of Grievances is where each member of the congregation lets every other attendant hear the various ways they have angered and disappointed them over the course of the year up to that point.  No grudges are held; all is forgiven and forgotten.

Once the Airing of Grievances has concluded; then comes the Feats of Strength.  Many things can be the Feats of Strength, such as a hula hoop contest, thumb wrestling or ping pong– whatever you like; if you don’t want injuries-create something else.  The traditional Feats of Strength ceremony is that the Head of the Household is wrestled by any and all challengers, and once it has begun, Festivus is only considered over when the head of the household has been successfully pinned.

A Festivus for the rest of us

The story of Festivus from the show was that George Costanza’s (Jason Alexander) father (Jerry Stiller) got into a fight with a man over a Christmas gift, and decided to create a new holiday because the traditional ones just weren’t cutting it anymore.  Festivus may be not be for everyone, but anyone can celebrate payday loans, no matter what holiday they celebrate.

The Biggest Gift Items are often the Biggest Targets

One of the largest gift ideas that many of us have for our loved ones is jewelry.  Now obviously, the jewelry that a lot of people like to be able to afford during the holidays goes beyond your average pearl or cubic zirconium earrings; we’re talking the high class, multiple thousand dollar diamond necklace, or bracelet, or ring type of stuff here.  Jewelry is a constant attention getter for thieves. On Thursday, December 4th, a diamond heist went down at the Paris location of Harry Winston Jewelers as night was beginning to fall and just before the store was about to close.  Harry Winston is one of the largest and high class jewelry companies in the world – some of the particular store that was robbed has a clientele list that lists names like: Richard Burton (the actor who was married to Elizabeth Taylor), Aristotle Onassis (Greek shipping tycoon, married Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of JFK), Nicolas Sarkozy (The President of France), the former Shah of Iran, Scarlett Johannson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank, just a few.  The heist went down in a matter of only a few minutes, the robbers being very well prepared, and made off with €85 million, or about $108 million dollars, or over a hundred million payday loans‘ worth.  The robbers may not be likely to find a buyer for extremely high price jewelry including rings and watches that will be far too easily identified, but its likely mobsters will be able to find buyers around the world with the ill gotten gains.  Apparently, three of the robbers were dressed as females, so as to drag investigation efforts to a slower pace.  This is the second time the Paris Harry Winston store has been robbed in a the last year, as they were robbed almost a year to the day of about $16 million in cash and jewels.

Hopefully, Santa will bring these thieves a lump of coal – and a prison sentence

We all know what it is like to wish we had some extra money during the holidays.  It would be great to get everybody the things on their wish list, make the family happy, and see our wives or girl friends eyes go wide open as we put a big shiny rock on their finger, but we’re not going to rob anybody to do it.  However, we do know that if we have a sudden expense come up, in the holiday season or not, we have legal, affordable, responsible options to help us out, such as payday loans.

Holiday Juggle = Financial Stress

This holiday season, all I can think about is money, and that includes the possibility of taking out a cash advance. Halloween is over, and it’s November, so I feel like I can rightfully talk about the upcoming holiday season. The holidays are a special time of year, but with so much stuff going on, the holidays can also be very stressful—especially when it comes to money.

Are You Prepared?

The holidays require a lot of preparation. I’m definitely not one of those people that does my Christmas shopping in July or October. I typically wait until the middle weeks of December to finish up buying gifts. I may not have any of my Christmas shopping done, but I have been preparing for the holiday season by saving as much money as possible. I’ve cut back on restaurant dining, I’ve been skipping my morning latte, and I’ve been keeping track of how much money I charge on my credit card each day. I even got a part-time waitressing job in early October to supplement the income from my day job.

There's much to prepare for during the holidays

Preparation is necessary to deal with the financial stress of the holidays. There are so many costs associated with the “most wonderful time” of the year. I want to have extra money this time of year so I can entertain my friends, afford gifts for my closest friends and family, buy a pretty Christmas tree, and travel across the state to visit my family. Even then, I’m going to shop frugally—I might even make most of the gifts I give. And I bet my pretty Christmas tree will only be 3 feet tall like Charlie Brown’s tree.

Little Luxuries

Unfortunately, all the things I’m saving for are little luxuries; I still have to be able to afford the usual monthly expenses like utilities, gas, and groceries. I know my heat bill is going to skyrocket once the snow hits the ground! So despite all my preparation, I still feel under-prepared. What if something unexpected happens? If any surprise costs get thrown in the mix, my budget will be thrown completely off-track.

No Help from the North Pole

"Santa won’t be able to give me cold, hard cash..."

I know Santa Clause creates miracles for families every Christmas, but I don’t live on 34th street. Santa won’t be able to give me cold, hard cash if I run into emergency expenses. That’s why I know I can get a cash advance if I need to. I hope that with all my budgeting, preparation, and sacrifices I will have enough money to make it through the holiday season. If not, I know that I can take out a cash advance to help me until I get my next paycheck.

Maintaining Perspective

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the material side of the holidays. This whole post is discussing how stressed I am about money. Although my financial concerns are legitimate, I need to maintain the right perspective. The holidays are about spending time with friends and family, and that should be my focus. Bills, travel, a cash advance, and other financial issues are things I need to keep in the back of my mind.