(Photo via Bensonkua, Flickr.com)

Black Friday has been the top trend for the past several weeks. Everyone is itching to find great deals offering for Black Friday 2009. Black Friday, which lands on the day after Thanksgiving Day, unofficially kicks off the holiday shopping season. And boy, things are looking hot, hot, hot.

Dirt Cheap Target Appliances

Who needs payday loans when you can get $3 Target appliances? Apparently, according to rumors, Target’s $3 appliances will include toasters, coffee makers, sandwich makers and slow cookers to name a few. And we’re not talking low-quality products. $3 Target appliances are made by Chefmate. Target will also give away a $10 gift certificate for every Benjamin you spend between 5 a.m. and noon. My question is what the heck is Target thinking? Don’t they know this could possibly start a war?

More Black Friday Deals at Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Black Friday ads is particularly causing excitement because of their hot Black Friday special on Blackberry phones. Wal-Mart is offering a free $100 gift card on any Blackberry purchase with a 2-year contract. Fortunately, buyers will not have to deal with just one cell phone carrier. Wal-Mart has teamed up with all four major cell phone carriers: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. Even better, you don’t have to wait till Black Friday to take advantage of Wal-Mart’s Black Friday offerings. Items from Wal-Mart Black Friday Ads 2009 will hit store shelves on Saturday November 14.

Best Buy: Making the Best of Black Friday 2009

Best Buy, one of America’s favorite retailers for consumer electronics, is also catching headlines with their extensive Black Friday ads this year. From what it looks like, you probably won’t need payday loans to make the best buys. They have cell phones, kitchen stuff, household appliances, television, computers, digital cameras, video games, movies, and more – all with incredible markdown prices!

For instance, you can get an Insignia Blu-ray Disc Player for less than 100 bucks. What about a Magellan SE4 GPS? With this GPS device you can easily locate interesting destinations in all the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The Magellan SE4 GPS is going for only $119.99 at Best Buy. That’s a $60 saving on just one item! Check out Best Buy’s Black Friday ads for more offerings.

Don’t Forget To Plan and Budget!

With all these offerings available during this time of the year, more people are feeling the urge to spend. Of course, Black Friday is the best time to spend and save money along the way. Your urge to spend, however, can still leave you in need of financial help if you’re not careful. So don’t forget to plan and budget for all your holiday needs.

Yes, joblessness is still going up. A total of eight states now have double-digit unemployment rates. However, there are still jobs out there. Earlier, I covered the cities in the U.S. that have the lowest unemployment rates. But there are some companies that operate nationwide and have openings, so these will be good options if you want to stay put. These seven Fortune 100 companies have at least 150 job openings.

1. Wal-Mart

The recession hasn’t had any negative effects on retail giant Wal-Mart. In fact, this company has only brought in more profits since consumers started aggressively seeking the bargains. Wal-Mart is has thousands of job openings across the country. The company is hiring store managers, human resource managers, pharmacists, customer service associates, cashiers and others. So, if you need some extra cash to pay off installment loans, check out the nearest store.

2. UPS

According to Fortune, UPS has 3,070 openings in the U.S. UPS is seeking part-time package handlers, mechanics, warehouse personnel, sales representatives and information technology professionals. UPS offers a huge variety of shifts, so people can work at night or other odd hours. A lot of the openings are probably graveyard or swing shifts, so if you’re willing to work a nontraditional schedule, or better yet if you are a night owl, check it out.

3. Lowe’s

Lowe’s hardware store is hiring for pretty much every position. The retail chain has 7,900 openings nationwide, and is looking for everything from part-time seasonal employees to executives to work in the corporate office. I’m sure we’ve all needed help from one of those store workers who knows where the light fixtures or the PVC pipes are. And isn’t it nice to be needed?

4. Sears

One of the nation’s oldest retailers is looking to hire more than 500 employees. Sears is hiring in information technology, eCommerce, finance, audit, marketing, brand management, merchandising, distribution, associates, store managers and in-home technicians. There are 926 Sears stores in the U.S., so there’s bound to be one nearby.

5. Coca-Cola

Another age-old brand that is near and dear to many Americans’ hearts, Coca-Cola is also seeking employees. It is seeking workers to fill jobs in finance, bottling, retail operations, production and customer service, delivery and food chemistry. Fortune doesn’t say whether free product samples are part of the job, but you can always ask when you pick up your application.

6. Johnson Controls

If you want to jump on the green wagon, check out Johnson Controls. The company has more than 750 job openings, and most of them are in the energy efficiency field. This is a rapidly growing field, and it will only continue to grow under the current White House administration. Plus, it’s good for the planet!

7. Comcast

Everyone has heard of the nation’s main cable television provider, Comcast. While many people choose to cancel the cable when they get laid off or otherwise into a financial pinch, the company is still doing very well. Through its expanded offerings including Internet, it has manged to keep the cash rolling in. Comcast has about 1,000 jobs available in call center operations, field operations, warehousing and sales.

Everyone likes a little extra cash here and there. Better yet, a lot. Unfortunately for most stock market players, that extra cash did not flow in last year. Only 24 Fortune 500 companies saw positive returns on stocks last year, according to Fortune Magazine. Many companies that offer very inexpensive goods and services did well, and chances are those companies will continue to do well this year. Here are the seven best-performing Fortune 500 stocks of 2008.

1. Dollar Tree

This nationwide chain of retail stores that sells all of its merchandise for $1 gave investors a generous return of more than 60 percent last year. The company has 3,500 stores in the United States. It sells everything from dishes and cookware to bubble gum. Many of the stores even sell food, so low-income families don’t need payday loans to afford groceries.

2. Family Dollar

Dollar Tree’s main competition did pretty well for itself, too. As consumers have flooded dollar stores since the beginning of the recession, the company’ stock has improved by 40 percent, giving shareholders a 39 percent return. Family Dollar also sells food, and it has added some Hanes products to its merchandise as well. The average customer at Family Dollar only spends $10.

3. Nash-Finch

As people stayed home to eat instead of spending their money on restaurant food, grocery wholesalers reaped the benefits. Nash-Finch is the second largest food wholesaler in the United States. In 2008 its stocks gave shareholders a 30 percent return. The company also serves military distributors and operates discount grocery stores in the Midwest. Nash-Finch’s sales went up almost 4 percent last year.

4. World Fuel Services

This company, which provides fuel services at airports, seaports and other global locations, flourished despite the economy, not because of it like the other companies that had top-performing stocks. As people cut traveling from their budgets, airlines slashed flights, gas retailers took losses and gas prices fell drastically. Nevertheless, some crafty acquisitions allowed World Fuel Services to give shareholders a 28 percent return.

5. Amgen

This drug maker showed a lot of promise with its osteoporosis drug, denosumab. Investors took the bait, and the company made $15 billion in revenue in 2008. Shareholder return was more than 24 percent. Drug companies in general posted better-than-expected results in 2008.

6. Omincare

Omnicare illustrates the success of pharmaceutical companies in 2008. This company focuses on geriatric drugs and kept revenue growing as aging baby boomers filled their prescriptions. The company also provides health care for more than 1 million nursing home residents. Its shares went up more than 20 percent. Its acquisition of Advanced Care Scripts in mid-2008 helped its revenue as well, which surpassed $6 billion.

7. Wal-Mart

What discussion about companies flourishing during the recession would be complete without a mention of Wal-Mart? The retail giant gave shareholders a 20 percent return, and the company’s revenue was $405.6 billion. It was one of only two Dow Jones stocks to see a positive return. The other was McDonald’s.

While the Senate haggles over a bill regarding a bonus tax, Wal-Mart is celebrating a profitable year by giving all of its employees bonuses.

The bonus tax bill would only affect companies that get bailout money. Wal-mart is far from needing a bailout. While other retailers lost sales in 2008, Wal-Mart sales and stocks gained.

Business as usual

This year Wal-Mart is giving out $2 billion in awards, including $933.6 million in cash bonuses. It ends up being more than $900 for each employee. The cash advances go to every qualified employee from cashiers to stockers.

The retail giant hands out the awards every year as part of a regular program. This is the largest amount the store has ever handed out.

The 2009 awards are based on how well the 3,657 U.S. Wal-Marts and 602 Sam’s Clubs performed in 2008 and as a result payments will be made to one million of the company’s 1.4 million hourly part- and full-time workers, according to CNN.

Good timing

Just last week Congress introduced the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that would make unionizing easier for employees. Wal-Mart is stalwartly opposed to the bill and has been fighting it.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Daphne Moore assures us, though, that it is not a bribe to keep employees from unionizing. The company has been handing out annual awards for years.

Breakdown

Besides the bonus money that will be handed over to employees in cash, employees will also get 401k contributions, merchandise discounts and contributions to stock portfolios.

Fast facts

Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the U.S. It’s most recent fiscal year ended Jan. 31, and it recorded $402 billion in net sales. That’s up 7.2 percent from the previous year. It seems that the recession has driven people away from other retailers and straight to Wal-Mart. Most other retailers have posted double-digit declines in sales.

In part four of this series, we’re going to take a look at just how hypocritical ACORN is when it comes to providing a living wage. It’s a case of “great for them, but not in my backyard.” Click here if you missed parts ONE, TWO or THREE.

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is clearly looking to reform communities other than their own. In fact, the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) goes so far as to say that ACORN may be the “single most hypocritical employer in America.” Their rhetoric in support of a national living wage has mobilized massive amounts of union money to attack the hiring and compensation practices of mega-retailers like Wal-Mart. However, their fight for a living wage stops when it comes to their own employees, who know how payday loans work.

ACORN does not value you

ACORN has actively sought legal exemption that would allow them to do as follows:

1. Avoid paying their employees minimum wage
2. Avoid paying overtime
3. Skip employee wage payments
4. Circumvent work environment safety requirements
5. Break union attempts to counter the above points

The irony is supreme, in that ACORN is otherwise perhaps America’s most prominent supporter of locally based wage-increase mandates. These mandates effectively force other businesses to pay wages that are over and above the federal or state minimum wage. Yet ACORN does not apply this to themselves; they’ve even dared to admit that it doesn’t make economic sense for their bottom line.

Making it up as they go along

According to the EPI, an ACORN training document suggests that “the appropriate level of a living wage be set at the federal poverty level for a family of four.” However, David Reynolds, one of the co-authors of the document, acknowledges that most employees are not supporting a family of four on a single salary. The economics of it are nearly impossible, particularly during the current depression.

The same ACORN training manual goes on to say this: “Ultimately, the living wage amount is a question of politics and organizing strength, not a technical one. Ideally, campaigns want to push for as high a wage as possible.” Jen Kern, head of ACORN’s Living Wage Resource Center, testified in court that when they set the living-wage amount for Oakland, California, “we just made that number up.”

Poor public policy

ACORN cannot serve the people if it refuses to take care of its own. Furthermore, people should not be taken in by their “for the people” rhetoric. They are inconsistent at best, and the fact that the Center For Responsible Lending and Self-Help Credit Union continues to associate with them shows that they also support selling out families who need fair wages during difficult times. CLICK HERE to see what Wade Rathke himself thinks about the living wage.

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Nice price, but don't use your American Express there!

Kevin Drum blogs on Mother Jones that there’s yet another reason to rely upon a cash advance when you need emergency funds. Actually, that’s my interpretation, because it’s an easy connection to make. And for many thousands of people, it would be exceedingly more useful than depending upon a credit card that judges you based upon where you shop. Whether they’re attempting to be a social crusader or simply being snooty, American Express is apparently monitoring cardholders’ credit statements closely. If you shop at Wal-Mart, your credit limit could be lowered.

That’s what happened to Kevin Johnson, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He actually received a letter from American Express which stated that “other customers who have used their card at establishments where you recently shopped (Wal-Mart) have a poor repayment history with American Express.” In other words, American Express persecuted Johnson for value shopping. They lowered his limit to reduce their “risk of exposure.” And in other news, misguided legislators are chomping at the bit to take away consumers’ right to choose payday loans when they need extra cash.

What is AMEX’s official response?

AMEX spokeswoman Lisa Gonzalez wouldn’t name any names, but she doesn’t have to, does she?

We’re just doing this to manage risk… customers who have loans outstanding with certain lenders or customers who make transactions with certain merchants tend to have a higher proportion of credit issues or a higher probability of default.

Then there’s American Express spokeswoman Susan Korchak. In a lackluster attempt at spin control, she told the New York Times that it was all “just a big misunderstanding” that the language about “establishments” where Mr. Johnson recently shopped wasn’t a way to single him or anyone else out for shopping anywhere in particular.

OK, then just what are you saying, AMEX?

Denial does not excuse you from abusing the public, American Express. It simply spreads more of your slime on the wall. And if you think people like Kevin Johnson are going to lie down and take what credit card companies like you are trying to put over on innocent people, think again. Mr. Johnson has taken it upon himself to be a consumer advocate against the likes of you. Cash Advance Mojo and his colleagues at Personal Money Store wish Kevin Johnson and like-minded citizens the best in their fight for financial freedom.

Related articles

• Carded: Customers Spied on Then Penalized (abcnews.go.com)
• NewCreditRules Asks, Which Of These Stores Will Get Your AMEX Card Reduced? [American Express] (consumerist.com)
• Credit Card/banks lowering credit limits based on WHERE you shop (americablog.com)

Wisteria fast becoming a hot property

Antiques are some of the most popular shopping items, as antique stores and antique trade shows pull in thousands, and some running for payday loans to be able to pick up the relic they prize as the ultimate addition to their home.  Antiques Road Show, the popular TV program has a strong following that it has maintained in the US and elsewhere for over a decade, and one of the hottest furniture catalogs these days is the Wisteria collection.

Wisteria, named for a particular type of climbing vine like kudzu or woodbine, is a home furnishing catalog that specializes in antique style furniture.   Well, just as age advances the price on designer jeans (artificially, I might add) the price advances on furniture that has an already lived in look.  The cheapest of chests of drawers from this company go for $999, and once again, that is the cheapest.  The antique craze has been steadily taking off and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

From new stuff to distressed stuff

The trend in earlier decades was to get your self new stuff, things that were bright and shiny and unblemished, the newest and best stuff that you could get and in so doing “keep up with the Joneses” (although this mythical “Jones” family that started it has yet to surface) and in ways that trend continues with the technology craze, but when it comes to everything else, except cars and cell phones and what not, the idea has become the reverse over the last 40 years – that status is assessed by the ancient pedigree of your stuff.

Some things, of course, are understandably great antiques, like vintage cars of the glory days of Detroit and the long sought after Holy Grails of musicians, like an unblemished 1958 Gibson Les Paul or pre CBS Fender Stratocaster guitars, and even guitar companies are starting to market “distressed” models, or guitars that, whilst being brand new, look as if they’ve seen decades of use.  The pre-worn jeans market exploded over the last five years or so, with pairs of jeans that look like they belong in a second hand store are easily fetching over $100 at retail stores.   It seems that the ultimate irony is becoming that the best of the best looks like crap.

This stuff is expensive

The vintage and antique industry, in both trading of actual antiques and of pre-antiqued items, is a thriving business, pulling in billions, and antique stuff is actually very interesting.  Buying new all the time has its drawbacks, though, and if you have a new expense that wrecks the old budget, you can distress that expense out of existence with payday loans.

Banks and credit unions are uncomfortable with this competition

For banks, the competition from payday loans is fierce.

They’re fighting for that market share by offering small short-term loans at annual rates as low as 12 percent. Perhaps they will see the folly in offering such a product at such a rate. It is not financially viable, as no fax payday loan companies have found.

Flip it, flip it

The Times reporter cites the belief held by organizations like the CRL that borrowers trap themselves by using an additional lender to pay off their first faxless payday loan (if rollovers are not available). As shown previously, however, most borrowers pay off their loans on time and use very few loans per year, as the above cited CFSA statistics show.

Yet critics blindly persist

CFSA spokesman Steven Schlein is quoted by the Times reporter as saying

Consumer groups are very effective at using that 3- or 4% of horror stories about people who misused the product and got more loans than they can afford. Most payday borrowers earn $25,000 to $50,000 a year. Why would you have a business model to make loans to people who can’t pay you back?

Critics claim that the profit margins for no faxing payday loan companies is outrageous. But according to a Vanderbilt Law/Oxford University co-study from December 2007 at http://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/members/jeremy.tobacman/papers/profitability.pdf, faxless pay day loan companies turn only about 10 percent profit per year due to the risk the small percentage of delinquent borrowers pose.

Consumers have spoken in favor of payday loans

Consumers look to no fax payday loans for the help they require if cash emergencies threaten. Academic and corporate researchers have shown evidence speaking to the value of the loan product. Even independent corporate analysts like Utendahl Capital Partners‘ Daniel O’Sullivan have admitted that

At the end of the day, there is a need for the product, so it comes down to finding something that makes sense for everybody — something the companies can make money at without putting people into a debt spiral.

Speaking of independent parties, is the Center for Responsible Lending (generally faxless payday loans most vocal critic) a party that is merely concerned for the welfare of consumers? Hardly. As you can see, Martin Eakes, who sits on the board of that organization, is also in charge of Self-Help Credit Union, an organization that was in prime position to steal payday loans customer base in North Carolina once the lenders were ceremoniously banned with their own short-term loan products.

Payday loans, says Check Into Cash founder W. Allan Jones, is “the craziest business. Consumers love us, but consumer groups hate us.” According to this recent Los Angeles Times article, that’s where the divide seems to be, and in their estimation, that is a problem.

“Critics say they trap the working poor with steep interest rates; lenders say they provide a needed service,” say the newsprint propagandists, and yet customers continue to seek payday loans in person, online and via the telephone. Since it’s clear people aren’t being forced into using payday loans, why do they choose them? Perhaps because they’re fast, convenient, inexpensive when compared with bouncing checks and paying late fees and discreet in relation to your credit report?

It’s easy to apply, which critics mistake for entrapment

Swing and A Miss

With identification, proof of steady employment and a checking account, a consumer in need of quick cash to over expenses if a surprise threatens their between-paychecks budget can use payday loans.
“Americans now pay as much as $8 billion a year to borrow at least $50 billion from payday lenders, by various estimates,” says the Times. Let’s look at that. $8 billion is actually only 7.5 percent cost, which is not out of the ordinary when paying back a loan, is it? Was that statistic supposed to be scary?

Payday loans are busting out all over

The author of the Times piece goes to great lengths to point out how payday loan establishments have proliferated, in a negative way. Yet does an abundance indicate a problem? Do not these stores provide jobs during difficult economic times?

The ubiquitous notion of “cycle of debt” is also addressed in the article. Yet according to the Community Financial Services Association (CFSA), of the few states that permit loan rollovers, CFSA-member lenders can only offer four or fewer. Thus, recycling the same debt is made quite difficult, and in such a situation, a loan can’t last longer than eight weeks. Moreover, regarding repeat borrowers after the initial loan is repaid, researchers and state regulators surveyed by the CFSA and other institutions consistently show that 70 to 80 percent of customers use payday loans anywhere from once a year to a maximum of once per month. This does not indicate chronic patterns of consumer financial abuse.

Living without a cushion

While it is true that many people live without a savings cushion for difficult times, it is also true that Payday loans cannot be honestly connected to any form of financial ruin. Reports by investigators like Dartmouth University’s Jonathan Zinman even show that the absence or unreasonable capping of interest rates can have a detrimental effect upon the populace. Individual responsibility and discipline is vital to one’s success in any endeavor. Payday loans, like pain medication, alcohol or potato chips, are useful when used in controlled moderation. Just because the “Twinkie defense” worked doesn’t mean that juries and judges aren’t ever temporarily insane.

Speaking of cushions, larger brick-and-mortar payday loan companies are designed with family comfort in mind. Seating is available, the lobbies are clean and easy to navigate and many provide toys to occupy young children while mom or dad is waiting to speak with a teller. In some cases, outlets are even located inside big box stores like Wal-Mart, as well as grocery stores or other big retailers.

TUNE IN HERE for the exciting conclusion of “Payday Loans | L.A. Times Swings and Misses” to see how the short-term loan is a product whose time has come.

At Personal Money Store we talk a lot about payday loans, but we also like to keep you informed on bargains buys and money saving tips as well. The latest on our list to share with you is what we have heard in regards to Apples flagship product the Apple iPhone.

Have you seen the latest publicity on the Apple iPhone? New information has leaked out across the internet claiming that Wal-Mart will become an Apple iPhone distributor.  Huh?

How Did That Happen?

Wal-Mart is not exactly what you would call a leader in the home electronics arena. Of what they do offer in consumer electronics that are name brand and industry standard, they seem to lack in qualified sales representatives. This provides a less than savory environment to lure buyers into purchasing their products.

What Wal-Mart lacks as a consumer electronics dealer in comparison to other chains who are offering electronics as their specialty, makes it even more of a challenge to become successful in the electronics industry.

Wal-Mart’s New Approach May Allow Them To Compete With The Big Boys

Wal-Mart seems to have caught on to this dilemma and has begun contracting out qualified staff from other firms to work on site at select locations to educate customers and Wal-Mart employees on the different consumer electronic products and the differences between them. Some of these technologies include things like Digital Television, HDTV, LCD, Plasma and etc.

In an effort to increase sales, and provide the customer with a better buyers experience they will be addressing consumers individual needs to help them find the best product for the best price.

Tag Teaming With Apple

Wal Mart is where you can get those wonderful toys.

Rumors which have leaked out on the internet say that the IPhone may be available at Wal-Mart by Dec 15th for only $99 which will help draw in consumers looking for those holiday gift sales before Christmas. The rumors say that this buy will be for Apples 4Gig IPhone model only, not the 8Gig.  That’s a price so low, you won’t need payday loans to get your hands on the latest and greatest.

More Rumors, Different Story

Mac Rumors.com however claims that it will only carry the 8Gig model of the iPhone and the delivery date will be on December 28th missing Christmas altogether. The savings on the 8Gig model won’t be putting anyone out of business as the sale price is set to be $197 which is only $2 less than the $199 norm.

Apple has been very selective in its choice of retailers for its iPhone product. Choosing Wal-Mart as an industry retailer will further increase Apples domination of the mobile phone market due to the sheer volume of product that Wal-Mart sells. The range of merchandise offered at Wal-Mart draws a multitude of traffic to each of their store locations on a daily basis from which Apple will be able to capitalize on.

The Apple IPhone has become a household name, it’s readily available and comes with benefits. Kind of like payday loans.

-Personal Money Store

Payday Loans just might become more valuable than buying stock in precious metals like silver, platinum, palladium and even possibly gold in the year 2009. Recently these precious metals have been declining in value due to the major slowdown of the economy and the price of crude oil dropping significantly. Forecasters are predicting that these precious metals are only going to decline in value even more through the year of 2009. I know what you’re thinking: “Payday loans are not more valuable then gold,” but they can help those who are about to default on mortgage payments which in turn keeps foreclosures from going up.

What Other Stocks Are Seeing a Major Decline?

Some of the world’s largest mining companies are struggling on the market as well. These companies are being asked to cancel some deliveries and reduce production levels of things like iron and coking coal. The largest decline on the market this week goes out to the retail industry, who is suffering major hits due to the recession and future financial fears of the general public.

Retail took a massive impact on the Monday after Black Friday, as stockholders of major retailers like Wal-Mart, Macy’s, Target, and JCPenney saw considerable losses in the value of their stock. With shoppers focusing on saving money and spending less this holiday season, the retail market is sure to see some more sizable losses before the shopping season is over. (Consumers remember to be responsible this holiday season and not use faxless payday loans to purchase gifts for loved ones or yourselves.)

Grim Days for Wall Street

Last Monday, December 1, 2008 marked a harsh reality of recession for Wall Street as the previous week’s stock gains were wiped nearly in half. The DOW dropped 679.95 points, Standard & Poor’s 500-Index stock lost nearly 9%; manufacturing dropped to its lowest since 1982; and for every one stock that rose on the New York Stock Exchange, several more fell. Not to mention that the US Dollar went down again and the price of crude oil and gold dropped as well. With the way that the economy is right now, it looks as though Wall Street is in for a very bumpy ride in 2009.

Unfortunately the news for the stock market will most likely not be favorable for the months ahead as unemployment, retail sales and home sales continue to dwindle. With financial worries of the recession on everyone’s thoughts and the lack of consumer spending, the market is bound to see more downturn, further affecting the economy.

There Is Hope

President Elect Barack Obama is installing hope back into investors with making the economy his primary focus and the aggressive actions that he his taking to get the nation back on its feet. He has put together an impressive economic team and says he will have an economic plan ready to go for when he steps into office. All Wall Street can do now is ride out the recession wave and look forward to strong economic plans to be put into action to get the market back on track.

And remember Money Bloggers, if you need help with financial crunches, payday loans are available to you.

Approach the holiday season with a different mindset

‘Tis the season to be jolly: another turkey, another Black Friday, and another time to learn how to use quick payday loans responsibly. Shopping during the holidays is nothing less than stressful. You want to find the best deals, get the goods before they’re sold out, and there is always an underlying pressure to make sure everyone gets exactly what they want. This holiday season is different because of the slow economy, which means you will need to approach this holiday shopping season with a different mindset.

Extreme Discounts

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the official kick-off for the holiday shopping season, boasts sales and doorbuster deals that are certain to get shoppers out of bed and into the store. But this year, retailers can’t be so certain. Both retailers and consumers are fearful of this year’s holiday shopping season, and they are worried for exactly the same reason: there is less money to be spent. Consumers will be working with tighter budgets, and with that in mind, the retailers are trying harder than ever to entice customers to make a purchase. That’s why the leaked Black Friday ads from major retailers like Wal-Mart and Sears are offering such extreme discounts. However, simply because something is marked at half price does not mean you can afford it. It’s not a good deal if you can’t really afford it.

Make a Budget

Budgeting is always a smart money move, but this time of year, a budget is imperative. You need to sit down before Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and all the holiday madness to calculate what you can afford to spend this year. Be sure to prioritize things like bills and groceries over seasonal items and gifts. You should leave a little extra for anything unexpected because the holidays tend to bring surprises of all kinds. Once you make a budget, stick to it. Don’t spend more money on gifts than you can afford, no matter how great of a deal you come across.

A Change of Focus

Chances are the budget you create won’t leave a lot of leeway for buying gifts, but believe it or not, that is okay. The holidays, and America in general, have become increasingly materialistic. Americans are so accustomed to associating things with happiness. But haven’t you always heard that money can’t buy you happiness? With that being said, this year is the perfect year to shift the focus of the holidays. Don’t spend too much time worrying about money and gifts. Make the holidays what they should be by being thankful for what you do have and focusing on family and friends.

Smart Shopping

This is not meant to deter you from shopping altogether this holiday season because, let’s face it, Black Friday has practically become its own holiday. This article is meant to help you become a smart shopper. A smart shopper makes purchases within her means and has no qualms with passing up an “unbeatable” deal. Most importantly, a smart shopper would never take out quick payday loans to help cover the costs of unnecessary gifts. The smart shopper knows that quick payday loans are available to her as a responsible way to pay for other bills or surprise expenses that come along with the holiday season.