Today on MoneyLife

Chuck tells listeners today that a lot of money will be spent in the next few weeks on Christmas gifts. This is also a season to make money if you're needing extra income.

Christmas also provides a great opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. Chuck shares that he’s expecting his first grandchild in mid-December. The Bentley family gatherings will center on celebrating this birth.

Co-host Dave Ball shares that this will be the first year in a while that he won’t have any extended family with him at Christmas.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and is so named because it’s the day most retailers move from being in the red to the black for the year and start making money. It's one of the largest shopping day of the year. Dave says he's never shopped on Black Friday. Chuck says he's going to talk about things today that will help people who plan on shopping on Black Friday.

After the break, Chuck and Dave talk about opportunities to make money during the holiday season. Because of the down economy, Christmas shopping season has already started this year. Retailers have begun sales that normally wouldn’t start until after Thanksgiving.

This is an opportunity for those seeking part-time seasonal work to get in more weeks than normal. These temporary usually last until mid January. If you’re interested in this kind of work, you need to act fast because more people are looking for jobs this year. Here are 6 Tips to snag a coveted seasonal job:

1. Start at your favorite store (you know it well and you may get an employee discount)
2. Go beyond retail - also seek businesses that have a heavier workload during the holidays such as shipping companies, caterers, nurseries. A good seasonal worker can become a full-time employee if they do a really good job (do your best)
3. Be flexible (on when you can work,employers are looking for people that can fill gaps in their schedule)
4. Ditch the Internet - don’t waste time looking for a season job on the Internet, go to the employer in person and be prepared to make a good impression
5. Emphasize your abilities - in the interview with the employer, emphasize your knowledge of the products or services offered by the company
6. Be persistent (turnover is high during the holiday season)

See also our video with Brian Ray on our HHI Web site.

Chuck and Dave talk about ways to save money on Christmas gifts. Retailers expect sales to be down this season so they’ve already started discounting.

Christmas decorations that usually don’t go on sale until after Christmas are on sale now
Circuit City filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and is going to attempt to reorganize and pay down debt. This store will be offering major discounts to raise cash.
You shouldn’t be afraid to shop there, but you still have to compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

It's best to buy brand name items with a manufacturers warranty in case Circuit City doesn’t recover. Here are 4 ways to get the most out of holiday sales:

1. Compare prices (see also BlackFriday.info)
2. Don’t jump the gun (the longer you wait, the more likely prices will come down)
3. Check for price adjustments – shop at retailers that have a policy of refunding the difference if you find the same item at a lower price somewhere else in 30-30 days (PriceGrabber.com)
4. Plan ahead – make a budget, then a gift list, only go to the stores with the items on your list, stay focused and don’t start shopping for yourself

You can also give special Christmas gifts even if you don’t have much money to spend. Many things you can do for people that are more meaningful than buying a gift.

Chuck and Dave talk about ways to fulfill God’s purpose for your life at Christmas. Christmas is a time we should be focusing on God. Christmas is truly about God’s gift to mankind of Jesus Christ.

If we keep our eyes on Him we can rise above the consumerism of the world that I so strong during this time. You can have a fulfilling Christmas without spending money.

Here are some ways to give a low or no cost gift:

• Make a gift
• Pass on a family heirloom
• Give coupons for various services (babysitting, cleaning, errands)
• Set a spending limit and see who can do the most for the least
• Draw names in large families (extended family)

Christmas

Scaling down this expensive holiday takes ingenuity, idealism, and a hefty dose of individuality.

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10 Ways to Avoid Debt During the Christmas Season

With "Black Friday" only days away, CCCS is offering ways to help consumers spend wisely and avoid holiday debt.

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Extraordinary Gifts for Christmas

If this has not been a good year financially, be honest and do something simple—less expensive but no less extraordinary.

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Managing the Cost of a Christmas Present

There are many great things about Christmas, but the cost of "doing it right" isn't one of them.

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Other Resources:

• ABCs of Money Package
• Career Direct
• God's Principles for Operating a Business
• Business By the Book
• Crown Mvelopes