Redefine the Spirit of Gift-Giving

We're approaching the holiday season amid dire economic predictions and warnings about credit card spending. Since we issued those warnings months, even years, ago, it seems more appropriate to take a positive approach toward seasonal gift-giving.

Even though your budget is stretched, and your finances are over-extended, you can still give meaningful holiday gifts to those you care about. Where did we ever get the idea that "meaningful" is synonymous with expensive? It's time to redefine the spirit of gift-giving, as well as the practice.

And if you get your family and friends together this Thanksgiving weekend and agree on a plan, this could be the most rewarding holiday season you've ever had. Remember, if you're all fortunate enough to gather for dinner in a home that is not being foreclosed upon, you're well ahead of millions of families who can't even be thankful for the roof over their head.

Thanksgiving dinner is quite a tradition in many homes. There's likely to be turkey and trimmings. Then everyone will head for the couch to watch football games. And it's also become a tradition to get up early to start shopping for expensive bargains on Black Friday.

Stop right there. This year must be different. This year, "cash is king" -- especially the cash you don't spend! So here are some tips for a family conference about a new kind of gifting during this recession. If you're creative, you can come up with gifts that mean more than money.