Beginner Basics of Affiliate Marketing – For those looking into getting into affiliate marketing and need help with the basic terminology or finding programs to promote.

Create A Media Kit To Attract Advertisers To Your Blog – I haven’t done this myself, but some blogs make very good money with direct advertising.

Don’t Forget to Enjoy the Holidays – It’s too easy to get caught up in working throughout the holidays when you have your own business. Take some time off.

Are You Insuring the Irreplaceable? – It’s an interesting point. Many sentimental things have high value to you, but cannot be replaced. Does insuring them do any good?

Embracing the Thrift-Store Ethic: 18 Top Tips for Buying Used Clothes – More and more people are seeing the value of shopping for clothes at thrift stores. Some good tips for getting it right.

Are you Responsible? – Good advice for anyone. SAHM, WAHM, parent, nonparent. It doesn’t matter. Be responsible with your drinking.

25 Ways to Save Money in a Tough Economy – Lots of little ways you can save money. So often it’s the little stuff that really adds up and pounds a budget.

10 Things I Have Learned Since Becoming a Parent – So basic and yet so true.

Beware of the Economic Report – Want to get your business on television? This isn’t the way to do it.

Three Family Games You Love to Play – Just think about it. Talk it over with the kids.

Making Memories While Balancing Holidays, Kids and Work – Don’t entirely neglect the holidays even if your work does have you really busy.

Will Holiday Habits Set You Back for 2009? – The habits you have during the holidays also come around at other times. Build habits that will keep you productive.

Top 10 Threats Parents Use During The Christmas Season – Have you used any of these? I know mention of Santa has been made a time or two around here, but not that much.

It’s almost Christmas. With any luck you’re already done shopping, but what about the kids, especially the younger ones? Are they done yet?

You don’t have to run out and go shopping with them at the last minute. Younger children in particular love making crafts to give as holiday presents. You may even have the supplies on hand already. Other supplies you may be able to find, such as pine cones to decorate.

Here are some sites to help give you ideas:

All Free Crafts
All Kids Network
Family Fun

My daughter is so sweet. Like a lot of families, we’re cutting back this Christmas, and we have been very upfront with the kids about this. They may not really understand what all the money talk is, but they need to understand that some things need to be simplified.

But kids do so hate to hear that around Christmas time.

My daughter’s response to my husband telling her that this would be a simpler Christmas due to lack of money was “Don’t worry. Santa will take care of the rest.”

Too bad that doesn’t work.

I did tell my husband that there are some things “Santa” can do. There are some clothes the kids will need anyhow, and he can take credit for those. I want credit for the fun gifts to go where it belongs!

The simplification of Christmas in my family has gone pretty broad in its effects. It was agreed this year that even between families hand me down or thrift store finds were fair game. This is really helpful when there are so many cousins that can hand things down to one another.

Let’s face it, though. If things are tight for your family, spending a ton of money on Christmas just is not a smart move. It’s far smarter to take things easy financially and enjoy the meaning of the holiday and the time with your family.

Even Santa would agree, don’t you think?

For so many years, the gift card has been the gift of last resort… or sometimes first when you just want an easy solution. But they have disadvantages that are present every year… and potentially more than usual this year.

Gift Card Negatives

1. Companies going under.

If a company files for bankruptcy, they may or may not have to continue honoring their gift cards. It depends on what the court says. Once they close, of course, the card is no good anyhow.

You can try to get around this by only shopping with companies that aren’t currently having going out of business sales, but it’s hard to predict who will be next. The numbers are pretty scary.

2. Some states allow them to expire.

This isn’t allowed in California and several other states, but many states allow companies to put an expiration date on their gift card. Not fair when you think about it, since the company has your money in exchange for a little piece of plastic, but it’s something to be aware of.

3. Fees.

Depending on the rules of the state the card is purchased in, there can be fees as well. Fees for using the card, checking the balance, or even for failing to use the card over a certain time period. Sometimes there’s even a fee for the purchaser in order to activate the card.

4. They can limit options.

If you give someone a gift card, be very sure they can and do enjoy shopping at that particular store. There’s nothing like finding out you have a gift card for a company that doesn’t even exist in your city and doesn’t have an online option.

Then there’s the “sure I can get there, but I hate the selection” problem. Not everyone likes every store.

5. Some people aren’t sure how to handle the balance.

When the card gets down to just a couple of dollars, a lot of people don’t know how to finish it off. It’s easy, but many aren’t comfortable with it.

All you have to do in most stores is give it to the cashier first. They apply the balance to the purchase, then you pay the rest normally. However, many companies count on customers feeling a reluctance to do so, as they get to keep any unspent balances.

6. Some card balances are easily stolen.

Sometimes gift cards on display give away too much of their information. Thieves note this down, then check balances online regularly. When one appears, they spend it online. Make sure the cards you buy hide at least part of the information needed to activate and spend the card.

Gift Card Positives

1. You know the hobby, but not what’s needed.

A gift card can be a great, personal choice if you know someone’s hobby, but not what supplies they need. If you know where they shop, you can get a gift card to that store and they’ll probably be delighted.

2. Easy to send in the mail.

No outrageous shipping fees to send a gift card across the country. On the other hand, you do have to worry about theft. But checks face the same problem in the mail.

3. No waiting for recipient to cash your check.

There’s nothing like finding out that someone took two months or more to cash their holiday gift check. It can really mess up your personal bookkeeping.

4. You can give “experience” gifts.

Very nice when you don’t want to give things. Memberships work in some cases, but if they’re too expensive or unavailable, a gift card for it can work well.

Things to Know Before Buying a Gift Card

1. What state laws apply?

Can the card expire? What about fees?

2. What are the terms and conditions?

Some of these will contradict state law because the same card is sold in many states. You’ll still want to know, so you can figure out what applies.

3. What happens when the purchase is less than the card amount?

Many stores just leave the balance on the card, but a few will give cash back.

4. What happens if the purchase is more than the card amount?

Sometimes this is harder for the store to handle than other times. Some stores will want the gift card first, while others will want it second. If it’s too confusing, the card may be difficult to use.

5. How is the card registered?

This can protect you from gift card thieves who note the information on unsold cards, then try to use them before the legitimate purchaser. If too much of the card information is freely available before purchase, you may end up giving a worthless gift.

I’ve been thinking lightly about what I want to accomplish on this site in the New Year. Daniel Scocco’s Group Writing Project on Daily Blog Tips was a nice nudge to actually start sharing some of them.

It’s a bit challenging coming up with goals this year for next. Having baby #3 due in early February means I need to plan around that event, one that is certain to slow up my productivity. But I’ve done well in the past with a baby in the house, and I feel certain I can do it again.

I’m generally pretty ambitious in my goals. I don’t always reach them, but I keep on pushing. It’s just a matter of whether or not you let failing to reach your goals get you down or not. So long as I can achieve some of them, I’m generally feeling pretty good. If I understand the obstacles I have yet to overcome on the ones I didn’t reach, I’m also not in bad shape.

It’s all a learning process, after all.

1. Reach 500 RSS subscribers to this blog .
2. Build overall income to $5000/month across all sites. I’ve nudged this one many times in the past. I’d like this to be the year I stabilize it.
3. 5 posts per week per blog for my 2-3 best sites.
4. Average one article submission per day. I’ve managed this off and on in the past. Once again, just something I need to stabilize.
5. Write at least 1 new ebook. I have about 5 ideas sketched out, so this is a matter of picking one and making the time.
6. Generally get better at networking. I’m still the quiet sort in so many ways.