Really…I am posting late because I wanted to leave yesterday’s post up long enough for everyone to see it and get in on the give away fun. If you missed it please check the last post. You won’t want to miss out!

This year I told you I want to do a few more things which will focus on dealing with the economy and financial hard times. This means more ideas for saving money and more ideas for making money as well. What are your most successful belt tightening ideas? Please share them here or in our yahoo group. We really would appreciate any you may have.

I remember when I was little that my mom had a Christmas Club Account at the bank. Each week we would go in and she would add $2.00 to her account. When Christmas came that was her gift money. I remember being fascinated by that account and it wasn’t long until our school began a savings program. We would bring in our $.25 each week and we would watch it grow. How I wish banks and schools still promoted those money saving practices.

This year I would encourage all of you to take up the challenge and begin your own Christmas Club account. You don’t have to use the bank, just get a bottle or use the cookie jar and start putting something aside each month. If you saved just $5.00 per week from now until Thanksgiving you could have enough saved to pay cash for all the special foods you want to purchase for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve! If you saved just $10.00 a week until Thanksgiving you could pay for all of your Christmas gifts with cash! That is, if you spend what the average family spends, $450.00. No matter the amount set aside some each week to be used for a specific purpose next December with the added comittment that the credit card will stay where it belongs, in your wallet!

We actually made it through the holiday season this year without credit card expenses and it is an incredible feeling. We saved ahead of time, and gifts were smaller, but fancy foods and gifts are not the important things in life. Being with our family and being stress free after the holiday because we don’t have that bill hanging over our heads, is the real gift.

Why not have your children start an account too? Help them start good savings habits now.

I’m going to be asking… so get out the jar today and add your first deposit.

Start posting and linking and win our first give away of the year!!!

DON’T BE LEFT OUT !!!

As I have watched the economy this year, and heard from many of you, it has become more and more important to me that we expand our numbers. Everyone needs to know what we know. Families throughout the world are suffering from the failing economy and an increase in natural disasters.

Please help me to reach out and expand our community

As a way of thanking you for your help I am going to be giving away several self reliance related gifts.

***Our Grand Prize***

$75.00 Gift Certificate to Totally Ready.com

plus copies of all my ebooks

Mother Hubbard: What She’s Doing Now

Prep Not Panic

Pack Your Bags We’re Staying Home

&

That Won’t Happen to Me

Other prizes

Autographed copy of James Talmage Steven’s Book..Making the Best of Basics PLUS my ebooks listed above…$65.00 Value

Emergency Auto Kit…$40.00 Value

4 Child ID Kits and 2 First Aid Kits…$40.00 Value

To Enter the Drawing do any or all of the following:

1. Sign up for the Totally Ready Newsletter for yourself or a friend..5 chances to win …current subscribers, you have already earned five chances!!!

2. Post a link to http://blog.TotallyReady.com on your blog, twitter or face book.. 4 chances for each posting. You never know who may see the link and become inspired. Just let me know where you have posted.

3. Join our Yahoo Group…2 chances…current members have already earned 2 chances!

4. Ask a question or post a response to questions on our yahoo group…1 chance each.

5. Send a friend to our blog. Have them post a comment and you will get 2 more chances and they will get 2 chances.

Let’s Make 2010 the Year we help our friends and family

prepare !