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It seems like we had just carved pumpkins yesterday and now the actual holidays are around the corner. Thankfully, fast payday loans are available if it is absolutely necessary. Holidays are my favorite time of the year. This is the time to enjoy and spend my whole time with my family. Holiday shopping on Black Friday has become a family tradition for my entire family. My sister and I would wake right at the crack of dawn to make a stop for a latte at our local Starbucks. However, this year will be slightly different. My sister and I still plan on doing our normal routine this year, but I’m sure Starbucks is crossed off of our to-do list and a cup of homemade black coffee at home before we start will be on the to-do list. Instead of spending our money at fine department stores, we intend to stretch the spending money we do have as far as possible for our budget is tighter than ever this year. With the way the economy is going, we just cannot afford to splurge on a lot of the things we enjoy the most. Even still, we will sustain our holiday tradition and make the best of Black Friday. Instead of worrying more on money and gifts, we are taking this as an opportunity to spend quality time with each other as a family. My sister and I particularly are making sure we have everyone’s list together and we are planning an exact budget to work with. I found this article that talks about how to budget during times like this, and I think everyone should really practice smart spending habits during this holiday shopping season. Fast payday loans are available for unexpected expenses, such as bills and groceries, and are not designed to cover unnecessary gift charges. Despite how tight our budget will be, I’m sure these upcoming holidays will still be a merry season for all of us. Click here to read more on <a title="A Smart Shopper’s Take on Black Friday & Fast Payday Loans" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2008/11/14/smart-shoppers-take-on-black-friday-fast-payday-loans/">Fast Payday Loans</a>.

Recruitment at parades....go beyound candy!  Our community has a winter carnival parade in early February. We handed out "Relay Batons". The previous year excess t-shirts are rolled up into a baton shape, wrapped around is a "congratulations, you've been one of only 100 to receive a special Relay baton invitation to Relay For Life" written message. Follow up the parade with a press release and photo of the baton handoff in the paper - a casual reminder to those lucky recipients. We've event had tourists at the parade who started teams in their home community...it works!

Stella

Vernon, BC, Canada

Our event has participated in a local Christmas parade for several years.  We usually decorate a flatbed as a "hope float" but this year will be walking the route.  We also give away last year's t-shirts and hand out candy.  It's amazing how many people come to the event later and tell us that they became interested because we gave them a shirt!  We get our candy donated by the local Walgreens - who might be a national sponsor... so check it out!  This year, we are planning to rubber band information cards to the shirts to give more information about the event.  Good luck!!

I think Christmas is a great time to ask for the donation instead of a gift.  I know that my son and his friends ask for donations to their favorite charity and make it an ask from the children at the party.  

I wonder with all the effort in a Christmas letter if there aren't some Christmas letters that may do this very well...  hmmmm  let me look - or please hopefully others will post.

Nancy E. Peck

National Director, Corporate Relations, Relay For Life Business Unit

National Corporate Team Program Director