Doing My Part to Help the Economy (No Need to Thank Me, Just Don't Tell My Husband)

With the economy the way it is and the recent announcement that we are officially in a recession (Since 12/07, why did it take so long to figure this out?) I've been doing my part to get the economy back on track. I don't know why, but there is something about the holidays that makes me want to spend money, and this includes not only buying presents, but new clothes, and stuff for the house like (more) Christmas decorations. It is also a time when I decide that I absolutely have to complete all of the projects around the house I've been putting off in order to ready my home for the holidays.

There was speculation that holiday sales would be down this year, but early indicators point to a successful Black Friday. While, I wasn't one of the crazy people who got up at 4am to wait in line at Walmart, I did take advantage of Black Friday deals online, as well as in stores on Saturday, then again today, and I also made a few purchases before Thanksgiving in order to get a head start. I just checked my order status on Amazon and it looks like the giant 3 ft tall life-like pony I ordered is due to arrive tomorrow. Hopefully, neither the kids nor the husband will be around when the FEDEX man rings the bell.

I'm helping out small businesses as well not just corporate giants. I had my sofa and loveseat cleaned today for the first time since I bought it 6 years ago. There is no longer any what can only be described as "gunk" between the cushions and the leather no longer makes a cracking sound when you sit down on it due to the cushions trying to become unstuck. (Thank you Metro Chem Dry in Havertown, PA)

Next up on the list is having a new light fixture installed over the stairs and finally painting the rest of the rooms in the house which still haven't been painted. Actually, this is pretty much a necessity because one of my children decided that sidewalk chalk can also work indoors and decided to color my walls a pretty pastel blue (and since the family room walls still have contractor paint on them, I can't even wash it off).

Which, leads me to wonder, are people really cutting back on spending this year because of the economy? Seems to me that if people have the money (or perhaps plastic) that people are going to spend regardless. I don't know that most Americans are so financially responsible that they are willing to forego buying unnecessary items like giant ponies, video games, etc. because of the economy. Did we all of a sudden realize that we shouldn't buy things that we don't need or can't afford? I would guess that those who are truly faced with hardships like unemployment or foreclosure will indeed have to cut back, but those of us who are more fortunate probably will not.

So, my next few weeks will surely include multiple package deliveries, trips to the mall, wrapping presents, hiding presents, and eventually the bill. It's all part of my personal economic stimulus package to help bail us out of this mess. Of course, if I can close a few more mortgage loans or help another small business get financing through our merchant cash advance program it would be even better.

Written by Michelle Chamberlain, Above All Financial Services

Homeowners, get the mortgage loan you need at www.aboveallmortgage.com

Business owners, get the cash you need at www.ezmerchantadvance.com