Patti Persia

I posted about this last year also and got alot of response. This year it is even more important!!!!

Last year I decided that I would give my kids a fabulous, NOT MADE IN CHINA Christmas. How hard can it be to find things they like made in the USA? Well, it was difficult, not because those items aren't out there, but because many retailers don't stock them. I plan on sending a message that we need to have items made by our hard working people in the stores. Why should all the chinese get our money? They taint our children with lead and melamine, destroy our manufacturing jobs, and everything we buy is made by them. Think about it.

I wanted to buy my daughter a doll, but most are not american. You have to look closely. I found a lovely french doll all knit and cuddly, FRENCH doll made in china! What is that about?

I have also sworn off large corporate stores. I am a small business owner and I want my money to stay in my area. Only 3% or so stays when you purchase from walmart, but over 60% stays when you buy locally.

So anyway, I succeeded last year and I will this year. None of my presents will be from Walmart or made in China. I know people are watching their money, but there are ways to save money without selling our country.

Keep in mind that quality over quantity can make the best Christmas ever. There are some great websites like madeintheusa.com and notmadeinchina.com among others that list companies that provide wonderful american made products.

Nothing speaks louder than our dollars. If we all make an effort to buy something made in the US we will be stregthening our economy. It has never been more important. for us and our children.

Also search for promotional codes before buying ANYTHING! I saved 40 percent on a recent online purchase of my Christmas cards.

Recently I had to appraise a home that was repossessed. It was owned by a local realtor that let his son and daughter in law live there. They were drug addicts and really destroyed the house. It was filthy, infested and much of their belongings were left, including baby furniture. When I arrived the neighbor came over to tell me the whole story. The 2 had an infant and she said she could hear the child crying at all hours and sometimes it appeared the child was left alone. I have 2 children so this was upsetting to me on a personal level. What really struck me was that this woman would go out of her way to come tell me this story, yet when I asked her if she had called the police for this child she said she had not. BUT she did call about them endangering their dog by leaving it outside all the time. It really struck me that someone would worry more about an animal than a human being. I know there are animal lovers out there, and I agree that they need stewards. But my heart dropped to think that no one had a voice for this child. Luckily, according to the neighbor, they did lose the baby when they were arrested for breaking into another neighbors home. I can only hope the child is in a better environment. These are the heartbreaks we see every day. Realtors, appraisers, home inspectors, and others. It is a job, but sometimes it is so hard.

Sometimes it is really hard to go into homes that were obviously loved and now lost. As an appraiser I see the carefully chosen paint and wallpaper, the hard work in renovations, the pink and blue kids rooms. I know how I love my house, how it is more than just shelter. Your home is where your kids are safe, where you keep track of how tall they have grown, where you feel at peace and happy. It may just be a mortgage to a bank, but to us, as homeowners, it is a part of our soul. My home is the center of our family, where we eat, sleep, play board games, laugh and are ourselves. I can only hope, going forward, that the people that deserve help in keeping their homes are able to get it. Since our government sees fit to pay billions to corporations so that they can give out trips and bonuses. Lets give a bonus to hard working americans so they can keep their families together and their dignity.

I know how busy we all are. I sometimes forget to eat or drink during the day I am so busy. But, take some time each day to do something to help others. Even the littles passive things can make you feel good and maybe encourage others. Here are a few simple ways to do this:

1. Set you home page as www.goodtree.com, then use their search engine. They donate the money they make from searches to your charity of choice.

2. Go to www.freerice.com. It is an addictive vocabulary game that donates free rice to the hungry! Have fun and help others! Get your kids on this too. It has lots of options including geography and launguages now.

3. Go to www.idealbite.com for info on how to save the world one post consumer at a time.

4. Pass along your fun tips to others, who knows you just might make a difference.

Thanks!!