Every day the phone rings and the e mails multiply as an army of PR agents pitch their so called story ideas or offer interviews with people they tout as experts on any given topic. Sometimes, the interviews are informative and entertaining. Sometimes their off the wall and we can’t get them off the air fast enough.

Frankly some of them are formula interviews. Like the dietician will probably talk  next about tips on losing all those holiday pounds. Or the trial lawyer commenting on the latest celebrity run in with the law. Pick a season and we’re pitched a topic. Not sure we’ll get through the month without the old December bromide, “how to control your holiday spending.”  In my case the only solution would be to ship my wife to a cloister in Borneo for the holiday season.

Most years, the message hardly resonated with listeners. Those were the years when credit was available, home equity lines were generous and pretty much anyone who wanted a job could find one. I recall talking with some investment Scrooge last year who suggested we not buy holiday gifts, but instead invest what we would have spent. Just trying telling some little one he didn’t get his or her most wanted toys, because Pop had to buy 200 shares of FACEBOOK.

One of our listeners found it somewhat laughable. Investing is about the last thing on her mind this holiday season,  AS IT WAS LAST YEAR Joanne Kenzy sadly is among a growing number of people in NORCAL and around the country concerned with putting food on the table, let alone presents beneath the tree:

Here’s what she wrote me:

I know you are well aware of black Friday and the latest cyber Monday.   I will introduce you to "tin can" Tuesday.  Our family of three decided several years ago to commit to a Christmas budget by saving our purchase change.  Each week we clean out our pockets & purses and put those coins in a slotted savings bank.  That becomes full and the coin is than rolled into the proper wrappers and put into a fairly large "Mr. Peanut" can...well yesterday  was counting day, a trip to the bank day and the disbursement of funds day.  I call it "tin can" Tuesday.  The results this year was $33.00 each.  A drive to the Roseville mall will not be necessary, save the gas & order the $29,95 pair of shoes from the JC Penney catalog.  My family will decide on their own just what their selection will be.   The Christmas eve gathering with the extended family has gift giving also.  Those gifts however are the recycled ones.  We look for good things that someone else might enjoy to use for awhile.  Books, CD's, dishes....not outlay of monies for that gathering.   I have been on a two day work week since October 2009....now my mind is thinking..."what will i cut back on?"  Already I have my hair cut once in the year.  Very long now.  I will find a cheap salon, ask him or her to lop off 5 or 6 inches, redefines the bangs, use a discount coupon and get out of there for $12.00.           
Joanne closed with a religious message. As we head into the holiday season…and trip over one another finding bargains for items that could be obsolete next year Her story this holiday season is a reminder of two things we all at times tend to forget. Jesus was born in a manger, not in a mall. And, as some long dead Gaelic philosopher wisely noted, the burial shroud has no pockets.