Between birthday parties, anniversaries, baby showers, and weddings there are constantly demands pulling at our pocket books. My husband and I have really focused on staying on our budget this year, but it seems that just as soon as we commit to spending less, more requests pop up that threaten to attack our bank account. Because I don’t want to seem stingy and I believe in celebrating life’s important events, I try to reduce the impact of gift giving on my budget using these tips.

Plan Ahead

I have a birthday book that tracks my family’s important dates. I look ahead in this book every month so I know what gift giving obligations are coming up. That way I can be thinking of the perfect gift idea and searching for the best deals.

Keep Back-Ups

To avoid last minute gift shopping I usually try to keep back up gifts in our home. These are things like candles, spa items or gift cards that will be suitable for a wide variety of people. It reduces the chance that I’ll end up spending more on a gift than I would have wanted to just because I’m in a rush.

Go Practical

Sometimes practical gifts really are the best option. If you have friends who are expecting start looking for good deals on essentials like baby wipes, diapers and other needs. They’ll appreciate the gift and you’ll appreciate the savings.

Say No If Needed

Through church and other associations we get a lot of invitations to showers and parties. Sometimes we just have to say no and we can’t be afraid that someone will be offended. If someone invites you to an event, don’t necessarily feel obligated to attend. It’s better to politely pass than to spend money you don’t have on a gift.

The awesome people over at C28.com offered to give our readers a chance to win one of two Christian t-shirts. We plugged the numbers into Random.org and winner was chosen. Congratulations to #13:

Erika Says:
January 27th, 2010 at 12:55 am

This is actually the first time I have seen your blog.I would love the woman’s shirt for one of my daughters who is going to be a missionary after she finishes college.

Erika, I know your daughter will love her t-shirt! I’m actually wearing the same one today and I love it! Thanks again to everyone who participated and don’t forget to stop by C28.com and do a little shopping for Valentine’s Day!

To demonstrate ways that we can all show Christ’s love through our daily lives, my church has organized a creative outreach event. On February 7 our congregation will do what most of us already do after church– we’ll go out to eat. But rather than focusing on the food and rushing the meal so we can get on with our days, we’ll be paying attention to our servers. The goal is that this small act of kindness will help others feel God’s love.

Within just a few miles of our church there are 156 restaurants. And most of those restaurants probably staff several waiters and waitresses every Sunday. Whether they want to or not, they won’t be attending a Sunday service. Instead they’ll be filling water glasses and taking orders. Since they won’t be able to go to church, we’re bringing the church to them. After all, church isn’t the building, it’s the people.

Besides just leaving a tip when we leave we’ll be giving our waiters and waitresses a goodie bag. Inside will be several gift cards for movie theaters, gas stations or grocery stores along with treats like candy bars. They’ll also get a letter from one of our pastors and a stamped envelope so they can easily send us any prayer requests. As my pastor pointed out, the Bible makes an incredible statement about Jesus. It says, “Jesus went about doing good.” Often it was his simple acts of compassion that unlocked people’s hearts.

All of the members will hopefully chip in something to create goodie bags that will be a wonderful blessing to our hardworking servers, which means no one person will have to spend a lot of money to make it happen. I remember over a year ago when the person in front of me in the Dunkin Donuts drive thru paid for my coffee. That little step made a huge impact on my life and I only hope that this opportunity to server our servers will do the same.

What seemingly small ways have you blessed others or been blessed by others? Give us your ideas!

As we all have Haiti and making donations on our minds, I came across some websites that help you give back to a variety of charities. And all you have to do is log onto the Internet or use your iPhone.

Good Search

First, enter a charity or school that you wish to help out. Then start surfing the web. The search engine is powered by Yahoo! so you get great search results. Fifty percent of the revenue generated from advertisers is shared with the charity or school of your choice. There is also a Good Search shopping mall. When you click on one of their partner merchants and make a purchase,  the charity you chose earns money. It’s that simple. The shop includes stores such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and Staples.

Free Rice

This is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Program. Its goals are to provide education for free and help end world hunger. Now all you have to do is play a vocabulary game. Answer some questions and for each correct answer, ten grains of rice is donated. Since it began in October 2007, the organization has donated more than 73 billion grains of rice.

Free Kibble and Free Kibble Kat

This one is similar to Free Rice, but for those with a heart for animals. This site gives food to dogs and cats in shelters when you correctly answer trivia questions. For each right answer, ten pieces of Kibble are donated. Free Kibble has 14 shelters across the country. Since it began in April 2008, more than 215 million pieces have been donated.

If you have an iPhone, there is a cool application that also helps you donate to charities.  As you go around town, you “check in” with the shops or restaurants and earn Karma points. It’s called Cause World. When you click the donate button, you can choose from a variety of causes to help out. You can even donate your Karma points to help those in Haiti.

So do some Web surfing, use your iPhone and play some games to help others!

I’m excited to announce a giveaway here at Out of Debt Christian. If you’re looking for a great Valentine’s gift or if you just want a new t-shirt for yourself, enter to win a t-shirt from C28.com. C28 Christian t-shirts are well-made, feature cool designs and help you display your Christian faith in a creative way. The company says it’s a ministry first and a store second, a commitment it proves by preaching the Gospel, encouraging prayer and supporting ministries.

Because Valentine’s Day is approaching, you have the chance to win your choice of two t-shirts. You can either win this men’s t-shirt featuring the words “A heart without love is a life without meaning.”

Or you can win this women’s t-shirt that says “Love will keep us alive. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” I received this t-shirt from C28.com and was very pleased with the fit– it’s modern, lightweight and well-made.

In order to win one of these t-shirts in time for Valentine’s Day, show us some love! Leave us a comment for one entry. To be entered a second time, subscribe to our feed and leave us a comment telling us you did that. For a third entry, tweet about this giveaway and leave us a comment telling us what you tweeted. A winner will be selected randomly through random.org on Wednesday, February 3. Thanks for playing!

An estimated hundreds of thousands of lives were lost because of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti this week. If you want to do something to help the survivors of this poor nation, here are some Christian organizations serving Haiti that need your help.

Compassion International: For more than four decades Compassion International has been working in Haiti. Compassion International matches donors with sponsor children and has helped more than 65,000 children and their families in Haiti. Your donation will be used to provide relief to those in Haiti.

GAIN-USA: The Global Aid Network is a multi-national network of ministries. They’re sending medical supplies, food and water to Haiti with the help of your donation.

Baptist Haiti Mission: Since 1943 the Baptist Haiti Mission has been serving this country. Their hospital in Fermathe is overflowing with victims needing treatment. Your donation will go directly to those who need it.

For Haiti with Love: This organization, For Haiti with Love, provides free medical care on the North Coast of Haiti. They’re expecting to serve more people and need help paying for additional medical supplies.

Mission Aviation Fellowship: As of right now, several of Mission Aviation Fellowship’s volunteers based in Haiti are not accounted for. The organization has set up a special fund just for serving the areas.

Food for the Hungry: Fifteen workers with Food for the Hungry are still unaccounted for in Haiti. The organization has a head start providing aid to this country because of workers they already have in place, but they need more funds to rush food, water, medicine and other life-saving help to this area.

CURE International: CURE International doctors in the Dominican Republic are responding to Haiti. Text CURE to 85944 to give a $10 mobile gift.

Bright Hope International: Bright Hope is all about serving the poorest of the poor. And now they want to help those in disaster-stricken Haiti. Your donation will provide supplies to the earthquake survivors.

Merry Christmas!! We hope you are having a fabulous holiday with your friends and family. But just because this is a day to take time to enjoy one another, it doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy some freebies. Here are a few freebies– just think of it as my gift to you!

Free Gift Tags: You may have some gifts to wrap still– or maybe you ran out of gift tags and you don’t feel like finding a store that’s open on Christmas to buy more. Either way, enjoy these lovely free downloadable gift tags from EatDrinkChic.com. Keep in mind they are for personal use only.

Free Sausage Biscuit: Tired of cooking? Head to Waffle House– they’re open 24 hours every day– even on Christmas and New Year’s! Take this coupon to get a free sausage biscuit.

Free Bagel Poppers: Now through December 29 take this printable coupon to Einstein Brothers Bagels for free Bagel Poppers when you purchase a drink.

Free Aveda Products: Perhaps the holidays have you feeling a little stressed? Take this coupon into your local Aveda store and receive a free three-piece sample pack of Smooth Infusion shampoo, conditioner and style-prep smoother while supplies last.

I have a prediction to make about the days and weeks following Christmas 2009. With more Americans strapped for cash I have a feeling that more people will be wanting to return their Christmas gifts with hopes of getting money instead of that sweater, gadget or DVD. And I also have a feeling retailers aren’t going to like it. Stores like Target have already tightened their return policies, making it very difficult for shoppers to actually walk out with cash in their wallet and not just a gift card for future purchases. But what if that happens to you– what if a store won’t accept your return? Here are a few options:

1. Complain: Don’t like a store’s return policy? Let corporate know. If you feel you are being treated unfairly as a consumer then tell the higher-ups. Nothing may come of it, but you never know. Perhaps they’ll help you with your situation in order to keep you as a customer. But then again, maybe not.

2. Ask the Giver for the Original Receipt: These days even a gift receipt doesn’t guarantee the ability to return something with cash. Your best bet is having the original receipt in-hand. If you feel comfortable enough, ask the giver for the original receipt to make the process go more smoothly. You’ll have much better odds at getting money instead of a gift card.

3. Sell the item: If you can’t get cash from the store, try getting cash from someone else. List the item on Craigslist or eBay with hopes of getting a little money for your gift. This process may take a little longer and be more risky, but if you’re really desperate for cash– or you really don’t like the gift– then give it a shot.

So you’re nearly out of time and all out of money, but you still need a Christmas gift? Here are some last minute and free Christmas gifts.

Gift Certificate: No, we’re not talking about a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant. We’re talking about a certificate for something more heartfelt. Perhaps a weekly foot rub? Or a certificate for free baby-sitting? Think about what the recipient would really value that money can’t buy. And if you need a hand with gift certificate design, use these free templates from Regiftable.com.

Handmade Ornaments: Have some scraps of fabric like felt laying around? TwigandThistle.com has some great ideas for turning what you may already have around the house into a beautiful Christmas gift. Plus they are easy to make!

Heartfelt Letter: Letter writing is becoming a lost art. Take some time to write a letter from the heart to your loved ones. Chances are they’ll cherish it for years to come– long after a store bought gift would have lost its excitement.

Virtual Flowers: Create a virtual bouquet of flowers at Flowers2mail.com. It’s a free service (and fun to use!) so that you can deliver a personalized bunch of flowers to your loved one’s inbox.

Free Restaurant Gift Certificate: We’ve told you about Feed It Forward before, but it makes a great last minute and free gift, too. Just head to the website by the end of Christmas day to pass on your free restaurant gift certificates.

Gift cards make great last-minute gifts. They’re easy to buy, easy to wrap and easy to mail. Right now lots of retailers are offering perks when you buy gift cards from them. That way you can give to others and get a little something for yourself, too.

Little Caesar’s Pizza: Get a free $5 gift card when you buy a $25 gift card at Little Caesar’s Pizza. This is a limited time offer and must be done in the store.

Chik-Fil-A: Buy a $20 gift card at any Chik-Fil-A location and receive a free cow calendar full of great money-saving coupons, including some for free items.

Applebee’s: Get a free $10 gift card when you buy $50 in gift cards at Applebee’s. The offer is only available in-store, not online and for a limited time.

TGI Friday’s: Purchase $25 worth of TGI Friday’s gift cards in-restaurant and you’ll receive a $5 Bonus Bites card for free. The Bonus Bites card comes with some conditions including that it must be used between January 1, 2010 and February 28, 2010.

PF Chang’s: Now through December 31, purchase $50 in PF Chang’s gift cards and you’ll receive a $10 gift card for free. You can order these online but in order to qualify for the free $10 gift card you must purchase one $50 gift card. At the restaurant you will be able to buy smaller increments.

LL Bean: Make a minimum of a $25 purchase at LL Bean between now and December 24 and you’ll receive a free $10 gift card valid on your next purchase. The card expires February 16, 2010.

Denny’s: Buy a $25 gift card for Denny’s and you’ll receive a free $5 gift card. These can be purchased online.

Outback: Buy $100 worth of gift cards at Outback and you’ll get a $20 bonus card plus a free music download from country group Sugarland. The bonus card must be used between January 1, 2010 and February 10, 2010. Only one bonus card can be used per table and the card must be used at one time. It will not carry an unused balance.

Red Robin: Purchase $25 in gift cards at Red Robin and you’ll receive $5 in Bonus Bucks. Or if you buy $500 worth of gift cards you’ll get a 20% discount.

Uno Chicago Grill: Purchase a $25 gift card online and you’ll receive a $5 bonus card for Uno Chicago Grill. The bonus card must be used by the end of March 2010.

Christmas is in a week! Are you ready? Take some time from your over-packed schedule to take advantage of this week’s freebies. Enjoy!

Free Digital Disney Books: Sign up and get seven free digital copies of Disney books. Find books that fit your child’s reading level. Read to them or get help from interactive recordings.

Free Music: Grab some free downloads from Jim Brickman. You’ll get five free holiday remixes.

Free Photo Mug and Prints: Are you a member of Snapfish yet? Join now and get loads of freebies including a free photo mug, a free set of 5X7 photo cards and 50 free 4×6 prints.

More Free Christmas Music: Don’t forget to continue to take advantage of the free Christmas downloads that Amazon.com is offering. There are lots of Christian Christmas tunes like Oh Come Emmanuel and Joy to the World.

Free Coffee: Take this coupon into your local 7-Eleven location for a free hot coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate or tea.

Free Bloomin’ Onion: Become a fan of Outback Steakhouse on Facebook and receive a free Bloomin’ Onion with the purchase of an entree.

Free Photo Flip Book: Head to Snapfish.com to make a free photo flip book. Use coupon code GMAFREE at checkout. Shipping isn’t included.

Chances are you’ve been really focused on others over the past few weeks. But what about giving yourself a Christmas gift? It may seem like a foreign idea, but give it a try– you deserve it!

A Gym Membership

Perhaps your gym membership was one of the items hacked from your budget in 2009. If so, consider what the bible says in 1 Corinthians.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 19-20)

Your body is a temple– treat it that way! If you can’t swing a gym membership buy some workout DVDs. You need your body to be able to serve God, so take care of it.

A Christian Finance Book

There are several great Christian finance books. Give yourself one this Christmas and make a plan to become debt free. The Lord does not want us to live owing money to others. Here is one verse that shows that:

The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives. (Psalm 37:21)

Be a better giver by getting out of debt. Give yourself the gift of freedom and find inspiration in a great Christian finance book.

Prayer Journal

Give yourself a new prayer journal and set aside time with the Lord to write in it. As Christians, prayer is powerfully important. Give yourself the gift of prayer and understand the peace of God.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

There are many different types of prayer journals. Find one that speaks to you and commit to using it regularly.

Time With Your Family

Your family is a gift from God. Treat it that way by setting aside some of the busyness of life and devoting extra time to your family.

Sons are a heritage from the LORD children a reward from him. (Psalm 127: 3)

Treat your children like the reward that they are and plan a special outing or trip just for your family.

I don’t know about you, but I am running out of creative ideas for Christmas gifts. These sites caught my eye because the gift cards not only put a smile on someone’s face, but it allows them t to give back to their favorite charities.

The Good Card: With this holiday gift card, choose your amount and they choose which cause they want to help out. Most people have a charity that means a lot to them. With the money you put on The Good Card they can choose to make a donation to any of more than 1.8 million organizations. The cost? Your donated amount and  $5 handling fee per card.

The Good Card can be ordered online or through snail mail. The card is good for six months and is also tax-deductible for the buyer. To redeem your gift card visit the site’s redeem page, type in your charity then click donate now. Let’s say you’re a business owner and want to give a gift with some special meaning. Order them for your clients, employees and customers. Show your passion for giving back. You can even co-brand the corporate version of The Good Card. Get creative and even design your own!

TisBest Charity Gift Cards: This site is the same idea with a few differences. Choose from tons of different designs for the cards with Christmas and Birthday ones to name a few.You can even customize it and upload your own image for the card. You can print the cards on your home printer, an instant gift card by e-mail or regular mail. If you select snail mail, it comes with a greeting card and you can add a personal message.

There is no extra charge for printing or e-mailing. If you want a plastic card, it’s a $1.49 fee. With TisBest Charity cards you can choose from 250 charities. There are National ones such as the ASPCA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, World Vision and Doctors Without Borders. And local ones from a few different large cities like New York and Chicago. These donations are also tax-deductible and do not expire.

Need some Christian Christmas gift ideas, but don’t have a lot of cash to spend? Here are some Christian gifts that will fit pretty much every budget– and will be great for just about anyone on your list! They’re all fabulous and less than $20.

$5 Budget

Head to Ambassador International for Christian books that are up to 70% off. They’re having a $5 sale where for five days only, five books are marked down to– you guessed it– $5! The titles vary from a children’s book to a study on Esther. There’s also a book for history buffs on your list and those who may be looking for a new job. Plus if you’re a fan of Christian Publishing on Facebook you’ll have access to a coupon code that will save you even more off your purchase.

$9.99 Budget

Check out Dayspring.com for some unique Christian Christmas gifts including this “Jesus is the Gift” mug for just $9.99. Plus between now and December 14 you can save an additional 25% with coupon code GIFT25 at checkout.

$11.99 Budget

Here’s a great gift for anyone on your list that owns a DVD player. Right now you can get a copy of Facing the Giant’s, a movie starring Alex Kendrick, for just $11.99 at Christianbook.com. It’s an inspirational movie that young and old will enjoy watching.

$13 Budget

If you’ve got $13 to spend a tough person on your list, why not buy a couple of chickens? Of course, you won’t actually see the chickens, you’ll just be buying them through World Vision to help provide nutrition and income to a family in need.

$14.99 Budget

Here’s a perfect gift for the baby on your shopping list. Check out these cute onesies with phrases like “To you it’s crying, but to Jesus it’s a joyful noise.” They’re just $14.99 from c28.com.

$18.75 Budget

Give affordable and unique art with this pack of five notecards designed with Bible verses. They’re available from Etsy artist Red Letter Words. The cards feature phrases and verses like “She knew she was worth far more than rubies.”

It’s the season of giving! And although that sometimes can mean spending money when you don’t have a lot of extra here is a way to give big without spending a dime. This year Restaurant.com is giving everyone an opportunity to Feed It Forward. They’re giving away up to $30 million in free restaurant gift certificates over 30 days during the holidays. The cool part is– they’re letting you do the giving.

Go ahead and treat your friends, family or neighbors to free food at a nearby restaurant of their choice. You can give the free certificates to 30 different people every day until Christmas. All you have to know is their email address. Simply plug in that information and Feed It Forward will deliver the message that they’ve received a free $10 Restaurant.com gift certificate.

You can either do this through the Feed It Forward website or by using the Facebook app. With the Facebook app you’ll be able to give the gifts right to your Facebook friends. So go ahead and start giving. And who knows– maybe they’ll return the favor!

Cyber Monday proved to be a record day for shoppers searching for coupons, according to an article at USAToday.com. Sites like RetailMeNot.com reported having 1.1 million visitors on Monday. That’s up a whopping 57% from a year ago. Another coupon site, CouponCabin.com had 400,000 visits which was a 65% increase from Cyber Monday 2008. BradsDeals.com welcomed 16,000 visitors per hour, a 174% increase in traffic compared to last year.

There has been an increased demand for printable coupons and coupon codes all year. This summer 44.1 million adults printed coupons from online sources which is a 21% increase compared to 2008, according to market research firm Experian Simmons. The reason for this growth is easily explained– more people want to save money and more people are getting online. Statistics show that one-third of internet users are visiting websites that offer deals.

So which sites are the best to visit for printable coupons and coupon codes? Here are a few to check out:

UltimateCoupons.com

Ebates.com

RetailMeNot.com

CouponCabin.com

CouponChief.com

CouponShack.com

DealRocker.com

BensBargains.net

Giltman.com

BradsDeals.com

Just about every wedding gift I give is accompanied by a copy of Dave Ramsey’s bestseller The Total Money Makeover. The concepts in the book helped my husband and I get started on a great financial path when we were first married and I want other couples to have the chance to experience that same success. But this book would make a great gift for a lot of people on your Christmas list, too. And the best part is the books are now on sale for just $10 a copy in the Dave Ramsey book store. I can think of several family members and friends who could really use the powerful message in this book.

The book talks about Dave Ramsey’s baby steps which start with creating an emergency fund and end with paying off your mortgage. He is adamant about eliminating debt and increasing your savings so that you can one day give like no one else and live like no one else.

While you’re visiting the Dave Ramsey website, take a moment to enter for your chance to win one of the daily prizes Dave and his team are giving away through the month of December. This year Dave wants to give like no one else which is why he’s handing out prizes every day. You can win prizes like $1000 emergency fund or a free pass to Financial Peace University. The prizes are different each day so make sure to check back regularly and enter often!

Many of us like to give extra this time of year– and many charities need it. But how do you know if a charity really is doing good? There are a few online resources available that will help you make sure every dollar you spend is helping the cause you want to support.

GuideStar

GuideStar believes that charities should be completely transparent. That’s why they’re dedicated to researching non-profits and reporting their results. If you want to research a charity, you can access important information here for free and feel good about where your money is going.

Give Well

GiveWell.net is a non-profit charity evaluator that does independent, in depth research with the ultimate goal of making sure your dollars are accomplishing as much good as possible. You can review hundreds of charities that have gone under the watchful eye of Give Well. Very few charities get many stars under the Give Well standards.

Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator calls itself America’s premier independent charity evaluator. The organization has thoroughly checked out the financial health of more than 5,000 of America’s largest charities. You’ll find out how much of each dollar you donate is actually going to the cause– and how much is being spent on the leaders’ salaries.

Charity Ratings Watchdog

Charity Ratings Watchdog believes you should give to a good charity, not just a good cause. They believe not all charities are well managed which can mean that your money isn’t being allocated wisely. Charity Ratings Watchdog gives each charity a letter grade depending on how they’re spending their money.

Whether it’s at the grocery store check-out line or an email in my inbox, people are always asking me how to use coupons. Several months ago I felt like the Lord really wanted me to teach others about this. Even though there are many other (and more talented) couponers teaching classes out there I felt like I could offer a different perspective– using coupons to give more.

Over the past seven months I’ve tracked my charitable giving of food and toiletries and it turns out I’ve bought over $500 worth of stuff while only paying about $20 out of pocket. About 20 people turned out to the class which was held at my church. That was more than I expected since I didn’t advertise except through our church bulletin, Facebook page and my personal blog. Several of the people do not attend my church but told me after that they had been praying for someone to teach them about coupons. One woman told me she had been praying about learning how to use coupons so she could buy more food to help a friend who’s in a bad financial situation.

My presentation was only about 40 minutes long and included the basics of couponing as well as some information and ideas on how to use couponing to increase your giving to local food pantries and shelters. I showed them these verses on giving:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: �It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35)

He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. (Proverbs 22:9)

“If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, �Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2:15-16)

There were lots of questions and plenty of interest so I’m excited to see what this group of 20 will be able to accomplish with coupons.

Whether you like it or not, starting early with your Christmas gift planning can save you a lot of money. There are some great (and free!) gift ideas on today’s Free Stuff Friday list. So start thinking about who you’ll need to get gifts for this year because maybe this list has the answer!

Free Photo Book: Get a free 7X9 photo book from Shutterfly from now until November 16. Use coupon code MYBOOK at checkout to take advantage of this offer. It looks like you will still have to pay for shipping.

Free Song Download: Get a free song download from a country music award nominee. Choose between hundreds of hits from performers like Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood. Click here for complete instructions and be sure to use code CMAAWARD.

Free $10 Gift Card: Gather up all that change you have around the house and take it to a Coinstar machine. From now until December 6 if you turn in $40 worth of change they’ll give you an extra $10 gift card to a retailer of your choice. You pay no fees.

Free Portrait at Picture People: Take this printable coupon into Picture People this week for a free 8×10 or 10×13 portrait. You won’t pay a sitting fee and you’ll get 25% off the rest of your purchase. Plus if you bring in a new unwrapped toy you’ll get two free portraits.

Free Cranberries: Live near an Earth Fare? Take in this coupon to get one pound of free organic cranberries. The coupon expires November 17.

Free Aveda Hand and Body Wash: Take this email into your local Aveda store or salon and get a free sample of the Rosemary Mint Hand and Body Wash. It will make a great stocking stuffer!

It’s become an American tradition. The day after overindulging on turkey, stuffing and pie, we get up before the sun to shop like crazy and score incredible deals. It seems that many Black Friday ads have already been leaked. And some stores are simply posting them on their website for shoppers to see. Wondering what kind of deals you can expect to see on the day after Thanksgiving? Here are some Black Friday ads to review:

Lowe’s: Lowe’s has posted their Black Friday ad on their website for everyone to look over. Check out the deals like a portable fire pit for $39 and a shop vac for just $29.

Kohl’s: The Black Friday sales start at 4am at Kohl’s. Their leaked Black Friday ad on BlackFriday.org shows lots of toys at half off and a portable 7″ LCD TV for just $69.99.

Kmart: The leaked Black Friday ad for Kmart posted on BlackFriday.org shows lots of great deals like a GPS system for $84.99 and cashmere hats, gloves and scarves for just $9.99. The Black Friday sales here start at 6am.

Sears: The leaked Sears Black Friday ad found at BlackFriday.com promises hundreds of door buster deals. Some of the deals include jeans for the entire family for $9.99, a 7″ digital frame for $29.99 and Disney Pix digital cameras for $9.99.

Old Navy: Doors open at 3am at Old Navy and according to their leaked Black Friday ad they’re giving away some video games with
qualifying purchases. They’ve also got other great deals like jackets for $15.

Harbor Freight Tools: The After-Thanksgiving ad for Harbor Freight Tools is available on the company’s homepage. Check it out for deals on tools.

Target: While Target ads haven’t been leaked yet, you can sign up to receive notifications for when they are released. When you sign up you’ll be able to preview all of the deals early.

This is the season for giving, for spending time with loved ones, and for celebrating the birth of our Savior. But often it can turn into the season for over-spending, for becoming materialistic and for getting sucked into the rush of holiday tasks. Here are five traps to avoid getting into this holiday season.

Trap #1: The Refund Anticipation Loan

If you’re tight on cash this holiday season you may be tempted to look for money in unusual places. One of those places could be a Refund Anticipation Loan. These are loans based on what you expect to get back from the government after filing your taxes next year. It may seem like a good idea to get the cash around Christmastime when you actually need it, but these loans often come with high fees and plenty of interest. Avoid falling in this trap and steer away from Refund Anticipation Loans.

Trap #2: No Interest for a Year

Lots of stores may be offering credit cards that let you buy your Christmas presents without having to pay interest for a few months or even years. Avoid the “no interest” trap this holiday season because you’ll end up putting yourself in a bad position when it comes time to pay up. And if you don’t pay the balance in full before your special offer ends, you’ll likely be stuck with huge interest fees.

Trap #3: Gifts for Everyone!

You may be tempted to buy anyone and everyone a gift this Christmas. From co-workers to hair stylists, everyone ends up on your gift list. Scale back this year and try to spend less. People will understand if you don’t buy them a gift– they may even be glad because they won’t feel pressure to return the favor.

Trap #4: Paying with Credit

Whether you’ve started saving for Christmas gifts or not, it’s definitely not too late to commit to paying cash for presents this year. Don’t use your credit cards as a crutch to get you through Christmas. If you can’t pay for a present with cash– don’t buy it. No gifts are worth going into debt for.

Trap #5: I Want That

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the commercialism and materialism of Christmas. After all, that’s what corporations spend millions of dollars on each year. Fight that tendency and focus on what the holidays are all about– family, friends and faith. Make this the Christmas that you give more than you’ve ever given in terms of serving and loving others.

Less than one-third of congregations reported a decline in giving for the first half of 2009, according to a recent study done by the Lake Institute of Faith & Giving at Indiana University and the non-profit research firm The Alban Institute. The findings are part of the 2009 Congressional Economic Impact Study and was based on more than 1,500 congregations and their experience with fundraising.

At a recent church service my pastor explained that our giving for this year has increased and membership continues to grow. We all know that the recession has affected most everyone; however, this study found that Americans are continuing to give. More than two-thirds of congregations in the study reported that their fundraising increased or remained the same earlier this year compared to last year.

Almost 37 percent of congregations reported an increase for the first half of 2009, compared to 2008. And another 34 percent reported steady giving. One thing that has helped churches is their creativity, such as giving aid to the homeless and emergency cash assistance to others. The study showed that congregations (or “growth congregations”) with $600,000 to $1 million in revenue, weekly attendance of more than 300, younger attendees and higher income families were more likely to report an increase in fundraising receipts.

Although the news of increased giving is encouraging, still 30 percent of congregations saw a decrease in giving earlier this year – 8.1 percentage points more than reported a decline in 2008. Those churches called “survival congregations”, which have a 10 percent or more drop in finances and attendance, were more likely to report a decline in giving. Other congregations that were likely to report a decrease are those with annual revenue of less than $150,000, weekly attendance of less than 100, older congregants and those with a lower average income.

Not all congregations are alike. Many are struggling to make ends meet, but many more are holding their own and growing, says the study.

What started out as a small idea has grown into a major movement to help others in need. And that need is for shoes. TOMS Shoes uses the model of One for One. When you purchase a pair of shoes, a new pair goes to children in other countries who have no money for shoes. Walking barefoot is a way of life in counties such as Argentina, and these children walk for many miles for things like food and water. Without shoes, they are prone to bad infections on their feet due to cuts and sores.

Although the economy and things such as high unemployment levels are hitting many people, giving back to others is still important. TOMS Shoes is a great example of someone still trying to make a difference. In 2006, Blake Mycoskie was traveling in Argentina and was astounded at the amount of children without shoes on their feet. This year TOMS Shoes is hoping to hand out 300,000 pairs of shoes to those in other countries.

Along with buying a pair of shoes, you can also get involved in other ways. First, they are in need of interns year- round. How about hosting a style your sole party? Start off with a pair of white TOMS Shoes, grab some pens, markers and stencils and host a party where everyone can personalize their shoes. You can also join a TOMS Shoes Campus Club. When you’re on campus, you can set up TOMS Shoes events with a One for One movement at your school.

Shoes start at $44 with women’s, men’s and children’s sizes and geo-metric, tie-dye or glitter designs. You can purchase them online or find them in many large retail stores. It always feels good to give back to others and this is a simple and fun way to do it.

The topic of money is discussed in the Bible many, many times. A website that I frequent is Everyday Christian and they talk about several topics, such as money, relationships, health and Christian living. Not long ago, I wrote a blog about tithing and wanted to explore the area of money and the Bible a bit more.

A writer for Everyday Christian put together a list of five important verses from the Bible that discuss money and he feels every Christian should be familiar with them.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

God is always faithful and we should trust in Him and not necessarily rely on the wavering stock market or bank accounts. The author of the article says it shouldn’t matter if there is a financial crisis or you get laid off, God will still supply your needs like He promised us He would.

Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

It is important to tithe which I have discussed in the past. My husband and I continue to do so despite the fact that I lost my full-time job and we have other financial woes. Tithing brings blessings, which we have noticed since we began giving our money to the Lord.

1 Timothy 6:10  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

This verse if often misquoted, says Everyday Christian. It’s not the money that is evil, but the love of it. Many who have millions do give it away to charities and other organizations, but then there are those who fight over a few dollars. “It is a matter of the heart that only God can judge,” says the article.

Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Everyday Christian provides several other samplings of scripture that can go along with Acts 20:35. Giving sets us free, while hoarding entraps us (James 5:2). Giving changes the lives of others (John 3:16).  Giving brings blessings back to us (Luke 6:38).

Proverbs 22:7  The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

My husband and I are careful not to have too many debts. Right now, we owe on one car, our house and we try to pay off our credit cards each month. Not being chained to debt can really make a difference in your life.

Yesterday was a big day at Citadel of Faith Covenant Church in Detroit, Michigan. That’s because yesterday was Free House Sunday. The city of Detroit has been hit especially hard by the recession so the authors of a new book “Jesus Loves You This I Know” teamed up with Citadel to bless someone with a free home.

They started pulling the project together back in May and over the past few weeks 113 people filled out an entry form at www.freehouseSunday.com for the chance to receive the free house. The church received the house by someone who had passed away. So with a couple thousand dollars worth of seed money and a lot of volunteer help, the congregation got the house renovated and in great shape for its new owner. Volunteers put in new appliances, heater, cabinets, carpet, tile, fixtures, sinks, bath and more.

In front of a standing-room-only crowd, the church announced the winner, Thereatha Baker. Thereatha’s husband passed away and she could no longer afford her rent. She had no money to move and was falling behind on her bills. The sermon, along with this powerful display of grace and love made a big impact. Out of that packed church yesterday, 30 people committed themselves to the Lord and 55 people said they wanted to join Citadel Church, proving it wasn’t just Thereatha that walked away from the service with a changed life.

This video from Channel 7 Action News in Detroit tells more of the story:

Out of Debt Christian recently received a great question from one of our readers. He asked for advice on the topic of spoiling the child versus inheritance. The Bible  is clear about not spoiling our children; however, that doesn’t apply when it comes to leaving your children with what they need when you are no longer here.

For help with this topic I turned to my church’s Pastor of Financial Planning Joe Sangl. He and his wife had some words of wisdom on the topic and first quoted Proverbs 13:22 which says “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.”

“I believe God wants us to bless the next generation,” they said. “God did not call us to be broke.”

He and his wife, Jenn, put an interesting twist on it saying that the trick is to teach your children how to handle money properly. They discussed their personal life and plan on leaving an inheritance for their daughter and they are teaching her how to be aware of money. “She had a conversation with our friends the other day and was outraged at the prices of smoothies at our church coffee shop. She gets it,” they said.

This summer Joe tackled the issue of Estate Planning on his blog and discussed an article from Money Magazine on the topic. The article tells readers to ask themselves five questions:

Give Now or Give Later? Giving money to your loved ones now may be an option to help avoid higher taxes later.

Equal or Fair? This tackles the issue of how you should split your money among your offspring.

Simple or Complicated? A simple will or living trust are what is discussed under this question.

Want to Give to Charity? A traditional IRA is the best way to donate some of your estate.

When Should You Revisit Your Plan? Things change quickly, so make sure you contact your attorney every three years or so.

I felt it was important to contact a financial advisor when it came to this type of issue. I hope this has helped our readers to understand estate planning a bit better.

Yes, we may be in a recession. Yes, layoffs are happening daily. Yes, money is tight. But that doesn’t mean we should be giving less. In fact, many would argue that now is the time to give even more because there are more people in need. Here are three examples of companies that are giving back and ways that you can help by supporting them.

Welch’s: One Million Glasses. One Click at a Time.

Visit this Welch’s site and simply clicking “Donate Now” will give eight 8-ounce servings of juice to Feeding America, an organization feeding the homeless in America. They’ll donate up to one million servings of real grape juice. Go ahead, click. You can do it one time a day.

Land’s End: The Feel Good Story

For every Feel Good sweater you buy at Land’s End they’ll donate a spool of yarn to One Heart Foundation’s Warming Families, an organization that knits clothing for needy families. With the yarn Land’s End donates, the organization will knit as many as 25,000 hats that will be distributed to families all over the country. Want to do more? Knit some hats of your own using these free patterns found exclusively at Land’s End.

Macy’s: Come Together

Macy’s is asking people to host dinner parties to raise money for the hungry. Ask your guests to donate money and Macy’s will match your donation dollar-for-dollar to provide 10 million meals for Feeding America. You can even download free recipes, invitations and ideas on the Macy’s website to help plan your party.

Organizing a fundraiser can be tough work– especially during a recession. Businesses may not have as much in their budget for donating and people are staying home more rather than going out. I recently sat in on a webinar with information compiled by Claire Thompson over at Wave PR. I’m organizing the upcoming Twestival in my community and the webinar offered some great tips for anyone looking to raise money for a good cause.

Determine your goal- Stephen Covey said, start with the end in mind. A fundraising goal will help you figure out how big your sponsorships should be. Set a goal by talking to the cause you’re supporting. Making the goal tangible is huge. For instance, tell people that their $10 donation will build “X number of wells” or “Y number of cat beds.”

Target your Sponsors- Align the non-profit with the right sponsors. If you’re raising money for an animal shelter, you may want to approach pet food companies. Be as organized as possible so your team isn’t soliciting the same companies over and over.

Offer Various Sponsorships- Try having a range of sponsorships that allow the sponsor to buy in at a price that fits their budget. Some sponsors will pay to have a link from your site, others may get a blog post about them on your site. You can have a variety of levels for sponsorships. They can also sponsor different goods and services like the event venue, music, food or drink. Ticket sales would then go to the cause itself.

Look for Revenue Enhancers- Look for ways to make more money beyond ticket sales. Simultaneously hold a silent auction or raffle. Make sure you have any needed permits or licenses and always have an estimated value starting bid.

Try Event Draws- Look for celebrity status to help you out. Ask a local DJ to MC for the night. Giveaway t-shirts or swag bags featuring sponsorship logos or coupons from local businesses. Ask for donations on the night of the event saying, for example, if we raise an extra $50 this person will shave their head. It will spur people on and get them in the mood to raise money for your charity.

Consider Creating an Event Program- A program can include information about the local charity and the organization’s latest news. It’s also a great place to thank those that donated, sponsored and volunteered for your event.

Keep the Flow- Make sure there is a lot going on to keep the event flowing. People will be networking, but it’s important to keep the energy level high so that they feel good about the event. Show a video of the event cause or bring something from the charity along to the event. If you’re supporting an animal shelter, bring a box of kittens along to the event. It will remind people why you are all there.

Imagine shopping around town spending your hard-earned money and when you return home you find you have some extra money in your pocket. We all know what pickpockets do and know it’s a crime, but have you heard of the new phenomenon ‘putpockets?’ Twenty former pickpockets are paying it forward and rewarding unsuspecting Londoners with money. They slip it in pockets, purses and bags hoping to help others.

Broadband provider TalkTalk is funding the initiative which runs until the end of August before being rolled out countrywide. By the time it’s finished 100,000 pounds (that’s just over $160,000) will have been given away. In the Bible, God tells people to give back to others. Hebrews 13:16 says “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

I’ve heard of people passing through a toll on a highway and out of nowhere they pay for the car behind them. What if it became a cycle and people just continued paying for others? A gentleman who attends my church recently came into the office and he brought a coffee for our campus pastor. He did it just because he heard his pastor was having a tough day.

But giving back to others doesn’t necessarily have to involve money. On the web, the Random Acts of Kindness foundation is full of ideas and stories about what others are doing around the world. It provides materials like activity ideas, lesson plans, project planning guides and workplace resources. Random Acts of Kindness also has a Twitter account sharing a new kind idea each day.

Maybe the “putpocking” will spread to the U.S. Having extra money show up in your pocket always puts a smile on your face especially in this economy. Click on the video below to watch the London putpocketers in action.

Tithing may be something you aren’t familiar with and you may have questions about how to do it and how much to give. The rule of thumb is to give 10 percent of your gross income to the church. The Bible says to tithe and to put God first in our finances. Proverbs 3:9-10 says, “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and He will fill your barns…to overflowing.” There are several websites that give more information and will help you get started.

The first one is Church Tithes and Offerings. This site offers reading materials, news in the area of giving, sermons and Biblical information about tithing. There is also a question and answer section that provides extra help.

You can also take a look at Bible Gateway and type in a keyword and the corresponding scriptures will pop up. I recently typed in tithing and a list of scriptures that include that word were available. This site also offers more tools for reading and researching the Bible, such as reading plans, commentaries and study tools.

If you are in the ministry, Easy Tithe features a program that has been developed to help the church receive online giving and donations. Contributors can log in and manage their giving and churches can keep track of it.

At Bible Money Matters visitors can see a faith and finance blog. Not only does it touch on tithing, but also several topics on the subject of money. “The Bible has over 2,300 verses on money, and it is clear to me that our money needs to be informed by our faith,” said Pete, the author of the blog.

If you’re an iPhone user, there’s of course an app for that too. It’s called Tithe Calculator and for 99 cents it will help you figure out exactly how much you should be giving.

Finally, if you’re struggling to tithe while meeting all of your other financial obligations, you may want to read our recent post on Getting Creative With Tithing.

In October 2008, my church pastor challenged the congregation to tithe for three months. We took the challenge. At the time tithing was a big leap of faith for me and my husband. The week after our first tithe I lost my job causing a large financial blow to our budget. However, we knew that all of our possessions and money belong to God and giving 10 percent of our gross income should be done no matter what our circumstances.

We made a decision to continue tithing and to adjust our budget to allow us to give to God first. We have had tight weeks financially even with a budget. There have been times where we have said, ‘I don’t know how were are going to pay for this doctor’s visit’ and then we’ll receive a check for the right amount. Since we started tithing I truly have seen what Matthew 6:28-31 (NIV) states. “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you. O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” We constantly remind ourselves of those Bible verses.

Our pastor talks about tithing several times a year and it seems as though many churches are trying to get more creative when it comes to encouraging tithing. I recently came across information about reverse tithing. After realizing they were going to be in the red, St. Andrew Church in Milford, Ohio held a “Reverse Tithing Sweepstakes” in which church members purchased raffle tickets for $50 and within a month and a half they raised $55,000. The sweepstakes gave the congregation a chance to receive back 10 percent of what everyone else gave. The first place prize was $5,500 and 10 prizes of $550 were awarded as part of the raffle.

Another church in Alabama gave away $50,000 to its members, but there was a trick. They couldn’t spend it one themselves or give it back to the church. They called it a “Faith Stimulus Package.” In these tough economic times, it seems any creative ideas can help a church continue to thrive. To view a video from St. Andrew Church, click on the attached link.

These days budgets definitely seem tighter, spending is reined in and giving beyond the tithe may seem impossible. But giving beyond your 10% tithe doesn’t have to mean giving more money. Here are a few examples of ways you can give without spending more money. It’s about giving your time, your talents and your love.

Mow Yards for the Elderly

In my area there’s an organization called Diligent Hands Gracious Hearts. They team up volunteers with elderly residents who need help caring for their lawns. Many are widows who can no longer tackle the task themselves. If you like to mow and you’ve got a lawnmower this could be a great option for you. Time time commitment isn’t much, but it’s definitely a need in most communities.

Volunteer in Your Church

Chances are your church needs greeters, ushers, or Sunday school teachers. If you’re not serving in your church body, find out a way to put your gifts to use. Your church would benefit from your help.

Bake Cakes for Orphans

The Lord put this one on my heart a few months ago when I heard that children at an orphanage in our area don’t get birthday cakes. Thankfully, an opportunity to help in my area presented itself, but I have a feeling this is the case in many orphanages across the country. Baking a cake doesn’t take much time or money. Chances are you already have the ingredients in your kitchen.

Deliver Food to the Needy

Whether it’s Meals on Wheels or another organization in your area, the only thing required for this type of service is a vehicle and an hour or two. You’ll probably discover that delivering the food isn’t even the most important part– it’s the love and compassion you show the people you meet.

Encourage Others

Head to a soup kitchen, homeless shelter or an area where homeless people congregate. Just befriend them. Talk to them. Pray with them. You won’t spend a dime, but the time you give could mean a lot to someone else.

What ways are you serving without spending money?

I’ve been picking up free school supplies for the last week or two at drug stores, grocery stores and office supply chains. Many businesses are offering free pencils, paper and pens to kick off back-to-school season. Even though I don’t have children I plan to donate these free school supplies to organizations collecting them for needy students and classrooms. Don’t know where to turn with your stash of free school supplies? Here are a few resources to check out:

Adopt-A-Classroom: Connect with a teacher in your area that is need of specific items. Fulfill their wish list so they can start the school year off right.

Do Something 101: Now in it’s second year, this national school supply drive is making it easy for you to help 13 million children living in poverty go back to school with the supplies they need. Now through September 19 just drop your donated supplies off at Staples.

Operation Homefront: Operation Homefront has teamed up with Dollar Tree to fill thousands of backpacks for military kids. Visit their website to find a chapter near you and become a part of the Backpack Brigade.

Operation Iraqi Children: Founded by actor Gary Sinise and author Laura Hillenbrand, Operation Iraqi Children has donated 1,420 pallets full of school supplies to Iraqi children. They still need more help.

Local Programs: There are likely local school supply drives going on in your area. Check your local newspaper or do an online search so you can help needy kids have a great school year.

Update: Here’s a great list of national chain stores offering school supplies for less than $1. Office Depot is also offering free school supplies this week (after mail-in rebate). So, just a few dollars and a little bit of your time could really help some kids out!

I came across this rap about tithing on a Lifeway blog. It’s an entertaining look at God’s command on tithing done by 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia. And since it was published on YouTube five months ago it’s had more than 175,000 views. What do you think?

A recent survey conducted by NationalChristianPoll.com for Christianity Today International’s Your Church Media Group reveals how the recession is impacting churches and how they are handling current economic conditions. According to the survey, 40% of those polled said that the recession has caused weekly giving to drop by at least 2%, while just 9% say that weekly giving has increased by at least 2%. One-third of those polled estimate that giving has not changed despite the current economic downturn.

Here’s a look at where churches are getting their income:

• Nearly all churches depend on tithes and offerings as one of their church’s principal sources of income.
• One-third of churches’ say all of their principal sources of income are from tithes and offerings.
• 35% of churches rely on investments as a main source of income.
• 24% of churches rely on special campaigns as one of their church’s principal sources of income.
• 20% of churches rely on rental or lease income.
• 18% of churches rely on net income from ancillary programs/ministries as one of their primary income sources.
• 11% of churches rely on denominational and/or missions support as one of their church’s key income sources
• 9% of churches rely on “other” sources as one of their church’s principal sources of income.

So how are churches responding to this change in income? Interestingly enough, three out of four say that they do not feel any affects of the recession. Those that are taking action are most commonly turning to salary freezes. Three in ten churches have decided to issue a salary freeze. Other churches are instituting hiring freezes, pay cuts and layoffs.

Many of us work so we can get a bigger house, a nicer car, and newer stuff. But in that constant quest for more, have we forgotten that this is all a gift? I just watched a new film from Nooma, a parable video that aims to give viewers a new perspective on poverty and the unfair grace of God. The film centers around the message of Deuteronomy 24:19-

19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (NIV)

In the video Pastor Rob Bell asks, are these commands, or rather warnings about what happens when we stop being grateful for what we’re given? Success can be dangerous. Often we get everything we wanted only to discover we’re missing something we had back when we had very little. In order to prevent that from happening, Bell says we must be connected with a cause. If we don’t each find suffering, he says, and do something about that suffering, eventually we’ll be miserable.

Bell goes on to explain that grace isn’t fair. Redemption isn’t fair. Liberation isn’t fair. That’s why we have to remember that our overflow is someone else’s necessity. And when we give to others, a funny thing happens. It’s actually us that is blessed. We’re given joy and purpose and a full awareness that everything we have is a gift.

Showing dad you love him doesn’t have to require spending a bunch of money. Here are some ideas for a frugal Father’s Day.

Free Card: Head to Photoworks for a free photo Father’s Day card worth $2.95. Use coupon code LOVEDAD at checkout and make sure you take advantage of this offer before June 16.

Free Parks: Several national parks are letting you in for free during three weekends this summer. The first free weekend just happens to be Father’s Day weekend, June 20-21. Check out this list of participating parks.

Free Frozen Yogurt: Take dad to TCBY on Father’s Day for a free cup or cone.

Free Photo: Give dad a favorite photo. Either get a free 8×10 enlargement from CVS with coupon code FREE8×10 at checkout or get him a free photo book from Photo Books Etc. Just head to FreePhotoBookOffer.com and use coupon code PBE509 to get a free 20-page soft cover photo book.

Free Admission: If you live near Hershey, PA you may want to take dad to Hersheypark for Father’s Day. Head to CVS to get a coupon for free admission with a paid admission for dad.

Free Breakfast: Cook dad some of his favorite foods on Father’s Day. Bring him breakfast in bed or pack up a family picnic and head to a local park.

A past article about tithes and the importance of giving received a lengthy and well written comment. Tony Isaac describes the law of the Old Testament and relates it to today. I appreciate his comment and understand what he is saying.

The law was completely fulfilled on the cross. Paul even tells us that we are no longer subject to the law (Romans 8:2) but he goes on to explain that just because we are living in freedom does not mean we should act the way the flesh drives us (Galatians 5:13).

Tithes are not REQUIRED. They will not get you into heaven and not tithing will not keep you out of heaven. The different rules, guidelines and even laws set out in the Scripture just act as tools to help each one of us come to that perfect place that God designed for us from the beginning.

Tithing, offerings and all giving is used in our home to remind each of us that all we have is from God and is God’s. It helps us freely let go so that we are always in a position to give with a cheerful heart.

Most people have a hard time grasping all that God is. Starting with small steps (like tithes) is often the only way that we can begin the process of comprehension.

Would you take money from the offering plate? I’m not talking about stealing, I’m talking about responding to a genuine offer from your pastor that if you are struggling to take money from the offering plate. When giving was down at a Texas church Pastor Toby Slough thought his congregation was struggling. So he passed a full plate, offering members to take what they needed.

What happened surprised Slough. Suddenly donations surged. Slough realized that his church would respond when people around them were struggling. They started a big push to help those in their community by handing out nearly half a million dollars in aid. “We’ve taken $200,000 and spread it out to organizations — four local, two missions that are feeding and clothing people in these tough times,” Slough told CNN. “We’ve paid utility bills for members of our church that are unemployed or under-employed.”

The church has now formed a committee to look at the best ways to give out money and the pastor says they’ll continue doing this as long as there is a need in their community. Here’s a video of Pastor Slough on Fox and Friends: