Recessions and economically-challenging times are a great reason to take pause and assess where the dimes that add up to dollars are going. I believe there's a shining light in every dark cloud. Recently I had an opportunity to reflect on the decades of "caught-in-the-moment" spending; of trying to make Christmas extra special for those near and dear. I tallied the amount which reached far into the thousands of dollars. I even dared to add a meager 4% interest rate to the amount had I placed these dollars in savings. I thought about all the stuff Santa's money bought through the years that ended up in a trash heap or give away. And as a lesson in futility I allowed myself to reflect on the gifts I've received through the years that were the most meaningful. And bittersweetly I thought about the palm-sized stuffed reindeer my nephews gave me one Christmas. I remember thinking how disproportionate in price the gift-exchange was. And years later I couldn't tell you, if I had to, what gifts I gave them. But in a few short weeks those two little reindeer will grace my Christmas tree, amongst the treasured ornaments of varying prices I've collected through the years.  Of course, like many who've come to their senses on the real meaning of Christmas I'm thankful that Black Friday won't find me spending money I could better invest in a future fund. I teach my growing children that they'll never get rich if they keep buying the same things over and over again; (i.e. replacing a camera phone every time some new ad gimmick entices them with a newer one.) I believe simple is sweet and smart, too. This brings me to the meat of this article; the dollar-store Christmas sweep. I assure you that a toddler will not have a clue what this holiday is about; except for what you teach them. Twenty well-thought-out items under the tree will excite them as much as some outrageously priced toy from the big box stores. A real challenge could be based on a toy for every year since birth; thus, an 8-year-old would have 8 gifts to open. The older the child the bigger the "haul." Of course, I'm speaking dollar-store-style. Children old enough to want a big-ticket-item are old enough to rake leaves, dust furniture, etc. to get the allowance needed to save for the purchase. I think the Christmas savings fund should be included in the monthly budget; but, at year's end, aside from the budget in dollars according to ages totaled, the money should be put in an after-high-school fund that would allow each child a portion on turning 18. This money could be spent on college or a trip to Paris. But I assure you it would not be money flushed down the toilet on toys and things that ended up being a the whim of a passing phase. Christmas will be far more fruitful if the youth are taught its real meaning; the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas will be far more memorable if every person had a part in the baking of homemade cookies. That includes clean up as well. We're currently living in a fragile economic period. The people who have jobs ought to forfeit a family night out and spend the funds on making a shoebox Christmas for a few children who find themselves calling a shelter home. That would be a Christmas to remember. That's a tradition worth starting. For the retailers, Christmas means going for broke and debt. But since it's Jesus' birthday families should get together and decide what He'd want most. I'm pretty certain He'd want us to give to those in need, instead of those with a bent towards greed. So to all the eager grandparents who are in a financial position to give the grandkids the thousand-dollars'-plus Christmas, consider shopping the dollar store aisles. Take the remainder of this hard-earned money and put it in an inheritance fund for your family's future. There will come a time when the economy will strengthen. This I believe by faith. But until that girding up stabilizes, people would be very wise to start Black Friday off and running to the nearest area Dollar Store.