Did you know that up to 20% of the holiday shopping revenue comes in the week before Christmas each year? This year, a total of $469.1 billion is projected to be spent by holiday shoppers between the beginning of November and the end of December, the two months considered by economists to compromise the entire holiday shopping season.

The final numbers for pre-Christmas holiday sales are in, as of yesterday, which was the last day to place orders with rush shipping and receive them in time for Christmas. Online shoppers spent over $32 billion on merchandise from the web this year, which is about a 15% increase from last year’s online holiday shopping. Shopping for holiday gifts online is a trend that has been steadily growing as the internet and internet retailers have become more accessible and more trusted.

Overall, it looks like holiday sales will be up 3.8% since last year, which is significant considering the continued unemployment and weak wages that America has faced in the past year. This is, in part, due to the good sales that many retailers run this time of year to entice buyers into spending just a little more than they might have if items had still be selling at retail prices. Some stores offered as much as 50% off everything in the store, with higher end retailers like J.Crew offering less significant, but still meaningful discounts centered around 30% off all merchandise.

Because the holiday season often tells what’s to come economically, at least on the consumer-goods end of the equation, a strong spending trend this holiday season is good news. With the volatile economy and no end in sight to joblessness and economic troubles, an increase in holiday spending this year is like a Christmas gift to all of us.

Good money management can start early—with just a few simple, easy lessons that your kids can learn from you. Of course, modeling good money management and talking to your kids about good financial practices is always a good idea, but there are some things that can give their financial success a jump-start.

1. Give them responsibility
   Of course you’re not going to entirely trust their college savings to them or hand them your debit card, but entrusting your kids with some basic responsibilities can teach them a lot about making smart decisions with their money. For example, sit down and discuss how much one portion of their expenses costs, on average—maybe their toiletries cost $15 a month—and then tell them that you will give them $15 a month and they will be responsible for buying their own shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
2. Give them incentives
   Saving is great—especially saving for college. But for kids, saving for college is a pretty abstract concept. Give them attainable goals alongside their savings.
3. Find ways to make money fun
   Did you know that there’s a virtual stock market game that you can play online? It’s kind of like a fantasy baseball league for those of us who are less sports-oriented. But it can be a great way to get kids introduced to investment—set up a game and let them duke it out with short and long term investing against their friends, or the whole family!
4. Teach the practical facts of life
   Kids need to be introduced to a realistic expectation of life’s expenses. Of course, they don’t need to become your personal financial assistant or know the ins and outs of every tight budget in your household. But make sure your kids are aware of what counts as major spending categories (rent/mortgage, insurance, food, utilities, etc) and what current market costs are in those areas (the price of commodities like bread, gas bills go up in the winter, etc.) so they can begin to understand the value of a paycheck against realistic expenses.

The economic forecasts are in and the news is grim: it is estimated that a Thanksgiving meal this year will cost at least 13% more than last year’s.

The Wausau Daily Harold reported that while the average cost for a Thanksgiving dinner last year was $43.37, this year it will rise to $49.20. They also point out that the real problem isn’t this one meal, it’s the fact that commodity prices have gone up that substantially since last year, something that families can feel the pinch of at any meal, Thanksgiving or not.

Prices of the most basic food items, like milk, have gone up substantially in the last year, hitting low-earning families the hardest, and those with children even harder. Although there is good news this season when it comes to manufacturing, jobs and the market, it’s the practical differences, like whether or not a family can eat a good meal, that are true measures of the economic climate. And it’s discouraging to know that this year, fewer people will have access to sufficient economies than in years previous.

If the costs are so much higher for every day, and for Thanksgiving, one begins to wonder what type of burden this will place on families during the holiday season and into next year.

What can families do to ease the costs? Shopping for groceries more efficiently, and cutting costs in other areas, like entertainment and holiday gifts are good places to start. Hopefully that will be enough for America’s parents and children as they buckle down for a year of expensive food costs.

Are you not one of the Americans being directly disadvantaged by this crisis? Look into getting involved with the donation or distribution of food goods through your local food bank and see if any churches or organizations in your area host community meals. These types of programs are almost always looking for volunteers… you can make a real difference in the lives of many of your neighbors by lending a hand!