A Time to Feast ... And to Give

This is an abbreviated version of my weekly e-mail newsletter because, well, I'm fixing dinner tomorrow and I haven't bought a thing: No turkey, no stuffing, no fixings. Nothing. Hopefully, your Thanksgiving host is more prepared.

There's lots of help for last-minute chefs and shoppers in The Washington Post. Check out our Holiday Guide for 2006, which includes a Web video on how to carve a turkey and holiday shopping strategies to help you navigate the holiday season without losing your sanity.

A Time to Give

'Tis the season to get and give, but as The Post's Kathleen Day reports, after excluding disaster relief, Americans just aren't digging deeply into their pockets these days. In her story, "Donating, With Care," she writes that many people are giving less to national charities and more to local smaller charitable groups.

Her piece provides tips on how to be smart about giving and how to factor giving into your financial planning.

Let's Talk Next Week

Don't forget to join me on Nov. 30 at Noon ET for a chat with about this month's Color of Money Book Club selection. Authors Kalman Chany and Mark Kantrowitz will be my guests to discuss their two books that help you get through the college financial aide process.