It’s not only beginning to look a lot like Christmas, it’s starting to sound like it too. I don’t just mean the traditional carols and songs that go with this time of year, but we’re being bombarded from television commercials, radio ads, internet pitches, newspaper advertisements and home decorations.

Suddenly we’re reminded that the countdown is on and we must rush around and see how fast we can drain our checking and savings accounts, making ho-ho-ho translate as owe-owe-owe. And somehow we just can’t say no, no, no!