I was 21 years old when I moved out of my parent’s house and into my first apartment. I was a waitress at a 4-star restaurant, so I cooked little, and my income was mostly cash. The kitchen canisters I bought when I furnished the new place were never filled with flour, sugar, coffee or tea, so to budget myself, I re-labeled them: Rent, Electric, Water, Phone. Next to the canisters was a jar for change.

When I got home from work each night and emptied my cash earnings from my pockets, I separated the bills into the canisters - bigger bills in "Rent" and "Electric," smaller bills in "Water" and "Phone." I put cash in my wallet for groceries and gas, and any left over change went into the jar.

Not the most advanced accounting system, I admit. Years passed before I really learned about budgeting and money management, and I do not imply that I have perfected either. But when you begin your independent life as a "responsible" adult rolling change at the end of every month to pay your bills; and you learned early on that $25 is three or four good tables you have to serve, on your feet, carrying heavy trays and trying not to get your white apron dirty -- you quickly become what I call an "alternative shopper."

Yard sales, thrift shops, outlet stores, Goodwill. When you’re 21, your savings is a handful of rolled quarters, and you want a coffee table, you don’t go to the furniture store. You go to Goodwill or the Salvation Army Store, then you go to the discount store for a cheap can of paint.

You would think though, later in life, as I graduated college and entered "the real world," and got paychecks and bank accounts and better budgeting skills, I would go to the furniture store for a coffee table.

But alas, my outlook has already been skewed. I may purchase my couch, my bed, and other "big purchase" items at a regular retail store, sure, but when I look at a shiny new, $175 coffee table, I know, somewhere, out there, there’s a great table for 25 bucks that just needs a good coat of paint.

I would love to have a shiny, new coffee table. What I have is a yard-sale find with two shelves, that was water stained and had one loose leg. Cost? Ten bucks. I removed the legs, (making the bottom shelf the bottom of the table), added rollers on the bottom, and upholstered the top with a piece of padded, baby-blue vinyl I found at another yard sale for five bucks.

No, it’s not shiny and new, but I can roll it out of the way when I’m vacuuming, and I can set a glass of ice tea on it without using a coaster.

Yeah, I’m big on alternative shopping. That’s one of the things I love about delivering Two-Lane Livin’. I get to visit every "alternative shopping" outlet in our region.

Judy Wolfram, of Waste Not, Want Not, on the other hand, is the Queen of Coupons. In fact, Judy not only clips coupons for herself, she also clips and mails related coupons to me, Lisa Sheldon of Always at Home, and Sue Cosgrove of Only Organic, and who knows who else. Think of it - one coupon clipper, and four families save money.

In my community, it seems there is a constant exchange of canned goods, produce, labor, clothes. Articles worn by the last newborn, now a toddler, can be seen on a recent newborn, whom every one wants to hold. One person has apples, another has eggs, another has the tool needed to do the neighbor’s job, but not the tool to do his own. It seems we have our own little economy here, based on trade and barter and exchange of services.

I’m comforted to be living in the Central West Virginia hills - especially during harvest and deer season - when more and more Americans struggle to stretch their dollars. It seems here, in so many ways, the dollar isn’t the only tool we have for survival. Sure, we need dollars to fill those ‘canisters’ to pay our bills, but in many other ways, we only have to share our need with others, and the solution comes from some unpredicted place.

When I sit down to a meal of venison smothered in shiitake mushrooms, with applesauce, and green beans -- and realize there isn’t an item being served that I actually paid for (whether I harvested it myself or not) I feel compelled to be thankful. But it happens so regularly here, some folks don’t even give it a second thought.

It’s hard to face the holiday season in such economic times. But I have learned, if you are truly thankful for what you have at Thanksgiving, you don’t feel a need for so much at Christmas. Thankfullness is the key for finding the best gifts of all.

More than anything else on earth, humans crave appreciation. We want to know we are valued, we are special to someone, we are important in some way. A Christmas card with a picture of your family and a note saying, "you are important to us" or, "we appreciate all you do" could mean more than a packaged gift set. A jar of homemade apple butter or grape jelly will be appreciated too; send it with a note that lets that person know they have meaning in your life.

This year, instead of thinking, "what would they like" when holiday shopping, realize you know the answer. Then, think, "how can I express my gratitude for this friendship, this relationship, this person?" You may discover that this "alternative thinking" not only eases your budget, but brings to mind some of the best gifts you have ever given.

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This month’s Only Organic has two great recipes for skin care gifts, or try this month’s Recipe from Mom for a holiday treat. Judy Wolfram suggests a practical gift in Waste Not, Want Not.

This issue also highlights some "holiday shopping" options for the area: Christmas in The Ville (see ad this page), Willie’s Red Barn, Bear Heaven, Everything Fiesta. For online shoppers, there’s Shady Creek Engraving, Custom Teezers, and Webster Artists. We even feature an often forgotten shopping option - pawn shops!

Please check out all the ads, but don’t miss - our first coupon! Use our coupon on page 14 for a free drink with your meal at the new Smokehouse BBQ in Glenville.

Tell them we sent ya’. ~ Lisa