Before you let your inner Scrooge take over, listen to what these experts have to say about keeping costs down and spirits high.
According to a poll done by ABC news, Americans are planning to spend an average of $1,096 on gifts this holiday season - surprisingly, it's up $207 from last year. Despite the recession, we still want to splurge on our loved ones. So how can we balance our holiday spending? One option is to throw an economical holiday party - without looking cheap.
Even at midnight, Jiefang West Road, a bar street in Changsha, Hunan Province, is still crowded. A first-time visitor wouldn't think that the economic slowdown was having any impact on this well-known nightspot.