Once again, Walletpop's personal style expert, Holly Getty, tells you to go shopping, wisely:

"Are you still shopping at the same stores you did a year ago? Still wearing the same designers? Well, it's time to upgrade.

"Stores are dropping prices so quickly, they practically hit your feet. Now is the time to shop the designers and stores you have always wanted to shop.

"You see, there are two type of shoppers at this moment in time. One is in fear mode: Purchasing more of what they have in their wardrobes, buying larger quantities, not seeing what's around them.

The economy may be tanked but people are still eager to have their furry friends at their sides. An Associated Press poll released this week found that over half of American pet owners consider their pets as much a part of the family as any other person. Another 36% said their pet is part of the family but not a full member. Nearly half of pet owners admit to feeding animals human food, giving them human names, and nearly a third let them sleep in their beds.

All this camaraderie does not come cheap. There is the cost of purchasing the pet, followed by one-time and annual costs that can add up, according to the ASPCA.

One Time Expenses

Time once again to unfurl the flag and celebrate Independence Day. Dollar stores have everything you need for your picnic or barbecue, from flags to red, white and blue dinner ware.

Dollar Tree has a selection of solid red, white and blue party supplies including paper plates, cups, napkins, cutlery and centerpiece/balloon anchors. As always, each package is only $1.

For your picnic needs, check out the Dollar Tree flyer. Get a 2.5 gal. tub with a rope handle for only a buck. They also have Rubbermaid storage containers in two-packs of round, square or sandwich containers for $1 each and 24 oz. Gatorade with sport caps for $1 each. Lots of other picnic supplies here, too.

Parents and gamers coming of age may be in for a break later this year, as it is rumored that both the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 will have price cuts. Technology site Ars Technica claims that both Sony and Microsoft will drop their prices in order to better compete with the Nintendo Wii, later this year.

While there are always rumors about price drops in the video game market, Joystiq.com points out that the Mole at Ars Technica has a solid reputation in knowing what's going on in the industry.

On top of the Mole's past performance, history shows that it's time for another price drop, and a significant one at that. The Xbox 360 has already seen three price drops, which have given it an edge over the pricier PlayStation 3; but it hasn't yet reached the halfway price point that its predecessor, the Xbox, did by the fourth year of its release.

Given Microsoft's focus on digital downloads, I'd venture a guess that Microsoft will try to offer an Xbox 360 with hard drive for $199 -- half of what it cost when it launched in 2005. The Mole also predicts that Sony will be introducing a new, slimmer PlayStation 3, which will also cost less, although it's harder to estimate exactly how much less.

Summer has officially arrived, which means humid air and a veggie garden ready for the eating. Sounds like salad time to me! Problem is, take a family of four to a salad/buffet restaurant, and you can easily be out 30 bucks or more -- and that's without drinks. What's a family to do? Bring the salad bar home, of course!

Throwing together a salad bar at home is easy. Super easy. Ridiculously easy. All you need are your favorite greens, an assortment of fixings, some dressing, and people to help you eat.

First up: the greens. I like to start with a head of iceberg lettuce, and a head of Romaine. Give them a chop or tear, then rinse them off, and take them for a spin in a salad spinner. If you don't have a salad spinner, just toss the greens into a large colander and give them a good shake to get rid of the excess water. Add a little sliced onion and chopped fresh tomato to the mix, and you're all set! (Store any leftovers of this mix in a large Ziplock bag, and it can be used for side salads or another round of salad bar any time over the next week).

If you're just starting out in the world of wine, wine.com has a great way for you to develop your palate, while sampling varietals from around the world.

This introductory wine club features different varietals, styles and regions each month at a really low price. The wines are chosen from both well-known and up-and-coming vineyards, and can be enjoyed now. The best part: the ongoing membership costs only $19.99 per month.

Here is what you'll get:

With school out for summer and a bunch of seasonal projects, the time's right for getting young do-it-yourselfers involved in home improvement plans.

Working together to make a repair or build something new not only teaches lifelong skills and builds confidence, but also gives kids a sense of accomplishment and renewed pride in the home you share.

Select a project together: Whether it's an easy fix-it project, a simple gardening chore or an opportunity to redecorate, every DIY project is a valuable chance to learn. Kit-based programs like Red Toolbox are also available, and help you learn together through three discrete skill levels, starting with very simple tasks and progressing to more advanced techniques. Along the way, parent and child have fun working together and create useful, decorative items that make great gifts.

Combine a limited home improvement budget with a green frame of mind, and you can find great ways to save on your next DIY project.

There are a lot of worthwhile, beautiful home materials ready to be reclaimed and reused thanks to savvy dealers, demolition experts and everyday folks who rescue them from a landfill fate.

Here are a few resources for trimming your project costs as you create and improve.

• Architectural salvage yards: Modern green-building principles meet the architecture of the past in these gardens of historical finds. Take a stroll through a dealer's offerings, and you may find replacement hardware, a period-correct fixture or an amazing garden ornament. Salvage gurus travel far and wide to collect the nearly-priceless artifacts that renovations and demolitions leave behind, and their breadth of knowledge is as valuable as their road stories are amazing. Visit the online yards of Ohmega Salvage and Recycling The Past to get a coast-to-coast feel for the latest in salvage finds, and then dig in with a visit to your local dealer.

The key to thriving in the new economy is understanding why we do things, not just knowing how to do them.

That was one of the takeaways of a panel last night at the Morrison Hotel Gallery featuring WalletPop contributors Jason Cochran, Zac Bissonnette, and Bruce Watson; Huffington Post senior editor-at-large Russell Bishop; and "The Happiness Project" founder Gretchen Rubin. WalletPop's Andrea Chalupa moderated.

Here's a little clip of what Jason Cochran had to say (for more video clips of the panel, see our Facebook page and become a fan!):

Life is too short to drink bad wine, but with a dismal economy most of us can't afford to drop a lot of money on Chateau Lafite.

Well, I'll let you in on a little secret: You can make bargain wines taste like the more expensive sips with one simple tool -- a wine aerator.

As you may know, wine which has been allowed to breathe tastes better. This is because incorporating air into wine helps it to open up and release its aromas and flavors. In the past, decanters were used to aerate wine. However, decanting can be time consuming, cumbersome and inconvenient. With an aerator you get the most from your wine in the least amount of time.

Besides saving money, I'm a freak for saving time. I know how difficult it is to work all day, then come home and cook yourself and your tribe a great dinner before you all waste away from starvation.

OK, that may be a little dramatic, but I know that when I get home I am famished, and I bet you are too! So let's blow the dust off that crock pot you got as an engagement/graduation/first-apartment gift many moons ago, and put it to good use.

Crock Pot Chicken and Fennel Stew

Here is a dish that is delicious, healthy, and so easy that it cooks itself -- and of course, it's cheap! At least once a month you can usually find whole chickens on sale at the supermarket for under a buck per pound. These are usually 2.5-pound to 3.5-pound yard birds, which are the perfect size for this dish.

Long before frugal living and keeping your finances tight became part of the daily life of making due during the recession, the Amish had it covered.

They watch what they spend, learn to save at an early age, are entrepreneurs, and have a network of friends and family to help in emergencies.

When is the last time you saw a homeless Amish person? Never. Why? Because they have a social network in their church that helps provide for members who are having a tough time.

Faced with decreasing revenues from the global recession and higher health care premiums, many small businesses are opting to completely drop health coverage for their employees.

From 1993, the number of small businesses offering health insurance has dropped more than 20% to the current level of 38%.

With health coverage currently at the top of the political agenda, many Americans are faced with a rude awakening. Many people simply cannot afford family private plans that can exceed $20,000 per year.

But don't despair: Here are some useful tips for small businesses and employees when faced with this situation:

Small Businesses

• Offer some type of credit or bonus if you decide to drop health coverage. This extra cash can help your employee transition to a new health plan.

Life is too short to drink bad wine, but in this economy it can be hard to justify spending extra money on your favorite bottles. Want to have it all? Here are a few tips.

Try lots of wines. When you find one you like, write it in a notebook, along with where you bought it and how much it cost. This will help you find the best deals.

Once you know your favorites, SHOP! Keep an eye on sales at the grocery store, or places like Sam's Club and Costco. Also, search for online sites offering discounts on your favorite wines. You never know what kind of a deal you might find if you just use those Googling skills!

Join a wine club. Most wineries have wine clubs that offer regular shipments and discounted rates on all of your favorites. You will also usually be the first to know about sales and events.

This is a round-up of the most popular finance links from Tip'd, the social news site for finance, in the past week. This week's stories include tips on reducing overhead by using Google Apps for business, another take on the old adage "spend less than you make'" (which we honestly cannot hear enough), and the President's credit card statement.

Barack Obama's Credit Card Statement (37 Tips)
A tongue-in-cheek look at the commander-in-chief's credit card statement. Looks like he's running awfully close to his credit limit! Add to the discussion on Tip'd.