The magic is fading for Disney, but for its customers, it's just beginning.

This morning, after announcing that theme park bookings fell off a cliff in the last month and corporate income was down 13% last quarter, Disney's stock dropped 6.1%. Hotel bookings at the Walt Disney World resort are down 10% from what they were a year ago, profits are down from last quarter, and they're only going to get worse.

So Disney, which runs nine of the ten most-attended amusement parks in the world, has sprung into action and is doing something it never does: It's giving stuff away. After years of turning up its whiskered nose at discounting, suddenly it's scrambling to draw customers back to Orlando. Disney is going all-out to fill its parks again.

The biggest score was just announced. If you book by December 20, you can get a seven-day vacation for the price of four days. That means that if you buy four nights in one of its hotel rooms plus four days of park tickets at the full price, Disney will give you another three nights and three days theme park tickets--free. The buy-four-get-three-free deal, equivalent to a 34% discount, also comes with another astonishing gimme from January through March: a free $200 gift card, which can be used to buy food and souvenirs.

What? Disney is giving away money? What's next-- talking fairies?

Circuit City, the struggling Big Box electronics retailer, announced earlier this week that it will be closing some 20% of its North American stores in an effort to regain profitability. It will shutter 155 of its 700 stores and lay off about 17% of its workforce.

But wait! If it's closing stores, doesn't that mean great bargain hunting? Not at all. The Consumerist lays out the ugly truth about liquidation sales -- that contrary to public perception, there are generally few real deals to be had at such events.

What typically happens when a store goes into liquidation is that a third-party is hired to organize the actual sale. Think of a liquidation company as a junkyard dog; mean, ugly, and not inclined to give *anyone* a deal.

I don't know many people who truly enjoy the process of buying a car. Sure, I get a kick out of getting a few extra perks when negotiating for a car. But most times, consumers walk out of the dealership feeling like they got ripped off. Hold onto your hats, though, because the whole process of buying a car may be changing.

Car dealerships are closing in record numbers. The Wall Street Journal reports that sales of new cars are at a 25-year low, and experts say that 700 new car dealerships could close this year in the United States.

While this might not seem like a big deal since there are so many car dealerships around, consider the fact that 430 already closed last year, and this year's closures will mean the loss of over 37,000 jobs. It may seem like there have been too many dealerships, but they were around because consumers wanted them, and they employ lots of people.

Car makers have no choice but to tighten the reins on their dealers. It costs a lot of money to have a new car sitting on a lot, and auto makers and dealers share those costs. Auto makers typically offer lines of credit to the dealers, but the drying up of the credit market has impacted this.

Most families are gearing up for Halloween and dollar stores are great places to shop for masks and other accessories like plastic pirate swords and eye patches. 99 cent Only Stores have different varieties of Tootsie Roll or Charms blow pops candy for 99. cents each to help fill treat bags.

On the everyday side, buy an 11.5 oz. size Welch's juice drink for 99. cents or Dole bag salads in 12oz. or 1 lb. sizes, depending on the type of salad you chose. 99 Cent Only Stores are also featuring dinnerware in a brown swirl pattern for 99. cents for each plate, bowl or mug.

Dollar Tree is selling Soft Soap hand soap in a 7 1/2 oz. pump bottle , Silkience Shampoo, Campbell's 16oz. soups, Duncan Hines Baking mixes for either brownies or cookies and Scotties tissues for $1 each. Along with the customary costumes and candy, you can also dress your small pooch or kitty for Halloween if, that is, they're the type who'll sit still for it!

The big news at Dollar General is its million dollar sweepstakes. When you buy qualifying products at Dollar General, you simply log in at and enter the Dollar General receipt code. There's also a no-purchase-necessary free entry or free mail-in entry, available on request at any Dollar General. There are other prizes to be won, including 26"TVs, $50 Dollar General Gift Cards, two $10,000 cash prizes and three carat diamond tennis bracelets. Get all of the details here. Evidently, you can enter as many as 200 times.

Marlene Alexander is a freelance writer and dollar store diva. She writes tips for decorating using only items from the dollar store.

There are some things it doesn't pay to open your wallet for; cars, boats, and children's clothes. But sometimes it pays to cough up the extra bucks because it makes a big difference. Here's five things worth spending your money on:

• House. For most folks, this is one of your most important assets and an important investment. Present market aside, it is an appreciating asset; that is, it acquires more value over time. The present market actually makes it a great time to buy. Don't over buy your budget and be "house poor," but buy the most house you can comfortably afford.


• Bed. Several years ago we invested in a high quality pillow top bed. This is one of the best investments we ever made. Not only do you spend about one-third of your life in bed, a good night's rest makes all the difference the other two-thirds of the time.
  

There are some things that it really pays to spend extra money on; houses, beds, and bicycles. But there are some things that we buy that are simply money drains. Here are five purchases where it pays to be cheap.

1. Car. A depreciating asset, you lose money the minute you drive it off the lot. And then they continue to depreciate. I buy cheap, used cars with about 30,000 miles on them. I try to pay no more than $12,000 or so and I still think that is too much. My next car will be a hybrid of some sort with gas mileage 50 MPG or more. If I need a van for a trip, I will rent it.


2. Higher education. Unless you are going to Harvard or one of the big name schools, it really doesn't matter. Most of us can get a great education at our local state schools for a whole lot less money. Especially for a general liberal arts degree, it doesn't make sense to be $100,000 or more in debt to get that bachelors. Save your money for the masters or professional school.


3. Household products. Save a fortune every year by buying all household products in bulk. Cleaning supplies, detergents, bathroom products, paper goods and kitchen staples can be bought cheaply at one of the large stores. Stock up for 1-3 months at a time to save money and gas.


4. Children's clothes. Kids grow so fast, especially when they are little. Take hand me downs, shop thrift shops and buy at cheaper stores like Target and Kohls. You will find high quality at reasonable prices. As they get older and want nicer clothes, have them earn a part of the cost so they appreciate the value.


5. Hotel rooms. I travel all over the country for speaking engagements and all the hotel rooms look the same. Unless it is a five-star hotel at over $500 per night, I rarely notice a difference between expensive and cheap rooms. When traveling on your own dime, look for the cheap rooms and spend the extra money on a nice dinner out.

Barbara Bartlein is the People Pro. Join her for her new webinar on relationships. For info see: Webinar

Listen up, girls! Not everything you buy to help you look your best has to cost a lot. Here are some exceptional finds that only cost a buck each.

1. A large emery board at Wal-mart costs .97 cents. At the dollar store, you get a pack of two the same size for $1.

2. The manicure set I saw at Wal-mart came in a travel case and included a nail file, tweezers, fingernail clippers and cuticle scissors. The price? $7.97. For $6.97 less, you can have a manicure set that includes tweezers, both toenail and fingernail clippers and cuticle scissors. No case included but is a case worth all that extra cash?

All God's children gotta eat, so I headed back to my local dollar store in search of more good food deals to compare with an area supermarket's prices. Please check prices in your neighborhood. I've never caught my dollar store selling stale cookies or otherwise out-of-date food, but always check expiry dates anyway before heading to the cash register.

1. A regular sized bag of Dare Maple Leaf cookies sells for $2.99 at the grocery store. Instead, try Manning Cookie Shop maple leaf creme cookies. The 11-.oz package is only a buck at the dollar store, saving you $1.99 at the check-out.

2. The grocery store sells Added Touch cake or brownie mixes for $1.59. Save 59 cents by buying Loretta Rich 'n Moist Cake or Fudge Brownie mixes for $1. Save 59 cents on each 18.48 oz. box.

Now, before you handyman types get all up in arms, I'm not suggesting that dollar store tools are going to meet everyone's standards. All I'm saying is that you can get some well made tools for a buck. Every home needs some tool basics, whether you're measuring a window for curtains or hanging pictures on the living room wall. My experience with dollar store tools has been favorable, the fundamental criteria being that any implement I buy must be solidly built. It may not be scientific, but I have rarely been disappointed with a purchase. Here are a few of the tools available and how prices compare for similar items at Home Depot. Please check prices at your local store.

1. 10" claw hammer. The $1 hammer is all metal with a rubber hand grip. The only 10" hammer I could find at Home Deport had a wooden handle and cost $3.98.

2. 16' measuring tape with a blade lock, quick rewind and a rubberized casing. Cost, $1. A similar 16" measuring tape at Home Depot cost $3.98.

3. 9 1/2" screw drivers. The $1 screw drivers have hard plastic handles with rubber grips. The hardware store sells similar screw drivers for $6.96 each.

4. Needle nose pliers. The dollar store has two or three different sizes of these for $1 each and they all have plastic-coated or rubberized handles. The Home Depot's pliers cost $6.99 for the 6 1/2" size.

5. Crescent wrench. Okay, maybe the Home Depot wrench has a bit more metal in it but $23.74 for a small wrench? For all I use a crescent wrench, I'll stick with my $1 ones.

If you're planning to rent a car anytime soon -- particularly an economy model, consider meditating -- or whatever else settles you down -- before you get to the rental counter.

Maybe your plane has been delayed, canceled or whatever complication the airline has served up (along with the 3- ounce cup of soda and nine peanuts). Maybe you're carrying 20 pounds more than usual because you don't want to pay to check through a second bag. The agent at the rental counter probably isn't having a great day either.

Be prepared for the likelihood that the car you reserved, after carefully comparison shopping the competition, may not be available. If you like free upgrades, you're likely in luck. Reserved a compact and would like a Cadillac or an SUV? If the agent doesn't offer, ask. The rental car companies can't turn their fleets over fast enough to keep up with soaring reservations for gas thrifty vehicles. One solution to their own rising costs is to keep the fleets smaller.
This is more of a challenge if you're renting at a satellite location, where fewer cars are available anyway.

If the car you reserved is actually there, don't be surprised if it hasn't been cleaned yet. You may have to choose between waiting and taking it as it is. The rental agent probably has gas mileage information for the models available. If your own car is a Honda Civic, it might be a luxury to drive, well, a luxury car for a few days.
It may cost a little more in gas but this is one situation in which the better deal is the bigger car.

In a new article on compulsive shopping, there is discussion about including this behavior as a "mental disorder" in the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Considered the diagnostic bible of mental health professionals, the new edition is due out in 2010, and there is discussion about including the so-called "behaviorial disorders." This group of disorders includes internet addiction, compulsive gambling, hypersexuality and compulsive shopping.

As a psychotherapist, I have treated compulsive shoppers for many years. All describe the cycle of exitement (buying), remorse (second thoughts), and guilt (low self-esteem) that is common with compulsions. Like a dopamine squirt to the brain, the shopper seeks out the next high with purchases that they don't need, purchased with money they don't have.

I went to the mall on Monday and bought an Aeropostale t-shirt that fits me beautifully for $4.50, and the color -- baby blue -- is my color.

I mention this partly because it's always fun to save $15 but also because, for me, the thrill of saving $15 is more exciting than the actual savings. Saving money makes me happy and, if you're a dedicated bargain shopper, you know exactly what I'm talking about: it's not just about money.

Developing a thirst for bargains and a love of saving money is a great way to increase your chances of a prosperous future. It's also one of the best gifts you can give to your children.

As a lifelong lover of cereal, soaring commodity costs have been messing with my head. The tipping point was a recent trip to New York City when a supermarket was charging $5.69 for a 14 ounce box of shredded wheat.

Now that I'm back on Cape Cod, cereal is somewhat more affordable but, as you may have noticed, they've been shrinking the boxes lately. On a recent visit to Stop & Shop, I came face to face with the company that is my new hero: Malt-O-Meal, which sell high quality cereal in resealable plastic bags at a price of 99 cents each (At Stop & Shop, and it wasn't a sale!) for 12 ounces, at least 75% off comparable name-brand products in carboard boxes.

I'm eating a bowl at this very moment and, honestly, I don't think it tastes any different. Even better, because the packaging is just the plastic instead of the usual cardboard and plastic, this is one bargain item that qualifies as green-friendly.

To find a store offering this discount cereal in your area, use the company's store locater. Better yet, click here to print out some coupons that will make your first bags free!

Even dollar stores have a presence online. If you haven't already done so, you should check out Dollartree.com. I like it because you can see what items are featured this week right on the home page and sign up for a newsletter that keeps you informed about what's new for a $1.

This week they are featuring kid's summer fun toys like pool noodles, sand castle shaped pails and water guns. My favorite dollar store here is Dollarama, but its website consists of one page that is a picture of shoppers at a checkout. That's it. No buttons to push, no product to see, just a whole lot of nothin'. It's not worth the cyberspace it hangs in. That being said, Dollarama has many of the same or similar items available in-store as Dollar Tree. I'm mentioning that for the benefit of any fellow Canadians who may be reading.

Marlene Alexander is a freelance writer and dollar store diva. She writes about decorating with items from the dollar store on her website www.dollarstorestyle.com.

When I need to stock up on kitchen necessities, I head to the dollar store.

There are some things that I simply will not pay more than a dollar for, especially when the quality is equal to the products found on grocery store shelves.

This package of 100 coffee filters is one of those things. Another is freezer bags. These come in medium and small sizes. I like them for the easy-open slider and they are well made.

For scrubbing metal pots, these wire scrubbers work great and come in packages of four for $1. The soft sponges with the Teflon-friendly scrubbers on one side come in packages of 12 for a dollar and are also good for cleaning ceramic cook tops without scratching them.

Marlene Alexander is a freelance writer and dollar store diva. She writes about dollar store decorating ideas at her website www.dollarstorestyle.com.