What's the world's favorite sweet treat? In my book that's chocolate, and at this time of year, there's more and more of it appearing on store shelves everywhere, including dollar stores. A box of chocolates is always a good choice when you're not sure what to get someone or just to have on hand as an extra gift when unexpected visitors show up bearing presents.

Small boxes of chocolates or cookies also make great additions to gift baskets. For the last three years, I have been adding 3.60 oz. boxes of chocolate-covered cookies to gifts and, having taste-tested them myself, can truthfully say that they're yummy. The box says they're imported but doesn't say where they're imported from, however, I've never had any problem with them. As a bonus, although they look like a more expensive cookie because , they're only a buck a box.

Experts are forecasting debit card transactions to surge even further past their credit card siblings on Black Friday -- and caution that consumers need to be cautious when wielding their debit cards (on transactions requiring a PIN number) this holiday shopping season.

"Consumers are trying to keep their credit card balances low," Carrie Coghill Kuntz, spokeswoman for CreditFYI.com said in a press release. "So many are using debit cards."

There is a difference
It's important to understand, even if your debit/credit card has one of those cute little VISA logos plastered on the bottom right side, if you complete a transaction using your PIN (personal identification number) number, you're NOT covered under VISA's liability policy.

And those PIN-based transactions - not ones where you swipe your debit/credit card and opt to complete the transaction as a "credit" purchase - can wind up costing you a lot more than you'd expect.