Pocket Book Chat

DAYTON – Saving time and money this holiday season does not mean clipping coupons and dragging your inflatable Santa up to the highest peak on the roof. Social networking sites Twitter and Facebook have once again jumped on the popular bandwagon to offer new ways to celebrate the holidays and be gentle to your pocketbooks.

Setting a record on Christmas Eve 2008, 2.18 percent of all U.S. Internet traffic was to Facebook, according to Experian Hitwise Senior Online Analyst Heather Hopkins.

Facebook is saving time and trees. Users can create their own virtual Christmas tree without the stress that the actual thing requires. No, it won’t emit the same pine fragrance or be decorated with your favorite ornaments, but it is environmentally friendly and Mittens the cat won’t be able to scale it to the top. Also eco-friendly are the Web site’s paperless Christmas cards.

If it seems that all you are doing is crunching time this year, then enjoy the delightful tastes of the culinary fete of the Christmas Dinner application on Facebook. Finally, Christmas dinner is something everyone can enjoy without reaping the effects of turkey tryptophan and those unwanted calories.

Amid all of these Facebook activities is the Christmas Cheer application. With more than 2 million active users sending well wishes to friends and family, this application just might prove once again that it’s the thought that counts.

Save yourself the embarrassment and consider the Bad Christmas Gifts application before giving away your nonvirtual presents this year.

Or, visit the Facebook Gift Shop and send presents to friends and family while raising money for charity at the same time. There are 27 gift options that raise money for the World Wildlife Fund, the American Red Cross, UNICEF, Prevent Child Abuse America, The Humane Society and more.

Many major retailers have Twitter accounts where employees post news about the company. Included in these accounts are the most current Christmas deals and shopping news.

Information is everything for shoppers who are competing in this buying frenzy, and at last retailers are communicating real deals in real time to their most loyal customers.

But shopping isn’t the only way to participate in the holiday spirit. Twitter members and Facebook users alike can post their wish lists. Don’t worry if your favorite holiday patron, Grandma, doesn’t have an account and won’t be able to view your wish list. That’s why printers were invented.