You never know what kind of treasures you'll find at Goodwill. I've found a lab coat, once. But check out what one Midwest City, Oklahoma Goodwill employee found hidden in some donated clothing: A LOT OF CA$H MONEY. How much money? I don't know! They won't say -- they're using the exact amount to identify the owner. But it was enough to make the employee stop and think, Hey, maybe I shouldn't just pocket this for the laundromat.

A spokesperson for Goodwill was impressed with how the worker reacted to finding the cash: "From what I understand, it was very surprising but she reacted very calmly." Another clue -- it was so much money, the worker should have been dashing all over the store with her eyes popping out like Wile E. Coyote. I don't know about you, but I'm seeing two takeaways from this story.

I love hand-me-downs. I shop at consignment stores, and when I’m done with my found treasures, I donate them to local charities. But it would never occur to me to do this with my home.

Yet, for some homeowners, especially ones in foreclosure, donating a house to charity may be the only way out of an awful situation -- and it seems like it could even be a path back to financial well-being. It's becoming quite popular, in fact, because it not only allows the homeowner who can't sell her/his house a way out, but also the donated homes -- many of which are renovated and resold -- add new value to the neighborhood. Here’s how it works:

Hey, we know -- not everyone in the world celebrates Christmas. Does is seem like the whole world shuts down on that holiday? What if you don't feel like spending this Sunday in your pajamas, eating Chinese takeout and scrolling through your Netflix queue? Maybe you'd like to go out and do a little shopping -- while the stores are practically empty! Heaven!

Well, I'll warn you, it's pretty slim pickings. Most of the retail chain stores that stay open for the holiday are drug stores. But hey, you need to stock up on cotton balls sometime, right? Keep reading to find out where you can shop this Christmas.

"You know what would be great?" said my husband last summer. "One of those heavy grill press things that keeps meat and bacon from curling up when you're cooking it." You know what he's getting for Christmas? A heavy grill press thing that keeps bacon from curling up when you cook it. He never bothered to put it on his wish list, I just made a mental note and bought one, and I plan to pat myself on the back every time he uses it.

This, I like to think, exemplifies a crucial aspect of skillful gift-giving: listening. Another crucial aspect: remembering. Also crucial: time, money, and feeling some affection for the person you're buying for.

But what if it's December 22 and none of those aspects are in place, and suddenly you need to pick up a little something for the person in your office who invited you to cocktails Friday night? Or your husband's step-sister who suddenly decided to fly in from Norway? Or the sitter who's coming. over. right. now?

Occupy Connecticut Light and Power! The electric company of the Constitution State was charging an old Italian guy $220 a month for power in his condo. He knew the bills were wrong because he hardly used any electricity or gas at home. Meanwhile, his barbershop was tricked out with electric everything and plenty of A/C, and its bill only topped out at $150 a month.

He kept trying to tell the company that something was wrong. They kept saying the only thing wrong was he wasn’t sending checks fast enough. This went on for 10 years, before the guy’s son went in and straightened things out. (Why did that take 10 years, anyway?)

In the end, they finally had to cut him a check ... for guess how much?

When it comes to Thanksgiving, you want to save your cash for gas, tolls, heirloom turkey, and Klonopin (or maybe that’s just my family). The so-simple Pilgrims wouldn’t approve of overspending on décor. Of course, they probably wouldn’t be too pleased with marshmallows in the sweet potatoes, either, but let’s not split hairs.
 
If you’ve done all you can with the stuff in your backyard and you’re hoping for a little autumn cheer (without endangering the Christmas budget), here are some not-too-spendy options for Thanksgiving decorations on the cheap.

While other people back further away from the Toyota dealership every time there’s another recall, I greet each warning with anticipation and joy. “This is great,” I think. “Pretty soon they’ll have to drop their prices on that Highlander hybrid I’ve had my eye on since it first came out.”
 
There’s just one problem. Every time I love a car, it gets yanked from production. My husband jokes that professional teams should follow his fantasy-draft picks and do the opposite, because everyone he picks gets injured immediately. I feel like I’m the same with cars: the kiss of (professional) death.
 
The latest doomed-cars list – the models being taken off the production line in 2012 – made me wonder why the cars I love are just not that into me.

Paging Linus! The Great Pumpkin is in serious trouble this year, because as you may have heard, there’s apparently a pumpkin shortage looming over the East Coast! What does this mean for Halloween décor? What if there aren’t enough jack-o’-lanterns to go around? Will Jack Pumpkinhead have to spend this season as the Headless Horseman?

The short answer is: No! All sorts of other items can be pressed into service. I went to my local Safeway and bought up everything that looked carve-worthy, and so can you! Of course, you already thought of acorn squash and dried apple dolls, right? So I took it a step further.

Now, I live in California, where we have pumpkins aplenty and a wider assortment of local winter fruit ... so this is a little unfair. But maybe I can inspire you. Or make you jealous. Or make you laugh! Either way, feast your eyes on the spoooookiest fruits you can carve faces into this Halloween.