When you’re living on a budget, you need to get the most impact from your Christmas cash, gift cards and money.

So as you are collecting and reviewing your stash of stuff today, take some time to figure out where you’d like to spend those gifts. I know some of you may want to save the money for a rainy day or a bigger purchase down the road, and that’s fine.

Remember that it’s also perfectly legitimate for families on a budget to use Christmas cash to pay off bills and catch up on a family expenses. If that idea upsets you, try this approach: half the money goes to household or necessary expenses, half goes to “something fun.”

But don’t let those gift cards sit around. They are no good until you spend them, so spend them on stuff you need or will enjoy and use. I plan to spend my Wal-Mart and Elder-Beerman gift cards this weekend!

Here are the sales fliers that were in my home-delivery edition of The Monroe Evening News Wednesday:

• Meijer opens at 6 a.m. Friday. The two-day sale Friday and Saturday includes 2 liter Pepsi bottles will be 88 cents, limit 4. Pillsbury brownie mix 99 cents. Arm & Hammer laundry soap $2.29. $3 off coupon on back of the flier for seelcted DVDs. Next day photo prints are 9 cents.
• Walgreens has coupons in its flier for digital prints or film prints 10 cents each. Walgreens brand allergy medicine is on sale. Crest toothpaste two for $3 (save the recepts for the P&G rebate).
• Elder-Beerman has a furniture sale with a coupon in its flier. Makeup and beauty products are on sale – some are 70 percent off. Bath towels are on sale. Doorbuster coupon in flier good 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday only for $10 off any item more than $10.
• Sears has doorbuster specials from 7 a.m. to noon Friday that include Canyon River jeans for men, women and kids. All fleece and knit tops are 60 percent off.
• Durocher’s has a sales flier for Maytag, Whirlpool, GE and Frigidaire appliances.
• Kohl’s has a two day sale Friday and Saturday with early bird specials 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. You’ll find specials on sleep and play for newborns, all boots for the family, all denim and twill for the family. Flannel sheets are 70 percent off.